Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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H By HOWARE $2 * 11 ? Copyright, 1901, by CHAPTER XI.?CONTINUED. * 'It was only on tbat last evening that I let btm guess the troth," said Elsie. "and 1k>w I did tbat. heaven may know. Suddenly be seemed to see It And then, honestly, I bod ngf opportunity to deuy It. I dldntTpeak a tvord In two hours. Mr. Alden talked for both of us, making my arguments for me and then answering them! I \vltbout the fulntest perception that they weren't really mine at all. In 1 bA n?? o lll-n a Kior Iv\r m WlpHpfl away with bin own Wen that all tbej World seemed to be rushing along In the way be wished. It was only when he talked about sending me a lot of tuouey to buy wedding clothes that I managed to make myself beard, and ( even then Ik* thongbt that my objection was altogether to tbe money and Hot to tbe wedding. Remember that I: w as not much calmer than be. and you Will hare some idea of tbe confusion, j Ob. Breuda. bow can I talk to yon like this? And you don't seem to care In , the least. Are we all crazy together?" j "Some of uk bare been so perhaps," said Brenda, "but this morning I think we are all particularly sane." "It was wrong, of course, to let him come to see me." Elsie continued. "Bat It must end soon, and it was so little,: and you would have so mocb. Tou know In those days I hated you. envied you. lay awake at night to think bitter ! thoughts about you. with your beauty j and position and luxury! Oh. I 6aw nn onii Hnwn in front of your bouse for an hour one day until you came out and got into your carriage. And I wished the horses would run away with you. and Just as the thought flashed Into my intnd one of them began to prance, and I actually prayed out loud, because I was so afraid he really would run. after I had wished It." The rhetorical value of this speech was somewhat marred by the circumstance that Elsie's face was being washed while It was delivered. Having rendered this service. Brenda began to arrange her pat loot's hair. "I felt so small and shabby outside 1 your house." said Elsie. "You can't hare any Idea of It Fancy that mansion full of servants, all yours, and ' there was I who was In need? of shoes. ! 1 don't mean to say they were full of holes or anything like that but they j didn't look very nfee. and I couldn't ' afford to buy a uew pair, for I was saving every penny. My mother and I j have a little Income, and I was down ' to that for I hadn't had an engagement since February. I suppose you never wasted your time thinking about mo?after you knew there was 6ucb a . ' girl." MI never knew there was such a girl," replied Brenda. "until I saw you in this rootn. The giH I thought about j never existed. And now k?t me sny ' this: There Is no rivalry between us. i There are matches so manifestly made ' iu heaven that even a woman's jealousy must admit the divine sanction. So don't think of "sparing my feelings,' cs my New Eaglaud aunt expresses "being polite.' to use your own phrase for the same idea. You and Sir. Aldeu were made for eaoii other. If I had been writing a book or a piny. 1 might Lave tried to create two people so perfectly reciprocal. The way Is made smooth for me to be a friend to both of you." Elsie turned her head suddenly nn<l kissed Brenda's hand. Then she relapsed Into thought which culminated in her saymg: "You couldn't have lovrd him. I f -? that nf course, but li s true. Divine sanction hasn't anything to do with jealousy. They don't come from the same locality. I have always Icon jealous whenever I have been in love." She looked up out of the corner of ho. eye to catch the effect of the shock. 'Whenever you have been In love!" crie.! Urenda. "1 hope It hasn't hap- , jR-ne! often." * "Well, not so very often." replied i:isu . "I remember being lu love with an actor vU{'^ fer a-s much as two' Weeks. You spoke about putting Mr. A Men and me Into a play. Well, this, man resembled Mr. Aklen, and we were in tLi* same aggregation of genit:s. lie was just as much like Mr. Al-: dm; : ?< the man they get to play Xapoi in a third rate road company protiu. h.n of 'Sans Gene' is like the real . h en. They piek out a fellow with ;i right kind of nose. However, I l i d him with a consuming ardor. 