Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f V (COPTEIGHT, Eosrr.T E^> CHAPTER XIX. (Continued.) "Mr. Bcnsonburst," she said, sweet- ! ly and low. and be began to grow j nvlvmirw) of lii* firifpr "von will for- ! give :r.e if you consider me presuming; I mean it most kindly. 1 consider you my friend?you were my husband's friend. I know why you are angry. No one told me, but I know. Perhaps, too. I know Beatrice better than you do with your great love for her; for I know that you love her. I also know that she loves you. You smile unbelievingly. Believe me; wait, and you will leurn for yourself. My sister is proud to a degree that few women attain. but she is equally loyal, once giving her love. Winning her, you win her forever and utterly. Is not that worth waiting for?"' Her swift, brilliant smile was upon her face, and his own lips parted in smiling, looking down upon the soft; light lingers upon his arm. "I will wait." he said, gently. "You are like a good angel to one in trouble. Mrs. Graham. I do love Beatrice, and I thought I might win her. until there came a whisper that she was lto longer to be won. and that clearing away, her own reply to-day. But now I shall hope and wait, and if time proves that she does not love mo " "You need not fear." said Alecla softly, lilling the pause of his voice. Her eyes lifted to his were perfectly steady; and as they passed up the staircase together, parting at her door, a new faith in woman entered the soul of Gregory Bensonhurst and stung his easy-going spirit into a more acute life and ambition. Mrs. Graham returned to her room, seated herself again at the open window. and looked across the sand-hills t) the glittering stretch of water bearing the ships right royally upon their way. and the s nile was gone from her face, and *n]y sadness rested: i there, the grieved look in the violet eyes betraying a troubled heart. "Chiding my sister for her pride that wounds a true heart, am I free from the same? Was I unwomanly in my harshness to him:" But going down to dinner, dressed In a tender-hued, clinging gown, with Her delicate laces and perfumes, 110 one would guess of the under current of bitterness or the sadness behind the brave eyes. Her wit and laughter made the dinner one to enjoy and remember . one of the pleasant things of the day. Her seat at the table was between Mrs. Wiuthrop and Jessica Gray, and she looked like a rose contrasted with the quiet elder woman, and the languid. pale beauty; and those who knew bor during that other summer, "whispered of how much more beautiful and charming she had grown during the past three years of sorrow and trial. Perhaps the knowledge of this was strong upon John tVinthrop. facing her at the table. He left the hotel that day on which he had made kuown to this woman his proud heart, going to the city upon business for Talmer Earle, and it was only this day ' that he returned, summoned by his mother in her anxiety for his good. Perhaps, too, this subtle change in the proud face of Alecia gave him t courage to request her to walk with him upon the sands. * It was a simple request and utterly insicnifionnt. but Jessica Gray, catch ing the words, moved gracefully and languidly across the room toward them from the window and murmured in her liquid voice?so strangely fascinating?that Mrs. Winthrop was so anxious for Mrs. Graham to go with her to the pavilion for a little while before she should retire to her room, although she, Jessica, had taken it upon herself to request the favor, knowing what friends they were. So it was that Alecia smiled pleasantly up at John Winthrop, and said she must go to his mother, knowing ihat he would excuse her upon that plea. "Mamma Winthrop has gone to her room for a moment," said Jessica, oalnfly, "but she will return directly. She has such an intense admiration for you. Mrs. Graham, that I often thiuk how really wicked it is for her son to be so hard upon you. Hut. then, Jack is so honorable and strict himself tliat be could not think lightly of wrong in others, and believing that sn-nrji to ;i lio when thev were trying to prove the extent of your husband's failure, of course he cannot forget it. You see. you came back "with plc-nty of money, anu not until after your husbaml died. But you mustn't feel cross with me. dear Mrs. Graham. for I surely could not believe such a thing.'' Never in her life had such fire blazed iiu Alecia Graham's eyes as at that moment, facing Jessica Gray upon the hotel piazza. The sweet violet color deepened to intense purple; her face was touched with the snow of passion: unconsciously the slim hand holding a jiosti. KATE_ LUDLUM. /\? imi> s!f-!l<If'.' nriti'i- iiit* Sjfiiiin;; back the blow io her Iioucr and pride. The music ot her voice, too, was frc>:.:t with pain. ami the passionate heart heat fiercely uudci the silk and lace of her gown. "I beg you to thank Mr. V? inthrop." she said, haughtily, "for his courteous opinion of me. Miss Gray, and iniorm him that, perhaps, my husband's hcuor is more spotless than his own. He could never have insulted a woman! One would scarcely have believed this of votir upright guardian!" burning away, her face still angry, she encountered Mrs. Winthrop. "Thee is troubled, dear," said this gentle woman in her soft, low voice, laying one hand detaingly upon Alecia's