Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-07-20

Genoa-Of which Raymond had often
spoken and where he had been more than
once-he admired it so much; couldn't
they 90 there and be quiet for little
while! She was asking a great favor
that she knew very well; but if Mrs.
Portico wouldn't take her, she would
ind some one who would. They had
talked OF such a journey so often: and.
certainly, if Mrs. Portico had been willing
before, she ought to be much more willing
now. The girl declared that she would
do something-go somewhere-keep, in
one way or another, her situation upper
celyed. There was no use talking to her
about telling-she would rather die than
tell. No doubt it seemed strange, but she
knew what she was about. No one had
guessed anything yet-she had succeeded
perfectly in doing what she wished-and
her father and mother believed, as Mrs.
P0ruco had belieYed-hadn't shef-that,
any time the last year. Raymond Benyon
was less to her than he had been before.
Wen, so he was; yes, he was. He had
gone away-he was of, heaven knew
wherein the Pacific; she was alone, and
now she would remain alone. The family
believed it was all oYer-with his going
back to his ship, and other things, and
they were right; for it lods Over-or it
would be soon.
Mrs. Portico, by this time, had grown
almost afraid Of her young friend; she
had so little fear, she had even, as it were,
so little shame. If the good lady had
been accustomed to analyzing things a
little more, she would have said she had
so little conscience. She looked at Ge0r-
gina with dilated eyes-her visitor was
so much the calmer of the twO-and eX-
claimed, and murmured, and sunk back,
and sprang forward, and wiped her fore
head with her pocket handkerchief.
There We're things she didn't understand;
that they should all have been deceived,
that they should have thought Ge0rgina
was giving her lover up (they fattered
themselves she was discouraged, or had
grown tired Of him }, when she was really
only making it impossible she should
belong to any one else. And with this,
her incOnsequence, her capriciousness,
her absence of motive, the way she con-
tradicted herself, her apparent belief that
she could hush up such situation for
ever! There was nothing shameful in
having married poor Mr.. Benyon, even in
a little church at Harlem, and being given
away by paymaster. 1t was much more
shameful to be in such state without be-
ing prepared to make the proper explana-
tiOns. And she must have seen very little
of her husband; she must have given him
up-so far as meeting him went-almost as
Gressie herself told Mrs. PorticO, in the
preceding October, it must have been,
that there now would be no need of send
ing GeOrgina away, inasmuch as the af-
tair with the little navy mana project
in every way so unsuitable-had quite
blown over?
'fAfter our marriage l saw him less-I
saw him a great deal less,n GeOrgina
explained; but her explanation only
RI 10 hn Tl1n
dense.
Il don't see, in that case, what on earth
you married him fort"
'We had to be more careful wished
to appear to have given him up. OF
cOurseswe were really more intimate
saw him differently" Georgina said,
smiling.
81 should think so! l can't for the life
of me see why you weren't discovered"
'All l can say is we weren't. No doubt
it's remarkable. We managed very we'll
that is, manageable didn't want to
manage at all. And then father and
mother are incredibly stupid"
Mrs. PorticO exhaled a comprehensive
moan, feeling glad, on the whole, that she
hadn't a daughter, while Georgina went
on to furnish a few more details. Ray
mond BenyOn, in the summer, had been
ordered from Brooklyn to CharlestOwn,
llCdl DOolOus MuCAGs ds VII % VI L4CO DC1-
haps knew, there was another navy yard,
in which there was a temporary press Of
work requiring more oversight. He had
remained there several months, during
which he had written to her urgently to
come to him, and during which, as well,
he had received notice that he was to re-
join his ship little later. Before doing
so he came back to Brooklyn for a few
weeks to wind up his work there, and
fhaV1 81 o hoA i'm fxvo ffar1
That was the best time of all the year that
had elapsed since their marriage. 1t was
a wonder at home that nothiag had then
been Guessed, because she had really been
reckless, and Beny0n had even tried to
force on a disclosure. But they acre stu
pid, that was very certain. He had be-
sought her again and again to put
an end to their false position, but
she didn't want it any more than she
had wanted it before. They had rather
bad parting; in fact, for a pair of lovers,
it was very queer parting indeed. He
didn't know, now, the thing she had come
to tell Mrs. Portico. She had not written
to him. He was on very long cruise.
1t might be two years before he returned
to the United States. 81 don't care how
long he stays away" Georgina said, very
simply.
''You haven't mentioned why you mar
ried him. Perhaps you don't remember"
Mrs. Portico broke out, with her mascu-
line laugh.
sob, yes; loved him!'
'And you have got over thatW
Georgina hesitated a moment.
"Why, no, Mrs. POrticO, of course l
haven't; Raymond's splendid fellow"
''Then why don't you live with him?
You don't explain that"
''What would be the use when he's al
ways away? How can one live with
man that spends half his life in the South
Seas? If he wasn't in the navy it would
be different. But to go through every
thing-I mean everything that making
our marriage known would bring upon
me-the scOlding and the exposure, and
the ridicule, the scenes at hOme-to 90
through it all, just for the idea, and yet
be alone here, just as | was before, with
out my husband after all-with none of
the good of him." and here Georgina
looked at her hostess as if with the certi-
tude that such an enumeration of incon-
Yeniences would touch her effectually.
Greatly, Mrs. Portico, am bound to say
don't think that would be worth while.
haven't the courage for it,
II never thought you were coward"
said Mrs. Portico.
''WelI, Pm motif you Will give me
time. Pm very patient"
81 never thought that, either"
marrying changes one" said Georgi-
ma, still smiling.
ut certainly seems to have had a very
odd effect upon you. Why don't you
make him leave the navy and arrange
your life comfortably, like every one
else?''
81 wouldn't for the world interfere with
his prospects-with his promotion. That
is sure to come for him, and to come
quickly, he has such talents. He is de-
voted to his profession; it would ruin him
to leave it,"
"My dear young woman, you are
strange creature" Mrs. PorticO exclaim-
ed, looking at her companion as if she
had been in a glass case.
$50 poor Raymond says" Georgina an
swered, smiling more than ever.
''Certainly, l should have been very
sorry to marry navy man; but if l had
married him, should stick to him, in
the face Of all the seedlings in the uni
versep'
81 don't know what your parents may
have been; l know what mine arep
Georgina replied, with some dignity.
'FWhen he's Captain, we shall come out
of hiding"
ssAnd what shall you do meanwhile?
What will you do with your children?
Where will you hide them? What will
you do with this oneg'
Georgina rested her eyes on her lap for