The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-06-16
VIII
The Bargain.

o ain I everything, iSpS@
Laxon. as he shook out the half
smoked tobacco from his pipe.
What do you want that money
cannot give you?" she asked coldly.
She was fast ~regaining her strength
of mind and purpose; the shock had
passed, her brain was working qulet-
ly and evenly, and her heart oeat WILL
scarcely a futter. ,
She knew the sort of man she nao
to deal with. He looked at her Calm
". he was quick to note the change
in her voice, and it did not please
him: he preferred her in her termed
condition, and it had gratiied him u
see her crouch before him.
She felt as she stood there thai she
would willingly have stuck him LEAD
before her.
Her thoughts must have dawned IN
her expression, fer he drew back a
little. $500
Don't try no hanky-panky tricks
on me-" he said, savagely; "tor II
O do I shall return 'em and make
things nasty. No giving evidence on
the sly ard having me nabbed!"
"You are a coward and a fool!
How could I do this without harming
myself?-and that is out of h ques-
ton. No; the matter is clear. we
must come to a definite arrangement
you keep my secret, and l Keep
yours =,
you're a cool hand, by Heaven"
he said, with a look Of admiration az
her impassive face; land you're be-
ginning to see things as I see them'
why-so much the better"
The clock struck n in its heavy
%ponderous way.
az must go now, but will see you
again. BY the time we meet you Will
perhaps have come to some plans and
will tell me what they are"
Laxon nodded his head.
"I amt going to wait, neither. You
must meet me tomorrow early, II
not tonight" 49,.
81 will meet you tomorrow night,
Dorothy answered, with a quiet air
of determination; II want the matter
settled. You know the lane near the
lock where the stile is?-well, De
there at eight tomorrow evening,
and I will join you. Think over
everything we'll, and name your sum.
What if he grows jealous and ASKS
awkward questions, eh?".
She smiled a cold, dis~agreeable
smile.
Leave that to me. I believe I am
quite able to arrange matters to my
own satisfaction.
She moved to the door, and stopped
tor her sunshade. The child was still
playing on the step, and looked up as
the girl came out. There was a
strange expression on the pretty baby
face.
With her happiness still so great,
so wonderful about her, this sudden
upheaval Of all that degrading past
was too horrible.
That she, Dorothy, Countess OF
Derriman, whose beauty and good
fortune were at that moment the
theme Of fashionable conversation,
that she should be that girl who,
after dragging out q miserable year
with this man, eating her proud heart
out with all the petty shame that
went to make up the sum of his
daily life, was suddenly hurled into
the direst quagmire of horror and
degradation! The thought maddened
her. She clinched her hands till the
delicate kid of her gloves cracked
with the force and her nails pierced
her flesh.
What would be the thoughts of
Gervais did SUCH a truth come home
to him?
She stopped in her hurried walk.
"Great Heaven!" she moaned;
what am l to do? If only I had
some one to whom I could go for
help, who would aid me now"
The words had scarce been whis-
pered by her lips when a thought
came and brought a wave of great
relief.
ENID! Why did I not think Of her
before? She will come, she must
come; she will believe all / tell her,
and if I am only kind to her she will
do anything in the world for me-, /
know. Yes, yes, I will send for Enid"
She fastened toward he1 cottage.
AS she clicked the gate-latch Ger
vais came striding to meet her. He
looked pale and disturbed.
Here you are, my darling, thank
Heaven!" he exclaimed. Il have been
so l have been walking up
and down, looking to the right and
left, and not liking to leave the cot
tage for fear / should miss you"
He came to her side and took her
hand.
What is the matter, my dearest?"
he asked, %hurriedly.
Il have been a stupid idiot, that is
ALL" she said, clinging to his arm.
Wandered into a strange country
and had to fee for my life; in other
words, l lost my way, and was chased
by a bull
Gervais threw his arms around her,
and pressed her to him suddenly.
She shivered, and a pang went
through her selfish heart; but it was
fraught with as much fear as pain.
Fear lest he should ever know the
truth, and so she should lose his
love.
And what have YOU done in nv