The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-24

break his heart or Wlther MS spirit.
They're beyond you They're-they're'
she stopped suddenly as her voice
rose to the breaking point and left the
room.
The magistrate went down the drive.
In Il few moments O'CoEnell was on
his way to the courthouse. closely
guarded prisoner.
Angela. from her window. watched
the men disappear. She buried her
face in her hands and m0anrd as she
had not done since her mother left her
Just Il few years before. The girhood
in her was dead. She was Il woman.
The one great note had come to her.
transforming her whole nature-love.
And the man she loved was being
carried away to the misery and degra-
dation Of Il convict.
Gradually the mOanS died away.
The convulsive heaving of her breaSt
subsidized.
A little later. when her sister, Moni.
ca. came in search Of her, she found
Angela in dead faint.
By night she was in fever.
=,
One day in November Angela receiv-
ed the following letter:
Dublin, Ireland. Nov. Ii. 1S-.
Dear Lady Of Mercy-l have served my
sentence am free. At first the horrible
humiliation Of my treatment, Of my sur
roundings, of rhe depths / had to sink 10,
burned into me. Then the thought Of you
sustained me. Your gentle voice. your
beauty, your pity. your unbounded faith
in me. strengthened my soul. All the
degradation fell from me- They were but
ignoble means to a noble end. l was tor
tured that others might never know sor-
row. l was imprisoned that my country
men might know liberty. And SO the load
was lighter.
The memory Of those three wonderful
days was 80 marvellous. so vivid. that it
shone like a star through the blackness
Of those terrible days.
You seem to have taken hold of my
heart and my soul and my life.
Forgive me for writing this to you, but
it seems that you are the only one I've
ever known who understands the MAIN
springs of my nature. of my hopes and
my ambitions - indeed, Of my very
thoughts.
Today met the leader Of my party. He
greeted me warmly. At last l have prov
ed myself worthy follower. They think
! It best should leave Ireland for awhile.
II take active part at once l shall be
| arrested again and sent for longer SEN
| tence.
They have offered me the position Of
30 ~ ~, ion, IN
America to raise funds for the ''cause." "
I must first see the chief in London. He
sent a message. writing in the highest
terms Of my work and expressing a wish
to meet me. I wonder If it would be
possible to see you in London?
II am sent to America 1t would speed
my going to speak to you again. II you
feel that I ask too much do not answer
this. and I will understand.
Out of the fullness Of my heart, from
the depths Of my soul and with the whole
fervor Of my being. I ask you to accept
all the gratitude Of a heart filed to over
flowing.
God bless and keep you. Yours in hon.
age and gratitude.
FRANK OWEN o'CoNNELL.
Her answer:
London, Nov. II. 49,.
My Dear Mr.. O'Connell-l am glad in
deed to have your letter and to know you
are free again. I have often thought OF
your misery during all these months and
longed to do something to assuage it. 1t
Is only when friend is in need and all
avenues Of help are closed to him that a
woman realizes how helpless she is.
That they have not crushed your spirit
does not surprise me. i was as sure OF
~ %1o& &l,o ;e ,bi bi,,i1 10
day. That you do not work actively in
Ireland at once Is. am sure, wise. Fool
| hardness Is not courage.
In a little while the English government
may realize how hopeless it is to try to
conquer a people who have liberty in their
hearts. Then they will abate the rigor
Of their unjust laws.
When that day comes you must return
and take up the mission with renewed
strength and hope and stimulated by the
| added experience Of bitter suffering.
| I should most certainly like to see you
in London. l am staying with distant
connection Of the family. We go to the
south Of France in few weeks. I have
been very ill-another reproach to the
| weakness Of woman. I am almost recov-
cred now, but far from strong. l have
to lie still all day. My only companions
are my books and my thoughts.
Let me know when you expect to arrive
in London. Come straight here.
I have so much to tell you, but the
words halt as they come to my pen.
Looking forward to seeing you. in all
sincerity, ANGELA KINGSNORTH.
(To be continued.)