The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-01-27

tnlnS over between us. Our ac-
| quaint2nce is at an end
"My feelings toward you can never
| change" replied Underwood earnest
ly. II love you'll shall always love
you"
Alicia gave a little shrug of her
ence.
"Love!" she exclaimed mockingly.
You love no one but yourself"
Underwood advanced nearer to her
and there was a tremOr in his voice
AS he said:
You have no right to say that You
remember what we once were. Whose
fault is it that | am where l am to-.
day? When you broke cur engage
ment and married old Jeffries to graft
fy your social ambition, you ruined my
He. You didn't destroy my love-you
couldn't kill that. You may forbid me
everything-tO see yOu-to speak to
yOu-even to think of you, but | can
never forget that you are the only
woman l ever cared for. If you had
married me, might have been a diff
ferent man. And now, just when
want you most, you deny me even your
friendship. What have l done to de-
serve such treatment? Is it fair? Is
it iust?"
strain which the man was under. In
the excitement he had forgotten about
Howard's presence on the divan be-
hind the screen. A listener might have
detected the heavy breathing of the
sleeper, but even Alicia herself was
too preoccupicd to notice it. Under.
wood extended his arms pleadingly:
"Alicia-tor the sake of auld lang
syne!"
Aud lang syne," she retorted. Il
want to forget the past. The old men,
! orles are distasteful. My only object
IN coming here tonight was to make
the situation plain to you and to ask
you to promise me not to-carry out
your threat to kill yourself. Why
should you kill yourself? Only cowards S
do that. Because you are in trouble? +?
That is the towards way out. Leave
New York. Go where you are not
known. You are still young. Begin
life over again, somewhere else" Ad-
vancing toward him, she went on:
If YOU will 90 this l will help you
l never want to see you again, but I'll
try not to think OF you unkindly. But
you must promise me sOlemnly not to
make any attempt against your life" "
II promise nothing" muttered I'm
derwood doggedly.
But you must" she insisted. 1T
would be a terrible crime, not only
against yourself, but against others.
You must give me your word"
Underwood shook his head.
II promise nothing"
But you must" persisted Alicia 81
won't stir from here until have your
promise"
He looked at her curiously.
If my life has no interest for you,
why should you care?" he asked.
There was a note of scorn in his
voice which aroused his visitors
wrath. Crumpling up his letter in her
hand, she confronted him angrily.
Shall tell you why / care?" she
cried. Because you accuse me in this
letter Of being the cause of your death
i. who have been your friend in
spite of your dishonesty. OH It's des-
picable, contemplate! Above all, it's
a lie"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders.
Cynicaily he replied:
so II wasn't SO much concern for
ne as for yourself that brought you
here"
Alicia's eyes flashed as she an
swered:
Yes. | wished to spare myself this
indignity, the shame of being asso-
ciated in any way with a suicide. |
was afraid you meant what you said"
Afraid" interrupted Underwood
bitterly, that some of the scanda al
might reach as far as the aristocratic
Mrs. Howard Jeffries, Sr.."
Her face flushed with anger. Alicia
paced up and down the room. TIE
mans taunts stung her to the quick
! In way, she felt that he was right.
She ought to have guessed his charac-
ter long ago and had nothing to O.
with him. He seemed desperate
enough to do anything yet she doubt
I'd Il he had the courage to kill him
, self. She thought she would try more
conci!iatory methods, so, stopping
short. she said more gently:
You know my husband has suffered
, through the wretched marriage of his
only son. You know how deeply we
both feel this disgrace, and yet you
would add"
Underwood laughed mockingly.
why should | consider your hus-
bands feelings" he cried He didn't
consider mine when he married YOU.
Suddenly bending forward. every
nerve tense. he continued hoarsely:
I nj f,,l1 4.