1 r? r:l?er leaning out of a window of a ti. ! litt'e hotel in a jay town In the v.: > ' ? watch him sitting on a fene it. t' a mo:: light, smoking a cigar a:"? * t..e iv., I Imagined that be might rw thinking of me. By and by another IJSsJ ) FIELDING |j Charles W. Hooke. *0 fellow to the company" come along ajfl asked him If he was enjoying the moon. And my Idol said: "To?s^men-horo?nrtth the moon. 1 was waiting for you to bay me a drink.' It wasn't very bad. bat It was coarse, and I didn't love him any more after that, and as he bad oeTer taken the slightest notice of roe the romance was Dot serious except that I caught an awful cold leaning out of that window. Now, why did I tell you that story. Brenda?" "Because It la amusing. I suppose," said Brenda. surprised by the question. "Because at that thne I was not quite 17 years old." said Elsie, "and I was traveling around the country alone. My mother wae not strong enough to go with me, and we both needed money very badly." While Brenda was striving to grasp the full meaning of this, being well assured that Elsie spoke with a definite purpose, there came a rap at the door, announcing the morning visit of Dr. ? ' * * "/ was so afraid." KendalL Brenda was sufficiently and wry becomingly attired, and not so much as a single shining thread of her hair showed the smallest disarray, yet she could twit help feeling a sense of disadvantage. Having leaned upon the conventionalities quite Bteadlly all her ! life, she had come to need them, and Dr. Kendall was to her a yonng man * * ?% l~ * A ?*/*? In Mthnp WHO III but* IK1U LLTCW I LI CAA.IVI; ii*vwv? than a physician. She was surprised and a little ashamed to Bod that this was true. As for Kendall, be was oil doctor that morning. lie hod boon detained from Elsie longer than be would have wished, and tba-t strange thing which is a doctor*? conscience was driving him haid. He wasted no time in words until be had sotisfled h'msehf about his patient. In the course of his investigation he discovered that Elsie still calm- i ly believed tliat she would die of her wound, and this was the sole unfavor- j able symptom. It was the more re- j markable because she bad not at that j time any sensations which a rational 1 mind could attribute to the approach j 1 of dissolution. There was pain, of; course, hut it was not of the kind that: depresses nud frightens tlie sufferer. The doctor sp<>ko to her in the most: encouraging wcrds that he could com- [ mand. but they seemed not to produce j an adequate effect. Elsie said little j upon the subject of death, but It was ; clear thnt her mind was fixed upon It. "I must hurry away." snkl the doctor. "Mr. Aldeu is waiting in my room in a state of anxiety thnt I need not describe. I shall not only relieve that completely, but I shall tell him that he may see you this afternoon, five minutes precisely, aud Miss Maclaue will hold the watch." "Tell him. please." said Elsie, "that I thank him very much for the violets;j also that I received his message and that he must not think of it any more. You will remeiulier? lie must put it out of his mind." Ivi ndail glanced somewhat uneasily , at Ercnda as he repeated this singular , message. "I received from Mrs. Simmons." said i he, "a telegram seat to her from your ; mother?that is. from one of the family, j I haven't it here; must have left it in ; my room"?and lie pretended to search ; his pockets. "It said that your mother ' was not quite well enough to start at| once, and. in view of the encouraging telegrams sent last night, your rela-, lives wouldn't let her come unless she i was quite aide to make the journey, j Mrs. Simmons' message, sent inimedi-1 ntely after you were hurt, was quite j alarming. I'm afraid; but we have cor-! ifeted all that." "My mother is prostrated." said j Elsie, her eyes lliiins with tears, "and j I shall never see her act hi." _J*I jissuro )vu that you will," re;?lic<l! Kendall earnestly, "and, by the way, here's a letter from ber. It came this morning. I wn* told. There wai no other mail for you." "It's 81range what has become of Mr. Alden's letter," said Elsie, "the one bo mentioned In that note." "Do you mean that you dktnt receive K7" exciaimeu ifreuua. Elsie shook hvr bead. "It didn't come," she said. Kendall did not understand tbe significance of this, as be bad no accurate knowledge of tbe contents of tbe note. Ho arose and moved toward tbe door. Brenda accompanying him. "If you should chance to meet Mr. Elmendorf tbls morning." said