The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-19

tired out; the afternoon had been SO
exciting, so strange, it seemed to have
sapped her strength entirely.
When quite alone she took of the
dress, carefully folded it, and placed
it with the hat, gloves and ~sunshade;
she was not sure that her cousin had
understood what she had said. At all
events, she had no use for such smart
clothes. Like Cinderella, she had
emerged from her corner-and now
she must return to rags!
When she was attired in her usual
simple evening gown Of black grena-
dine she took her pencil, and in a few
strokes she drew the head Of Gervais,
Lord Derriman; then, side by side,
she let her pencil work, almost in
voluntarily, on another face-that Of
the man she had met in the woods for
her Cousin Dorothy. When she had
done both she gazed at them earnest
ly, wondering vaguely what could
have induced her to sketch them to-
gether. Little did she think that a
time would come when she would
gaze at that paper and understand
the strange impulse that had guided
her pencil, and that a shudder Of hor-
ror would come over her as she be-
held the two faces as she had drawn
them this day.
It was Sir Roberts desire that his
niece should always take her place at
the dinner table when no company
was present, and so when the gong
sounded Enid woke up, and pushing
her drawing into a box in her trunk
she descended hastily.
She found only Dorothy and Miss
Cuthbert in the large dining room.
Miss Knebwell wore a loose white
gown that chung to her graceful form
in long folds and made her more love-
ly than usual. She had punched her
golden hair into a curly mass on the
top of her head, and to Enid she was
simply exquisite, full of poetry and
beauty.
Papa has an extra twinge in his
foot or his temper" she said, CURLY,
as she saw Enid pause before taking
her chair. $50 sit down; he will not
come tonight"
Enid obeyed. She noticed that her
cousin ate nothing, and she herself
had little appetite this evening.
When Enid came out from the din
ing room and went to get her needle
work she heard her uncle's voice
raised, loud and deep, but she passed
the door quickly and tried to forget
this as she sat alone in the huge salon
waiting for Dorothy to come. 1t was
growing dark when Miss Knebwell
swept in, and Enid rose hastily from
the piano, where she was singing soft
ly to herself. Miss Cuthbert had gone
to her own room.
Shall I ring for lamps?" asked
Enid, timidly.
Dorothy made no answer, and the
two girls sat in the cleaning in COM
plete silence, save for the ticking Of
the clock and the cawing of the rocks
in the trees outside.
Every now and then Enid shivered.
In all the long, wretched years she
had passed she had never felt as she
did tonight.
Dorothy suddenly rose.
II am going to bed. Tell Cuth-
bert, if she comes down, I have gone.
She need not sit up any
Before she got further the door
was opened hurriedly and Simmonds
entered, the light from the hall lamp
rushing in with him.
miss Dorothy! Miss Dorothy"
he cried, in a voice that was thick
with agitation, "for heavens sake,
come at once! My"
What is it?".
Enid had risen, and she gazed at
her cousin, who stood with hands
clasped before her, looking in the
dim light like some beautiful statue.
Dorothy spoke almost in a whisper,
and before the man could take breath,
went on:
"Sir Robert is i'll? Well, send for
DR.. Waters, ~Simmonds."
Her voice Jared on Ends ears,
but Simmonds turned to go.
"Dr. Waters won't do no good,
Miss Dorothy. L Oh, don't you
see, miss? Sir Robert is dead! He
is lying back in his chair, cold and
stiff"
M ~ rant1,o