The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-22
CHAPTER XXI.
Continued.

The story was so palnful, SO nor
rible altogether, that Gervais could
not bear to think that he might be
brought in contact with any portion
of it again, and Immediately follow
ing the quiet funeral he went abroad,
as the world thought truly, ito help
distract his mind from his over
whelming grief"
Enid and Lady Derriman had lived
for a year and a half in London and
Scotland, and then, yielding to the
earnest entreaties of the county, they
came back to the Manor and made it
their home.
Enid could scarcely have described
what constituted her happiness in the
five peaceful years that followed, but
that she was happy none could doubt;
all loved her, and to Lady Derriman
she was as dear as her own child.
During those long years Gervais, Earl
Of Derriman, never returned to Eng
land once; but, though absent, he
was well acquainted with all that
went on at home, for his mother
wrote regularly and cheerfully-
more %cheerfully, indeed, than her
heart prompted, but she was not
selfish in her love.
Dare Broughton had been down
several times to Bromley, and Lady
Derriman always chronicled the fact
to her son, adding, that she would
never be surprised if a romance were
to spring from these visits; and some
how that passage always left an I'M
pleasant sensation in Gervais' breast.
"Simmonds says that Cousin Grace
is not well enough to get out to-day,
so l think I will walk over, unless you
want me, dear, at home"
You are a great nuisance, and I
shall be glad to be rid of you," was
Lady Derriman's answer.
Enid laughed and kissed her, and
then they chatted of other things.
BY and by, when Enid was
equipped in her pretty, dark blue
velvet dress and cap, that set off her
glorious red brown hair and coloring
to perfection, and was walking to-
ward Knebwell Hall, she looked very
thoughtful.
Mother is brave" she said to her
self; "but she's pining for him all the
same. Il wish he would come
home. Six years and a half-it is
almost a lifetime!"
She sighed a little, and then, as her
path lay past the church yard, she un-
consciously turned in and walked on
till she reached the Derriman vault.
Poor Dorothy" she thought, sad
~, tears rising to her eyes as the
past grew clear; "if only she had
trusted me, had asked me to help her,
perhaps that secret would never have
been SO terrible, and she would have
been spared"
"Halloo! Miss Enid, moralizing In
a graveyard. Come, this will never
dol"
1t was DR.. Waters who spoke. He
was riding past in the lane below,
and pulled up his horse. He looked
hale and hearty.
l was IniuhlAS VI DOlOLuS Gulu
said, as she rose and went toward
him. .
"Ah! sad thing! Beautiful crea-
ture! The last n in the world one
would have imagined to end as she
did! I warned her myself that night
of the dinner. Do you remember"
Would Enid ever forget?
She was drinking then" DR.. Wat
ers went on, brandy, and such like.
1t will always be a mystery to me why
a high born woman, with everything
to make her happy, should have had
such d%epraved tastes"
Enid made no answer She felt
that poor Dorothy had flown to this
fatal habit from desperation and fear;
but that could be told.
And when is the earl coming
back?-you don't know"
DR.. Waters shook his head.
Don't sit there any longer-it is
tco cold; move on, My CsaT.' And,
suiting the action to the word, he
touched up his horse and rode sharp
ly away.
Enid reused herself with a sigh
from her sad thoughts, and walked
on to the hall.
Her visit paid to both her cousins
and Mrs. Cullam, she commenced to
retrace her steps.
1t was growing dark, and she had a
1nnp NAV IN on ca cbn nolla1 IN II
her energies and started briskly:
"A week only to Christmas" she
said to herself. as she hurried on;
Il must begin my small presents for
the children mex week. / shall give
those pink fannels % OH"
She came to a standstill after this
sudden exclamation, and then her
heart began to beat wildly. There
right in front of her-was a tall
mans figure, which even in the dim
light she knew could only belong to
one man.
Have l frightened you, Enid?"
asked Gervais. eagerly, as he grasped
her hands.
"You-you surprised mel she an
swered; then shaking off her nervous
ness. Have you fallen from the
clouds?"
MOI / arrived an hour and a half
ago in a village fly; there is nothing
supernatural about me. l nearly
frightened my mother out of her
wits; and then I must needs come to
meet you, and do the same thing,"