Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1919-10-11

iu- iu her d,.i-htod ear: i'm the dress
iH--r"om. listening to her soft words
of oucoura cement 10 the excited lead
ing lady, uu the uurrow stairs leading
zap g" the stage, assisting her to mount
them; and ail the rim" ne WAS dread
ing rho moment when ha would awak,
and find il an dream.
There was an annoying fly In his
ointment, however. "I love YOU" she
had said simply. u want more than
anything else in all tho world to De
your wife. But I cannot promise now.
. ! must have tlme TO think. time to
why should You require more time
than I?' he persisted. "What is time
to US? Why make wauton waste of
itE"
Il know that | cannot find happiness
! except with you" she replied mo
/ matter what happens to me. | shall
always love you, ! shall never forget
the joy of this. Butt cannot prom
Use now" she finished gently and
| kissed him
Between the second and third acts
Tommy Gray rushed back with the
hoX-otiice statement. The gross was
1889. The instant that fact became
known 10 Mr.. RuShcrOft he informed
Barnes that Bey had "knockout." a
gold mine, fl that never in all his
career had he known season to start
of 50 auSpiciOusly a this one
Three days later Barnes and Miss
Jones said farewell to the Strollcrs
and boarded a day train for New York
city. They left the company in a con
dition Of prosperity. The show was
averaging two hundred dollars nightly
and Mr.. Rushcroft was already book
ing return engagements for the early
fall. He was looking forward to a
tour Of Europe at the close Of the war.
Barnes sister, Mrs. Courtney. met
them at the Grand Central terminal
IT'S now quarter to five" said
Barnes after the greeting and presen-
tation. drop me AZ the Fifth Avenue
bank, Edith. l want to leave some
thing In my safety box downstairs.
Sha'n't be more than five minutes"
He got down from the automobile
at Forty-fourth street and shot across
the sidewa SntO the bank, casting
quick, aPOf- -ensive glances through
the five 2ck crowd on the avenue
as he sprinted. In his hand he Iugged
the heavy, weatherbeaten pack. His
sister end the countess stared after
him in amaZement.
Presently he emerged from the bank,
still carrying the bag. He was beam
ing. A certain worried, haggard ex-
preston had vanished from his face,
and for the first time in eight hours
he treated his travelling wardrobe with
scorn and Indifference.
THANK God, they're off my mind
at last" he cried. THAT Is the first
good, long breath I've had in a week.
No, not now. It's a long story and
/ can't tell 1t in Fifth avenue. 1t
would be extremely annoying to have
both of you die Of heart failure with
all these people looking on"
He felt her hand on his arm, and
knew that she was looking at him
with wide, incredplous eyes, but he
faced straight ahead. He was ter
ribly afraid that the girl beside him
was preparing to shed tears Of JOY
and relief. He could feel her search
ing in her jacket pocket for hand
kerchief
Mrs. Courtney was not only curl
Gus but apprehensive. She hadn't the
faintest idea who Miss Cameron was,
nor where her brother had picked her
up. But she saw at a glance that
she was lovely, and her soul was filled
with strange misgivings. She was like
all sisters who have pet bachelor
brothers. She hoped that poor Tom
hadn't gone and made fool of him
self.
The few minutes conversation she
had with the stranger only served to
increase her alarm. Miss CamerOn's
voice and smile-and her eyes were
positively alluring.
She had had night letter from Tom
that morning In which he said that he
was bringing a young lady friend down
from the nOrth-and would she meet
them at the station and put her up
for a couple of days? That was all
she knew of the dazzling stranger up
to the moment she saw her. Immedi-
ately after that she knew by intuition
a great deal more about her than Tom
could have told in volumes of CORE
spondence. She knew, also, that Tom
was lost forever!
"NOw tell me-" said the countess the
instant they entered the Courtney
apartment. She gripped both of his
arms with her firm little hands and
looked straight into his eyes. eagerly,
hopefully. She had forgotten Mrs.
Courtney's presence, she had not
taken the time to remove her hat or
jacket.
Lets all sit down." said he. my
knees are unaccountably weak. Come
along, EIDE. Listen to the romance of
my life"
And when the story was finished the
countess took his hand in hers and
held it to her cool cheek. The tears
were still drowning her eyes.
"Oh, you poor dear! Was that why
you grew so haggard and pale and
hOllOw-eyed?"
Partly" said he with great signifi-
canoe.
And you had them in your pack
all the time? You"
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