Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-24

AFRAID she suspects me of liking OF OF
wanting to marry her stepmother, whom
she loves very much. And besides this
never know what caprice may occur to
her. She is fearless and self-willed, and,
as l SAID, not too fond of me-
SIS she pretty? She Is rich, of course"
"Very beautiful" he replied, quickly,
with unintentiOnal enthusiasm.
He had made a mistake. Elaine was
as quick-witted and clever as a woman
could be. She knew him before. Now
she knew all his schemes quite as well
as he did. but it did not suit her views to
have him know it. She only shrugged her
small shoulders and said:
Il can't for the life of me see myself in
all this. Wha; have l IN this far-0ff city
to do with these friends Of yOurs?''
Il am coming to that-cOming to that,
Elaine. l found from your letters that
your name is Ellen Weston: that YOU are
the daughter Of Rev. Godfrey Weston
and Joyce, his wife; that this joyce was
a Miss Joyce Lane, an orphan girl who
had been brought up by a Mrs. Claren-
don and was married at her house. Now
L CHANGED to know that Mrs. Clarendon
was the mother of Mrs. Henry Fearne,
the wife OF a distinguished and wealthy
minister In N, who is the great I'M
Gle of my ward, and the person she loves
best in the world. Mrs. Fearne and your
Now you need and want change. Write
IN your proper name to these people, and
ask them to let you come and board with
them during the winter for your health.
They will not take any board, Of course,
but will invite you most cordially to visit
them. You will then be just where you
can watch everybody want looked after
and keep me posted. ! will be there Of
ten, but you and l can meet as strang-
ers"
"What kind of people are the minister
and his wife?''
"TwO Of the uncO guild, who will take
you to their hearts and believe anything
you tell them"
Il know by your tone that they are not
of your sort; consequently, are thorough
ly good. hate to deceive them so. l de-
spise my rOew
"Ahl Elaine, you have been an actress
so long, to quarrel with your cast. Only
do as well there as you do here on the
boards, and l ask no MORE"
Il don't in the least dislike my profess
sion. l am acting part and paid to do
it in the theatre Everybody who comes
there knows that perfectly well; but l
hate to impose on good people by acting
when l profess TO be natural"
81 didn't think you would be so particu-
lar"
Il didn't think I should be so silly
as to trouble you with my particularly"
"At any rate you have promised, and
l have never known you break your
word yet"
And you know 1 will not now. Has
the minister any family? any daughters ?"
"IIe has only one SON.
s'What is he like?'
"a man about thirty, l should say
Travelled, learned, handsome, proud, con-
ceited, scientific and rich. If you will
captivate and marry him, you will have
reason to be satisfied"
81 am hardly as unprincipled as you
seem to think. Mr.. Beltham. l Will leave
all matrimonial speCulatiOns to you; they
Will keep you busy. Again, as to our
business; l will 90 down to IL if l
may. | will watch your game for you,
but | Will not lend myself to any scheme
which will harm in the least either your
ward or DR.. Fearne's family. Am l un-
derstood?'
certainly; 1 don't want you to harm
anybody. When Will you write to DR..
Fearne?'
Immediately. Give me his address,
He wrote and handed it to her. He had
gotten up and was putting on his gloves,
looking down admiringly at her the
while; in his own selfish sort he still loved
her.
elaine" he said, at last, 81 trust we
part friends. Youhaye been terribly dear
! to me-"
She looked up brightly enough.
"Just as good friends, Mr.. Beltham, as
we ever were,' she answered, scOrnfully.
''GOOd morning, sir!"
Good mOrningl" he said, and went
| slowly out.
Elaine sat after she was left alone for a
few minutes very still, looking down on
the floor thinking; then, suddenly, smil-
a III L.
| aloud, a habit which, living much alone,
she frequently INDUCED in. Placing a
! piece Of paper before her, she said:
81 Think think, now, l have it all! /
! may be mistaken, but / know him so well,
| so very well, rarely fail to fathom his
/ purposes. At any rate 1 will write down
( my convictions here, and six months
/ from this time / will read them again.
"First item-for dramatis persona in
/ this little play we have Judge Barrett
! old, wealthy, distinguished husband OF
/ young and pretty wife. Annie, wife OF
| Judge Barrett, pretty and silly, of course,
! or she wouldn't love Alb. Mrs. Beltham,
! general schemer and plotter. Miss Bar.
rett, daughter, bright and brightly beau.
| tiful, unattainable, but sOreIy coveted by
! A. B.; and Mr.. Albert Beltham, villain.
| Lastly, Elaine Nere-and what is Elaine
I We're? A woman, not good, but not bad
enough to cOnniye at A. BIS treachery,
and sharp enough to Outwit the aforesaid
and above mentioned A. b. And now for
my letter.
She took up the piece Of paper on which
/ she had been writing, went into the next
room, locked it in a bureau drawer and
| came back to her task at the table. In a
! very short time the letter was written.
and Elaine We're had shut herself in her
room to study her part of popular come.
! dy which, even as early in the season as
/ this, was drawing well,7 and SO helping
/ her and many others to live.