Rbe, "perhaps it would be better not to mention wbnt you have Just beard." "About the letter?" "Yes." "I will not speak of It," said Kendall, "and as to tbe message which I shall take to Mr. Alden from Miss Miller, while of coarse 1 attach no sinister meaning to tt, I sliall take pains to forget it Immediately." "We cannot know what It la that she wishes him to put out of bla mind," said Brenda. "Perhaps bis love for ber." "We will take that view of It," replied I\en<lalL At this moment a nurse came to take Instructions about breakfast for Brenda and tbe patient, and she brought word that Mr. Maglane was In tbe re ception room, very anxious to see ow daughter. CHAPTER XIL HXRVE3 AXV HEARTS. MACLAOT was a man whose as* Mil I YV| pect should have been fit I K Jfly dignified and lmpreeHl slve. It had beeu so Ywj ?Indeed still was? when bis nerves were V t uoder control, but that was a rare condition lu his latter days. On the occasion of bis morning call at St. Winifred's, while be waited for Rreoda's appearance. It was to him as if his nervous system walked the floor unclothed In flesh or garments. This is the state which New England old ladies describe as "jumping out of your skin." and the phrase tits it nicely. Before Dr. Kendall took him out of the reoeption rcora to a more private place be was an object of sympathetic Interest to several poor persons waiting there, for they supposed that be must have soQie near relative at the point of doath in the institution. Ills pockets and bis hands were full of newspapers. and they were to a cod sldernbh? extent nccouniaow lor aw condition. T1h? marvelous dcllneatlve power of tbe modern press had been exerted upon the mystery of Elsie Miller with a result which tbe young woman herself had but dimly foreseen when she had spoken of It as so absolutely horrible as to extinguish the virtue of politeness altogether. The story j was to.ld from fifty points of view, and ; ever tbe stately aud beautiful figure of j flrenda Maclane moved through It like ( a stage ghost, having a carefully J v.TOUght effect of Intanglbleness and transparency, yet steadfastly attended , Kw LHttm litrhf *? "? No one accused Brvnda of the smailp?t wrorg. no ohe ventured to Identify her with the "mysterious woman" seen by Dr. ltlalr. yet with great clever- j ness the plot was so arranged that 1 Brenda'a figure In the ghostly light stood beet displayed upon the very spot j where tbo mysterious one seethed to J hare sunk ou* of sight as If Into a , grove. "Bronda. my chlM, what shall we j do?" exclaimed Mr. MoHnne, and be < extended toward his daughter two trembling bands that were full of newspapers. "Do?" said Brenda. "About what?" "The papers are crowded with it;'* he groaned. "Look at this! Look at these i pictures."* "WelL I think this one Is rather good of inc." replied Brenda. "I wonder. where they got tbe pbotograpli. Ob. t but see Mr. Alden! They've made him look like tbe pirate Kidd." "You seem to take no serious view of this."' be cried. "Katber. why should we?" she replle<l earnestly. "Here is a dear little pirl that has escaj>ed n dreadful peril.1** and I am so glnd of It, so religiously, prayerfully glad of it, that this publicity affects me not tbe least." "I think you have lost your wits. Brenda," said he. "Why, you're all mired up In It. They practically accuse you of going to that house"? "I did go there," replied Brenda. "I mean before tin? deed?at the very moment of t:"? "Lot me see," said Brenda, who wa,s already scanning the reports. "I don't see anything here that Isn't true. They are much fairer to Mr. Alden than 1 i would have supposed. Let us read the reports calmly. Ah. so! This mention of my poor little romance might bo somewhat trying to a sensitive nature, like, my father's, which I fortunately did not inherit." "This linking of your name with this woman's," he gro un d, "is most unfortunate. She is continually referred to as a t actress." "She is one." said Brenda. "ami between ourselves, I think she must In; exceptionally c'.ev* r. 1 hope Clarence will_uot unike her kave the stage yet \ ' ? ~~~~~~~ "*TV> papers ore crottxied trfth IV" h? groaned, until sbo has had a career of Tier own? a year or two before she effaces herself by marriage." "It seems to roe," sold be, "that in trying to be fair to tbis woman. In trying to set aside all prejudice and natural resentment, you bare gone to on absurd