arm. searching the pallid, scornful face with kindly eyes. "Will thee tell thy trouble to me that I may help thee, if I may? I am old and thee is young, and sorrow should not come too near thee to thy hurt!" Alecia shook her head, an Icy smile upon her lips. She must get away to her room and conquer this emotion, lest she betray her heart. "There is nothing," she said, steadily. "that T should tell you. or any one. dear Mrs. Winthrop. I have heard cruel news of a friend, that is all, but one cauuot depend too much upon one's friends. If we honored them less we would be less wounded when they fall!" She smiled again quite steadily and turned away up the staircase, fortunate in meeting no one on her way to her room. For this thrust of subtle words was so sudden and keen that she had no opportunity of hiding how much she was wounded. Site would conquer it presently alone in her room. He should never guess how he had wounded her. And meanwhile Jessica Gray was languidly strolling along the promenade toward the pavilion with Mrs. Winthrop and her son, and was softly murmuring, looking up to tiie tall man beside her, that flickering flame in her eyes, what a charming woman Mrs. Graham was. if only she were not so harsh and unforgiving! "I could scarcely believe my hearing," she said, softly, breathing a ^ort of fasciuation, even upon this quiet man, "when she told me to-night that, in spite of all men say or think, her husband's honor is higher than yours. jack: nar a strangely viiuucuve family they must be. judging from these two! I would not care to call either of them my friend!" Under her curled lashes she sawthat her words struck home, from the pallor upon his face and the sudden convulsive setting of his lips. The flame in her eyes was vivid, and he should have been w-arned, but who pauses to examine the arrow that strikes? "Thee must have misunderstood Mrs. Graham, Jessica," said Mrs. Winthrop, mildly. "Thee is oftentime too impulsive in thy judgments. Mrs. Graham is my friend. Remember that in thy speaking of her, my dear. She knows that John is thoroughly upright, and she is not one to condemn any act of justice. I scarcely think that she could have said what Wrti\nnt J " iiicr ic^caio. "Well, I am sure It is nothing to me," said Jessica, carelessly. She was satisfied with her shaft of subtle words. She knew perfectly well that she had wounded her guardian. She knew, too, that he loved this other woman. And presently John Winthrop left them and no one saw him again that night. And Alecia betrayed no sign of her struggle on the following day, even joining a little sailing party in the Banjo, because John Winthrop was going, and she would have him understand that his presence was nothing to Iter. "I am almost afraid to venture," said Georgi; Priestly, as they stood on the pier watching him making preparations for their comfort "That thin cloud over there in the northwest looks like a squall. It isn't a specially atop thinsr. ladies, to be caught on the bay at such a time." "Oh. but it simply couldn't storm, you know," said Althea Dunraven, persuasively, "because I wish to go so much. Mr. Priestly." "Very well." he said, smiling. "I will not go beyond quiet water, anyway, Miss Dunraven." "Danger gives spice to pleasure, Mr. Priestly," said Beatrice, laughing. She was bright and witty and reckless of speech because of the presence of her lover. He should not guess that her heart was heavy. "How stupid life would be if one could know the end of everything." "But do you truly think there will bo storm?" queried Althea, with puckering brows. "Nonsense," said Miss Catherwood, impolitely. "Don't be absurd, Althea. Do you imagine that that thin, streaky cloud could do us harm? It is jv-Jt a little bit of drift from some far-off bank of cloud. I am not afraid!" "If Miss Catlierwood has no fear, wliy should avc. aa'ho profess to be brave?" asked Alecia. amused. "To profess a belief does not always: signify its truth. Mrs. Graham." said John Wiuthrop, coldly. He joined the sailing-party upon impulse, Avhen Jessica positively affirmed that he would nor go. "We may often be more cowan':y than \v.e sIioav." 'Titan " ill roimlv. dinnimr her hand deep in tiio water as the Banjo swung away l'rom the pier and caught a thread of breeze and filled away merrily, "if so, we prove that we have conquered weakness. Mr. Winthrop. To hide fear?or pain?in our own hearts makes us the more strong in character. It proves that we have struggled?and conquered." What was there in this woman that drew his soul up to the admiration no matter how fiercely he set her away? He had it in his heart to leave the hotel that morning after Jessica's subtle words, but he scorned this as weakness. Would he run from any woman? Would he be worsted by a pair of level violet eyes or a smile or a roseleaf mouth? He. John Winthrop, hitherto unmoved, hitherto rather scorning women save his mother. "Nevertheless." he said coldly, "an open fight is much more honorable than a sly wound, such as Brutus gave. Mrs. Graham." "Yes," she said steadily, a strange, tense line around her mouth, though a smile was in her eyes, and her white hand splashed the water carelessly, "and a man's strange way of l>cliev ins tne worst always of a woman, Mr. Winthrop. I wonder that you could express such a thought." He hated her; he would