The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-04-17


himself. he watched her beside the
con OF his old friend. They were talk
ang-rather she was-and behind the
orchiis and the ferns her voice was
sweet and enthralling. Ruggles tried
90 appreciate his bill Of fare while the
two appreciated each other. II was
strange to Dan to have her 80 near
and no approachable. His sights Of
her on the stage had been 90 slight
and feeting. On the boards she had
seemed to be IN unreal creation made
for the public alone. Her dress. cut
fearlessly low. displayed her lovely
young bosom-soft. bloomy. white a.
. shell--and her head and ears were
- delicate a. the petals Of o white
rose. Low In the naps Of her neck.
her golden hair lay lightly. and from
tts soft masses fragrance came to him.
Ruggles could hear her say: Roach
oame TO the house and told my people
that I had q fortune In my voice. I
vas living with my uncle and my
stspsunt and working in the store.
And that same day your father sent
aown q check for ave hundred dollars.
He said II was for the little girl with
tAe sweet voice. and Il gives me lot
~ pleasure to think that began my
1essors on that money"
The son Of old Dan Blair said earn
sstly: I'm darned glad you did-rm
Aarned glad you did!"
Lefty Lane nodded. 80 am I.
Dut." with some sharpness. "I don't
80 why you speak that way. I've
earned my way. I made fortune for
Roach all right"
You mean the man you married?"
"Married-goodness gracious, what
made you think thati" She threw
back her pretty head and laughed-a
laugh with the least possible merri-
ment In II "0h. Heavens, marry old
Job Roach! So they say that, do
tAey? never heard that. I hear a
Ut. but never heard that fairy tale"
Bde put her hands to her cheeks.
which had grown crimson. That's
not true!"
Dan swore at himself for his tact
isss stupidity.
Ruggles had heard both sides. She
vas adored by the poor. and, as far as
rumor knew. she spent thousands on
the London paupers. and the West
erner. who had never been given to
reveling In scandals and to whom
oere was something wicked in speak.
Ing iii OF woman, no matter whom
she nigh, be. listened with embar-
rassment 70 tales he had been told
In answer TO his other questions; and
turned with relief to the stories of
Lefty Lanes charity, and to the
stories OF her popularity and her sue
cess. They were more agreeable, but
they couldn't make him forget the
rest, and now as he looked at her
race across the bouquet of orchids and
ferns. IL was with q sinking of heart,
. great pity for her. and still a de-
esaed enmity. He. .disapproved Of her
eown to the ground. He didn't let
sanself think how he felt, but II was
~ the boy. Ruggles was not a man
q the world In any sense: he was
SIMPLE and Puritan In his Judgments,
aod his gentle nature and his big
Asart kept him from pharisaical and
strenuous measures. He had been led
1a what he was doing tonight by a
diplomacy and a common sense that
fev meu east Of the Mississippi would
have thought out under the circum.
stances.
Tell Mr.. Ruggies." he heard Dan
say TO her. tell him-tell him!"
And she answered:
Il was telling Mr.. Blair that, as he
- 20 frightfully rich. want him to
give me some money"
Ruggles sasped. but answered quiet
~:
We'll. he's q great giver, Miss
Lane"
II guess he Is II he's like his IA
ther!" she returned. IL am trying to
Set lot. though. out OF him, and
when you asked me to dine tonight
said to myself. III accept. for II will
be a good time to ask Mr. Blair to
help me out In what want 10 do"
AT Ruggles' face she s.. lied sweetly
and said graciously:
"Oh, don't think wouldn't have
come anyway. But I'm awfully tired
these days. and going out to supper is
just one thing too much to do,
want Mr.. Blair" she said. turning to
Rubgles as II she knew word from
him would make the thing go through.
to help me build rest homo down
on the English coast. for girls who
Get discouraged In their art. When
1 think OF the luck | have had and
how these things have been from the
beginning. and. how money has just
poured In. why" she said ardently. 1t
just makes my heart ache To think OF
the girls who try and fail. who go on
for a little while and have TO give up.