The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-01
CHAPTER XVI.

Continued.
For the next few days Dorothy
seemed better. DR.. Waters had made
a circuit of her DON and cleared
away every narcotic and opiate he
could find, telling Virginie to throw
them away.
Nov, Lady Derriman, listen to
me-" he said, kindly but sternly, this
sort Of thing must never he resorted
to. Your nerves are of course IN
strung by. recent events, but a series
If opiates are not likely to do them
any good at all-in fact, just the re-
verse"
Dorothy listened quietly and made
no reply, but after he was gone and
she was quite alone she went swiftly
to that dainty stand, and took out the
glass bottle she had used before.
If they won't let me have opium,
I have got my brandy" she said, ex-
ultantly, and she swallowed a small
quantity without a shudder of repug-
lance
The night of the dinner party had
left its trace behind.
Gervais was not the same; he was
disturbed and vaguely miserable,
though about what he could not say;
but heNfound himself narrowly watch
ing his wife, and there was much in
that occupation that gave him cause
for uneasiness.
1t was p%iercingly cold, and all hunt
ing had come to an untirhely end by
the advent of a black frost, followed
by a heavy fall of snow.
The police were still searching for
the suspected man, but could find no
single trace, and at last the whole
thing was beginning 10 lapse into an
impossibility.
BY common consent the matter was
allowed to drop out of the nversa
ton at Bromley, for Gervais found
that D%orothy's strange moods were
increased by mention of it.
So the days drifted on, and Christ
mas drew near.
Mrs. Baker had departed to her
home, but George LaXon's child re-
NAMED behind in the care of a kind,
motherly woman, who took an extra
interest in the poor, afflicted creature
because of the tragedy that sur
Wounded it.
Gervais, as he told Enid, expected
his mother to be with them two days
before Christmas Eve; and Just when
his heart was yearning to see the
sweet, noble face that had ever been
aear him, something occurred to drive
her and all else from his mind.
He had insisted upon Dorothy TAX
ing good rest in the middle of the
day, rel since that memorable even
ing; and one afternoon, as she was
alone in her room, a sudden longing
came over him to go to her, to see her
as he had seen her before that time,
his W dear, beautiful one.
He a up the stairs, leaving Dare
and Enid in the drawing room deep
in a discussion on art, and his heart
thrilled fast.
AS he was passing along the corri-
dor he met Virginie.
"Miladi is asleep, milord,' she
said.
In her hand she carried some let
tiers.
VIVA are those? Lady Derri-
mans? Give them to me. 1 am
going in"
Virginie gave them at once, and
then went on her way, just looking
back at him with a glance of admira-
ton; for she admired his handsome
face and noble bearing.
Gervais had his hand on Dorothy's
door, when he happened to look down
at the letters, and as he did so his
brows met in surprise.
The top envelope was a dark blue
one, on which was scrubbed Dor
othy's lame and address in the most
illiterate and impossible of hand
writing.
Gervais stared at this for another
moment, then, without a moments
hesitation, he tore it open.
at is from cid jos, no doubt. and
will show his Innocence, poor fellow!
Well, she will forgive me for opening
it., ! am sure"