hate her. he said to himself, savagely gnawing his mustache as ho leaned back against the railing, and looked from her bewildering face to the strange streak of cloud, gauze-like, now almost overhead. as though some mighty windforce drove it ruthlessly up. though there was scarcely now enough wind to till the sail as it spread to meet it. Priestly, too. was watching that film of cloud, though not with mere idle curiosity, and he kept the ropes taut, ready for an emergency. He world not alarm his companions, but as that cloud sifted thinly up the heavens by some unseen force, he felt more and more convinced that he should have refused to come out while it remained. Still, he would not alarm any one, and. ready for what might come, he < 1.l-~ ?? I iii ii.ii uijN ?;i itrui kiii ill ui? ^ui'sir, tiuti at the request of Althea, echoed by the others, he started a song Leland had -written to the Banjo, in memory of their many pleasant trips upon it, striking light accompaniment upon the strings.of the banjo he had brought. They were laughing and very merry, criticising or complimenting Leland upon the song, none of them save Priestly thinking of harm, when ? There came a sigh over the water like a monster's breath, a sudden bending and twisting of the trees on the distant shore, a shriek of wind, the rattle of falling sail aEd swift tuud of the rudder turning to meet the squall, and the Banjo lurched and struggled up. and endeavored to beat around to the wind, answering her helm, but was struck down and over, and the waves went over her passengers! . } .'f r"' CHAPTER XX. FROM DEATH'S PRESENCE. The squall passed nearly as quickly ao it, traintr. The Banjo righted herself as soon as she was lightened; her ropes were trailing in the water and the rudder swinging to and fro under the force of the shock and her swinging boom. George Priestly, on the lookout for some such thing as this, had kept firm hold of one of the ropes, and had shouted to the others to do the same, but only he had presence of mind enough to obey. Althea was clinging to him, frantic with terror, and he was soon back in the boat with her drawn up beside him. and then with deft movements he had the sail hauled up to the rising breeze and was guiding the boat tc where the others were struggling in the water. He was not at all fearful of the consequences o( the accident, for with ordinary level-headedness and prompt action they could be returned to the Loat none the worse for the wetting. And, in truth, it was scarcely three minutes later that all were safely back in tie Banjo?all save Alecia Graham and John Winthrop. Alecia, in falling, was struck senseless by the sudden swerve of the boom, and had sunk instantly, coming to the surface some few feet away. Her beautiful suimy hair was unfastened from its pins and drifted like ropes of gold about her deatu-iiKe race. | She was still unconscious and drifting farther away from the boat and her friends. John Winthrop, sitting beside her when the accident occurred, was also struck by the jibing boom, but in such such a manner as to receive a deep cut in his head just at the edge of his hair, but the dash into the water revived his instant's giddiness and with the instinct of love?more powerful than hate at sucL a moment ?he looked about him for Alecia. But the wound upon his head was severe, unconscious though he was of I - . the fact, and at first his sight was blurred and he saw only the dark outline of the Banjo. Then this pallid face with the drift of gold hair about it touched the surface of the throbbing water, and utterly forgetting himself in his thought of her he struck out to her rescue. l'or the second time she sank and rose ere he reached her. swimming as he was powerfully, and as he caught her to hir.i, keeping himself afloat now with one arm. his eyes burned down upon her as though they held the might to restore life should life have gone. And then they wore lifted into the boat, and all things went out of John Winthrop's mind for many days?even the consciousness of this one woman. "By George!" said Lane Leland, in a low tone, as they used every effort to restore these two to consciousness. "But there are the strangest jumbles in this life! These two sworn enemies seem forever to be thrown across each other's lives, and alwayi in some such dramatic manner. What will it end in, I wonder?" "Ob, don't!" moaned Miss Catberwood, piteously, doing her best to obey instructions for restoring consciousness to the beautiful face of Alecia upon Beatrice's shoulder. "It is so dreadful, dreadful to have her look like this, Lane! What'can we do and why did we ever come?" (To be contl-ued.) Friend?"Your two sopranos appear to be very good friends." Manager? "Yes; each thinks the other can't sing."?Tit-Bits. J. H. WEDDirS HflRDV 29 &. Trade Street. We are leaders in our business, prepared to supply the requirem We sell Syracuse Steel Beam AMM THE AMERICAN MONTH is commended by Statesmen, others prominent in the worli nation in sifting the actual news frot tation of current events in their .fust freedom from daily-paper sensation want to know what the world is doin to judge from the letters seceived comprehensive, and labor saving t timely contributions on important writers. Its reviews of other mag work. 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