The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01
AN
INTERRUPTION
BY ANNABEL BRlNsMADE

was shown the family. for there were
very sad circumstances attending the
young girls death. In fact. II was con.
sidered q case Of suicide.
About year before Betty began to
show signs OF despondency. She had
left school and was ready 20 take a
social position among the young people
or the town In which she lived. Her
mother. partly TO divert her from her
condition OF mind. did what she could
20 induce her to do So Betty did
not refuse 20 60 among those of her
own sge. but when with them, instead
OF being the bright CHEEKY girl OF a
year before. she was listless The young
men and maidens who had grown up
with her endeavored for awhile TO
draw her from her lethargy. but. nnd.
ing their o0orts futile. at last gave no
trying.
The family physician was. Of course.
consulted He talked with Betty. ask.
cd her q great many questions. pre-
scribed tonic to be taken "three times
. day before meals" but told her moth
o. that he could find no organic dis
ease. He thought that change Of scene
might be beneficial. but the Margots
could not afford to take the patient
away. Besides. she said she didn't care
To 60 away. The doctor suggested that
there might be young man In the
case. but Mrs Margot declared that
her daughter had never shown any pref
erences for any of her male acquaint-
ances. To this the doctor replied that
nrst love on the part Of young girl
from sixteen to twenty was apt to as.
sumo very singular forms. he had
treated cases Of supposed physical NAL
ady which eventually had turned out
to be simply lovesickness. One of his
patients had shown signs Of a break.
ing down In health simply because she
could not make up her mind between
two suitors aud had finally eloped with
third. TO whom her parent had no OBJ
lection whatever
One morning when the good lady
went into her daughters room with
the usual toast and coffee--she would
not permit Betty to arise before IL
o'c!ock-the room was empty. The bed
had not been slept I'm. The frightened
matron rushed from the room. calling
her daughter wildly. The household.
Betty excepted. responded. and even
tually the whole town was reused.
The day passed with no word from
the missing girl, She must have de-
parted In the night. for no one had
seen her go. Every village In the
neighborhood received telephone mes
isages describing Betty's personal ap-
pearance and inqu,ring if she had been
seen. All her relatives far and near
were notified. Not a hopeful word
came from any point
Mrs. Margot. after she became 30
.fnr calmed as 10 express an opinion on
the cause OF her daughters departure.
said she believed that Betty's mind
had been affected through some dis.
ease which that stupid doctor" had
failed to discover. The people OF the
town had many and diverse opinions.
Mrs. Cntin. across the street, who had
heard Mrs. Margot-an impatient, ex.
citable woman-scold her daughter.
averred that the latter had been driven
away by cruelty. Some OF the neigh
bors-old maids or married women
who had adopted dogs I'm lieu of chill
dren-said that Betty had not been
properly brought mp and had gone to
the bad.
. One day fresh impetus was given
90 these conjectures by the discovery
Of body of woman In the aver. lt
was bioated beyond recognition. but IL
was about Betty's height. and the hair
was about the same color as hers. The
consensus OF opinion was that IL was
her remains: that In a tit OF temporary
insanity she had escaped from home
and drowned herself The sight was
90 awful thnt the parents were per-
suaded not 10 look ut II. An under
taker prepared II for burial. and this
brings us 10 the beginning OF our story.
which In also the end
Persons were assembling mt the Mar
got home TO pay their last respects To
the dead. The clergyman had arrived.
the undertaken was going about with
sort tread giving directions In q modu-
lated voice. when young man and
woman turned a corner and caught
view OF the hearse and carriages
standing before the door The lady
sank on the mans bosom with a gasp:
but. recovering. the two pursued their
way TO the house Of the funeral The
clergyman was mentioning some lovely
traits OF the deceased when the chief
mourners uttered an exclamation OF
surprise and made bolt for the hall.
where stood the newcomers.
"Oh. Betty" exclaimed both father
and mother In breath.
The obsequies were discontinued on
account OF the appearance OF the 90
tect for which they were held. and n
great relief. great Joy. relgned In
their stead. This was Betty's EXPLAIN