The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-05-12

Christian Brent was n dark. tense,
eager, scholarly looking man Of twen-
ty-eight years Of age. Hts career as a
diplomatist was halted at it's outset by
an early marriage with the only daugh-
ter of O prosperous manufacturer.
Brent was moderately Independent In
his own right. but the addition of his
wife's dowry seemed to destroy all am
bition. He no longer found interest In
carrying messages to the various lega-
tons or embassies of Europe or in fill
ing a routine position as some ones
secretary. From being IN intensely
eager man of affairs he drifted into a
social lounger-the lapdog Of the draw
ing room-where the close breath of
some rare perfume meant more than
the clash Of interests and the conquest
Of q woman greater than that Of a IA
ton.
Just at this period Ethel Chichester
was the especial object Of his adora-
ton.
Her beauty Appeared 10 nlm.
Her absolute Indifference to him
stung him as n lash. 1t seemed to be-
little his powers of attraction. Conse-
quently be redoubled his efforts.
Ethel showed neither like nor dislike
Just q form Of liberation. Brent ac-
cepted this, as a dog a crumb, in the
hope of something more substantial
to follow. He had come that morn
ing with q fixed resolve. His man.
ner was determined. His voice wooed
as q caress. He went tenderly to
Ethel the moment the door closed on
Jarvis.
"How are you?" he asked, and there
was O note Of subdued passion in his
tone.
"Fair," replied Ethel without even
looking at him.
where is your mother?' suggesting
that much depended on the answer.
Lying down." answered Ethel truth
fully and without any feeling.
"And Alaricw
"In the garden"
"Then we have a moment or two
alone?" Brent put a world of mean
ing into the suggestion.
Every likely" said Ethel, picking up
a score Of "Boheme' and looking at it
as If she saw it for the first time, all
the while watching him through her
half closed eyes.
Brent went to her. "Glad to see
me?" he asked.
"Why not?"
II am glad to see you"-he bent over
her--"more than glad"
Really"
He sat beside her. "Ethel," he whis-
pcred intensely, 81 ann at the cross
roads,"
"Ohr commenced Ethel, without any
interest.
at came last night"
did it,"
"This is the end-between Sibyl and
myself"
els it,"
"Yes-the end. It's been horrible from
the first-horrible. There's not a word
Of mine-not an action-she doesn't
misunderstood"
slow boring" said Ethel blandly.
"She would see, harm even In this"
"Why?"
"She'd think I was here TOTO BE
stopped.
"What?" innocently inquired Ethel.
"Make love to you" And he looked
earnestly into her eyes.
She met his look quite frankly and
astonished him with the question,
"Well, aren't you?"
He rose %anxiously. ETHEL"
Don't you always" persisted Ethel.
"Hns it seemed like that to you"
EYES," she answered candidly; "by
i%nslnuation, never straightforwardly.'
"Has it offended you?"
"Then you admit it,"
"Oh," he cried ~passionately, II wish
I had the right to-to"-- Again he
wavered.
"Yes?" And Ethel looked straight at
him.
make love to you straightforward
ly." He felt the supreme moment had
almost arrived. Now, he thought, he
would be rewarded for the long wait
ing-the endless siege to this marvellous
woman who concealed her real nature
beneath that marble casing Of an as
Sumed Indifference.
He waited eagerly for her answer.
When it came it shocked and revolted
him.
Ito be continued.)