The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-05-26
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Dorothy's Hope.

bofotIy oOpe.
The breakfast room at Bromley
Manor was one of the smaller apart
ments chosen purposely by Lady Der
riman for it's coziness and homeli-
ness; here the dogs were permitted
to race in and out through the open
| windows or crouch on the mat and
sleep in the sun. Breakfast and
luncheon also were served here when
there were no guests; and here it was
that Lady Derriman was seated alone
about four days after her garden
party. She was a noble-looking wom-
an, with a sweet, pure face bordered
by hair as white as snow, and there
was a strong likeness between her
handsome son and herself.
AS she turned her head her quick
ears caught the sound of wheels, and
her cheeks flushed with the pleasure
that always came at sight of her son.
Lord Derriman waved his hand,
alighted from the brougham and
strobe across the lawn to her.
You are tired, dear" his mother
said, as he bent to kiss her.
Lord Derriman flung his heavily
craped hat on to a chair near at hand.
1.-The u is so hot" he answered,
land funerals are terrible things,
mother, dearest"
You did not stay for the reading
of the will?" questioned Lady Derri-
man.
NO; but Waters told me all it con-
tanned. 1t was very short. Every
thing is left to Dorothy, save a few
legacies to the servants and fifty
pounds per annum to Miss Leslie"
Poor child! Charles 'Knebwell's
daughter should have been better pro-
vided for than that. Tell me, did you
talk to DR.. Waters at all?"
Gervais' brow clouded for an in
slant.
Yes; I found him strangely obsti-
nate. He is forced to confess that
Simmonds' theory might be and is
probably correct-that poor Sir Rob-
ert drank the laudanum by mistake
for his draught, but to me he will in
sist on saying there is a suspicion of
foul play somewhere. I argued with
him all to no good; however, I made
him promise not to breathe a hint of
such a thing to any n but myself.
If it got to Dorothy's ears it would
make her doubly %wretched, and all to
no good, since he cannot possibly
prove his case and goes on suppo-
| sition, purely and simply"
Lady Derriman looked surprised
and distressed.
What a curious thing to say!
Where should foul play come in,
Gervais? The poor man was not
robbed. and although he was not be-
loved in the neighborhood, yet he
does not seem to have had many enc
mics"
"Oh, the whole thing is absurd and
unpleasant, too-the sort Of affair a
man like Waters would imagine; he
loves a mystery" said Gervais, with
all the intolerance of a young Eng
lishman; then he got up.
And you will go, dear mother?
1t is good of you"
Lady Derriman went upstairs
thoughtfully; the tender kiss her so1
had given her fingered on her lips.
He loves her! My boy loves her!"
her mothers heart said, sorrowfu!ly,
then her sweet, generous nature beat
down the first approach to jealousy.
1T is as it should be. Pray Heaven
they may have every happiness if she
should become his wife. Yes, l will
go to her; she must grow to turn to
me as to a mother. I will open my
heart and take her there to live with
Gervais."
Enid was in her dismal chamber
when the wheels of Lady Derriman's
carriage sounded on the gravel. She
vas sitting, huddled up in a heap on
the floor, resting her weary head on
the window ledge. The four days
just passed had tried the sensitive,
highly strung nature to its highest.
Dorothy was in her room also when
Simnonds came quietly upstairs to
announce the arrival of Lady Derri-
man. She was standing by the win
dow a glow in her steel gray eyes. a