The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-07-21
THE MAN She LOVED
By EFFE ADELAIDE ROWLANDS.


cried, brightly. Enid! Enid! Come
and sing!"
But Enid had crept away; she
could not bear to stay and see the
comedy played out. Her head ached
from nervousness, and her heart from
pain and dread, and when she reached
her room she flung herself on her bed.
and burying her face on the pillow
she burst into a food of passionate,
sorrowful tears.
Two days passed. The episode OF
the thief and his prompt capture had
disappeared as quickly as it came to
all but Virginie and Enid.
On the morning of the third day,
while Dare Broughton was in the pic
ture gallery finishing one or two little
odds and ends, Enid came in with a
telegram in her hand.
II met Parsons with this, Mr..
| Broughton. She was asking for you,
so, as I was coming up here, ]
brought it,"
Dare opened the buff envelope, and
as he read the telegram his brow
contracted.
my sister is i'll. I must be off at
once" he said, hurrieoly.
Enid looked round, her eyes full of
sympathy.
ooh, I am sorry"
Dare gazed at her eagerly, but his
| eagerness died as he read her face,
for he saw nothing to give him the
hope he longed for so earnestly.
you will come back socn, Mr..
Broughton? We shall miss you very
much"
He came up to her and took her
hand.
"And I shall miss you more than
I car say" he answered, with a grave,
tender smile, that robbed the words
Of the meaning he put on them. Il am
honored and delighted to think may
call myself your friend, Miss Leslie,
and I want you to promise me one
thing; will your"
"Tell me first what it u.s." she said.
THAT you will write or call upon
me at any time if ever you should be
in trouble or need a friend. It is not
much to promise, is it,"
ION my side, no; but on yours, how
much?" and Ends eyes grew lus-
trous with the gratitude she felt for
this man But, if it pleases you, Mr..
Broughton, I will promise"
He bent and touched her hand
with his lips, and then, making an
excuse about seeing the earl at once,
left her.
She was still gazing out Of a win
dow, the smile gone from her face
and the look of pain creeping round
her mouth again, when a servant
came into the gallery.
"Her ladyship desires to speak to
you,, MISS" he said; "she is in her
boudoir."
Enid went at once, not without a
slight i~uttering at her heart, and
found Dorothy in a loose gown of
pale gray, seated at her writing table.
"Oh," she said, looking round,
"Gervais wants me to drive Mr..
Broughton to the station; it is the
sessions, or something of the kind,
at LoXton, so of course Gervais has
to be there. I don't feel quite well
this morning. Will you go instead?"
certainly"
Enid waited. She seemed to think
Dorothy had a commission for her to
do. But Lady Derriman did not make
any further remark, and after a mo-
meIt's pause Enid went away, and
was seated behind the ponies when
Gervais and Dare Broughton ap-
peared. ,
Dorothy does not feel equal to the
drive, but Miss Leslie will make a
most delightful jenu," the earl said,
as he clasped his friends hand.
Come back soon, Broughton; you
know how welcome you are, old fell
low, and 1 am anxious to see my
wife's picture"
He stood and watched the carriage
bowl swiftly away, then with a little
sigh, given he hardly knew wherefore
or why, Gervais got into the dog
cart waiting and drove in the oppo-
site direction to Loxton.
Half way between Knebwell and
Loxton there was a small inn, and at
a word from the groom the. earl
pulled up and let the man have a
look at one of the mares shoes.
There's nothing wrong, is there,
March," he called out, after a mo-
ment's pause, during which he had a