extreme upon tbe other side. You con never have anything In common with ber. There can be no question of friendly relations"? "But there can." replied Brenda. "Forgive me for contradicting my dear old father, who Is always so worried about me and always so good to me. I shall make ber my friend, if I can. and you will be glad when yoti know ber." Maclane raised his bands toward heaven, sprinkling tbe floor with fragments of uewspapers as be did so. It was bis usual gesture of defeat "And now." told Brenda. "to use your favorite expression, let's get down to business. I am bere to take care or Miss Miller, and you will not ask me to desert her wben you learn that Dr. Kendall says I am a wonderful nurse; By the way. you see 1 hm In the very best society, for there cant be anything above the old Philadelphia Kendalls. However, to return to business; 1 see clearly enough where oil this is tending. The papers speak only good of me this morning. Private gossip will scarcely know what to say for a day or two. but in the end. unless something is done to prevent it, I shall become identical with this mysterious woman and the actual object of suspicion. That, 1 admit, would be a misfortune. for If the case remains a mystery, as I think It may, 1 shall sever be clear of the taint of it." "But doesn't the glri know who did itf demanded Machine. "They hint that she Is shielding some one. and you will find some very unpleasant things about Aldcn." "He Is entirely Innocent." said Breads. "Of course you know that ae well as I do. Tbe beat thJug for all of us ie to establish tbe fact Immediately that the crime was the work gf a thief." "But suppose It wasn't?"" "Then." said Brenda, "It roost be made to appear so." "I see what yon mean," repUed he, "and I will consult my lawyer about it. I have already discovered that be understands the Jx>lice thoroughly. Perhaps something tuay be done by the use of plenty of money. Meanwhile I would like to l>e satisfied about Mr. Alden. It la not fair to you that be should conceal his defense, if be has one. The sooner tbe ease Is thoroughly cleared of that mystery tbe better for ne." "Reduced,to a theft," said Brenda, "the papers will cease to print tuuch about It." "You are quite right,"* replied Mr. Maclnne. "Rut my first move will be in A ldon's direction. I must know where he stands, or there will be no safety for you In any llDe of action. If be Is guilty, we must not appear as bis accomplices after the fact" "That Is monstrous" Insisted Brenda. "Do not ?cashier It." Tbey spoke for some minutes of minor matters, turning over the papers together, while Rrenda selected such ! portions as she thought that Dr. Kendall might permit Elsie to see. The sight of th?>se stories with their ahun- j dant Illustrations set Mr. Maclane's nerves on edge again, and he wan In a "most wretched fruino of mind when he left tlie hospltaL It chanced that 119 Ik? emerged from the structure be encountered Alden, who had Just come from Kendall's room and was full of px>d will to all mankind as the result of the conversa- j tlon with the doctor. He felt that Maclane had a just grievance against him, and he began at ouee a most earnest attempt to repair the injury. Macluue was relieved to timl Alden In ft pliant mood?the rarest of all his moods, by I the way?and the two walked toward | the avenue together in an atmosphere of cordiality such as surrounds sometimes the unfriendly victims of a common misfortune. I'lKin arriving rft his offlco Alden met j Pcti'ctlve Eltnendorf, with the result already disclosed. Profiting by the ad- j vice received in the course of this Interview and by his memories of many j stories of crimes, criminals and sleutli- \ hounds of the law, Alden succeeded in j eluding both tin* slim low of "trouble" I and the shadow of "business," ami his i doings for aa_hour or two were wholly 1 * >. . * unknown to fbe police At 3 o'clock he appeared ?t St. Wlnlfwd'a hoaptt-L where be wm* informed by Dr. Kendall that KUte wonld rvcvlrv him presently. At that moment Elsie was confiding to Breodn her optnlho that Mr. A Idea would snflfor s grierous disappoint* meet -Tie won't expect to see me like tble*" she said. "1 look like death's head on a handspike, ns my cousin BlUy says. Billy waa In the naval re *? ? serve? aunn^ 100 war iuiu in m-uim the Spaniard? from capturing New York. but that's another story. Breuda, If I should