The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1912-12-25

chosen not to see; and in this had
morally betrayed her. All, 1t ranked.
and the injustice Of it grew from pain
to fury. At that moment, had she
known anything, she certainly would
have denounced them. OF what use
was loyalty. since none OF them
sought 1t In her?
The Major was wiser than he knew
when he spoke Of the hundredth dam
ger, the danger unforeseen, the danger
against which they could make no
preparation. And he would have been
first to sense the irony Of 1t could he
have seen where this danger lay.
Why should they wish the pleasant
young man out Of the way? Why
should Ryanne wish to inveigle him
into the hands Of this man Mahomed?
Was 1t merely self-preservation, or
something deeper, more sinister?
Think! Why couldn't she think OF
something? It was only a little pleas
ure trip to Cairo, they had told her,
and when she had asked to go along,
they seemed willing enough. But they
had come to this hotel, when formerly
they had always put up at Shep-
heard's. A here again the question
why? Was 1t because Mr.. Jones was
staying here? She liked him, what lit
tie she had seen OF him. He was out
of an altogether different world than
that to which she was accustomed. He
was neither insanely mad over cards
nor a social idler. He was a young
man with a real interest in life. a
worker, notwithstanding that he was
reputed to be independently rich. And
her mother had once borrowed money
of him. never intending to pay 1t back.
The shame Of it! And why should she
approach him the very first day and
recall the incident. If not with the ul-
terror purpose Of using him further?
As a ball strikes a wall only to re-
bound to the thrower, so it was with
all these questions. There was never
any answer.
Tired out, mentally and physically,
she laid her head upon the cool top
Of the stand. And In this position her
mother, who had returned to dress
for tea, found her. Believing Fortune
to be asleep. Mrs. Chedsoye dropped
. hand upon her Shoulder =
Fortune rsissd het head.
why, child. what il the matteff..
the mother asked. The face she saw
was not tear-stained: It was as cold
and passionless as that by which sculp.
tors represent their interpretations Of
Justice.
Natter" Fortune spoke, in a tone
that did not reassure the other. In
the first place I have only n real
question to ask. It depends upon how
you answer it. Am l really your
daughter?"
Really my. daughter" Mrs. Ched-
soye stepped back, genuinely aston.
ished. Really my daughter? The
child is mad!" as II addressing an i'm
aginary third person. What makes
you ask such a silly question:" She
was in a hurry to change her dress.
but the new attitude Of this child OF
hers warranted some patience.
That is no answer" said Fortune.
with the unmoved elaboration Of a
prosecuting attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. II you had denied it, I
should have held my peace; but since
you admit that l am Of your flesh and
blood, I am going to force you to rec
ognize that in such a capacity I have
some rights. I did not ask to come
into this world; but insomuch as I am
here, I propose to become an indi-
vidual, not a thing to be given bread
and butter upon s%ufferance. l have
been talking with Horace. met him
in the bazaars this morning. He said
some things which you must answer"
Horace? And what has he said,
pray tell?". Her expression was flip.
pant, but a certain inquietude pene-
trated her heart and accelerated it's
beating. What had ne love-lorn fool
said to the child?
He said that he was not a good
man, and that you tolerated him be-
cause he ran errands for you. What
kind of errands?"
Mrs. Chedsoye did not know wheth-
er to laugh or take. the child by the
shoulders and shake her soundly. He
was laughing when he said that. Err
rands? One would scarcely call it
that"
why did you enc the acquaint-
ance with Mr.. Jones, when you knew
that you never intended paying back
that loan?"
Here was a question, Mrs. Chedsoye
realized, from the look Of the child,
that would not bear evasion.
What makes you think I never in
tended to repay him."
Fortune laughed. 1t did not sound
grateful in the mothers a.
Mother, this Is a crisis; 1t can not
be met by .counter-questions nor by
f~1ippancy. You know that you did
not intend to pay him. What I de-
nand to know H., why you spoke to
him again, so afrably, why you seemed
so eager to enter into his good graces
once more. Answer that"
Her mother pondered. For nee she
was really at a loss. The unexpected.
ness Of this phase caught her of her
balance. She saw one thing wildly,
repretfullY: she had missed q ualnahla