The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1920-04-28
CHAPTER ~.

S''|Nt W.
had twice trarerscd the cross lane
near McGowans Pass tavern waiting
for Barbara Bradford. Although 1t
had been my Intention to ride thither
was amazed to learn on applying at
TWO of the stables near the park en-
trance to hire a horse that the few
they had there either were owned pri-
vately or had been already engaged.
There was nothing for me to do but
to go to my rendezvous on foot. 1 had
almost despaired Of Miss Bradford's
coming when ] spied her cantering
slowly along the lane, followed at a
decorous distance by groom. She
was looking right and left and when
she saw me her face frightened but
she rode few steps past me with no
Sign Of recognition. was wondering
what to make Of this new slight when
she suddenly reined in and allowed
the groom to come up with her.
+ James" l heard her sny to the
groom my head aches, and the rid
ing is making 1t worse. Take the
horses back to the stable. and will
walk the rest OF the way home"
Every well, Miss Bradford" he said,
touching his cap, as he assisted her
to alight.
She waited until he had vanished
and then fastened to the bench where
was seated, one had purposely Sc
lectcd because 1t was half hidden by
turn in the road and the branches
of wide-spreading tree.
She colored wildly as rose to
greet her with outstrctched hand.
"Oh, Mr. Nelson" she cried, II don't
know what you will think of me, ask
ing you to meet me here. am in
trouble. I must tell someone. l don't
know what to dol"
'Thc only thing to do" 1 suggested.
"ls to begin at the beginning and tell
me the whole story I've sisters Of my
own. Just pretend you are one of my
sisters and let me help YOU"
She looked at me thoughtfully,
studying me rs If questioning wheth-
er or not l was to be trusted, and ap-
parently deciding In the affirmative,
told me an amazing story.
cts all about my sister, Claire" she
began. "She's five years older than
I. She's lovely girl. but she's-that
is, she used to be--impulsive, roman
tic, and headstrong. She and my
mother never got along we'll together
and she was sent away to boarding
school. One winter, 1t was six years
ago, mother was in Europe and only
Dad and l were at home :"
She sighed sadly. Evidently her
words were bringing back to her mo-
ments OF heartache.
'To make a long story short, Claire
ran away from the school and mar.
rled-married a French chauffeur en-
ployed by family In the ncighbor-
hood. She took me into her conf
dence week later. and I--well, told
dad. There was a terrible time about
1t all. Dad found out that her hus-
band was already married, had wife
and child right hero in this city. He
had the marriage annullcd and man
aged to keep everything out Of the pa
pers. He threatened Claire's husband
with prison and made him 20 back to
France. Dad was simply wonderful
NO one knew anything about Clalre's
escapadc except ourselves, the prin-
clpal Of the school, and the Judge
down In Nassau county, who ordered
the marriage annulled. Dad kept moth
er abroad until after 1t was all over
and to this day she never has heard
word about It,"
"Your father must be wonderful
man." said enthusiastically.
"He was" she said simply. 'He has
been dead two years"
"Oh, I'm so sorry" cried, did
not know
"If Dad were alive he would know
what to do. You see, when he died,
there was not much money left. We're
really little better than paupers.
We've been living from day to day on
our tiny capital, and Mother has been
working every wire to. arrange a good