put on just n little bit of rouge? I doo't want to frighten him." "You doo't waDt to- think of rouse for teo yen re," replied Brenda. "Ami besides, my dear, j*ou haven't any. Moreover, be won't know how you look; be will be too glad to see you alive." "Of course you think I am verytrivial and absurd," said Elslo. "tat do you realise that be may not see me again? No one can know precisely how 1 am hurt This wound may be nearer to a vital spot than Dr. Kendall suspects or will telL A break of a wall as thin an paper, a little blood spilled here beneath my hand, and 1 am gone In a moment Perhaps tonight; perhaps even while he sits here beside me. And this lost sight of me will be tbe memory bo will curry as long as he Uvea I want It to blot out the face of every other girl that be will ever see." Then don't blot out your own with the contents of a rouge got." said Breodo. "Hark! They are coming along the corridor." She staoDed to the door and ushered la Akleo and KendalL Aid en had the palo. set face of Nathan Hale going to execntion. As often happens with a man too strenuously prepared, his eyes failed to focus, and be stared for a moment at Elsie without really seeing ber. Had she boen the wasted and pitiable object that bis Inexperience led him to expect be would probably have borne the sight of her with great fortitude, but when her face emerged from thernials of Imperfect vision precisely Elsie's, wttb every well remembered attribute of beanty. ft was an attach upon an auprotectod spot In bis defenses, and every drop of blood In bis body cried out with the voice of one great sob. "This is wbet I was a/raid of," muttered Kendall. "Confound hftn! I * I 1^ KUfW IMf U men* uvnu. He glanced aneasUy at Elsie, but she seemed quite cairn. She extended her hand toward Aiden, and be kissed It, failing on hie knees beside the bed. "Yoo nwst not feel sorry for me." said she. "I am very comfortable, and 1 waste do time in pitying myself. It was very kind of you to send the violet a" "Dear tittle gtrl," be said, still kneeling, "every minute of tny life shaH be yours to make this right" Ton are not to speak that way," replied Elsie, with that manner wjilcb accompanies long considered words. "You haw your own life to lead. You must not spoil It for me." Aldeo** face was gray with anxiety as he looked into Elsie's. "Don't say we haw gone back; that ifs all like long ago," be began. But the warning eye of the vigilant Kendall. who had softly stepped to the ! head of the Ixxi. upon the other side. : checked tills pica. Alden writhed with | the effect, but his will held hint. "I mustn't worry you." he said; then, with haif an eyo on Kendall: "Elsie, who did tlrfs? Tell me, little girL" "1 don't kDow; really I don't," she answered. "Why do you think that I i do?" Again the doctor silently protested, ^ ami Akleu took beed. ^ "I hml not beard It from yotk" ho said. "Bat let us put It out of our ? ir.luds. What can I do for you? la | there anything you need? We will. hold a conference on the subject." I "BreoiLa wot 1 hi get rue anything in i the world." replied Elsie. "She has j been as good as two mothers lo me. I Rreuda. what do I want?" "Host and ho easy mind and your i real mother ns soon as she can come," replied Ilreuda. "As to Mr. Alden's contribution. I would BUgtrest a pretty picture or two to put on the walls. They would relieve the e^e. Elsie has ashtKl for Tantalus, teat the art committee. <"onslstlug o? I>r. Kendall aniV myself. refuse* to hang hint." "The art committee Is all right." snld Alden. "l shall submit ooiue pictures to It With confidence" Thus the talk drifted from topics too exciting, and some minutes were spent, pleasantly and conventionally enough. T" ? .. elu.nt tr, f.ilr., Ilia I IK'11, its ;\iuru n?o. tt?/vui. w?tvv leave. Elsie suddenly began to weep very bitterly and without a; pnreut en use. for it was a porting for a few Lours. To Brenda afterward she said in explanation. To U.itik 1 might have died nnd never love seen him again:" As ttie tnattiT seen**I to nvolve tb health < f the par!e:r. and 'Uainij. the regulation of Mr. Aldrn'- si.s. IJrend.t cou> .('.end hr.-> ? !? I d to report the ret:..:rk to I)r. Kendul. "It is all very tnvste; i n;s to jutsaid 4 lie. "She h;*vs lilt:- vriti. her sou! and body, but s.ro Believes that it is all over." "She will turt nhvuys th.uk so," replied Brenila. ((.'< ntimx.-d .>a ag" 'J.)