Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-08
CHAPTER XXII.

J About two weeks after Liska's arriva
/ l was sitting in my library reading my
/ daily paper and watching the pranks O
/ my little Lolita. when voices in the bach
/ parlOr fell upon my ear.
''What wonderful January weather.
! Liska exclaimed, evidently Just enterins
/ the room. after skating on the Marcy
/ for four winters, it seems almost like com
! ing to fairy-land to see japOnicas and VIC
/ let's out Of doors in winter"
! you've been walkingY' McRhea asked
''Ges. I've been over to see Annette"
/ you are Wonderfully constant, Liska,'
] somewhat seriously.
''Yes p with a little uneasiness in hel
I tone. Il don't know. / find it so easy &c
/ adapt myself to all kinds of circum.
! stances that l had begun to accuse myself
1 of having the prOyerbial Bohemian heart
1T has always been a true heart
Liska. That is one of the Bohemian vir-
/ tues, you know. We Philistines find 1t
/ eXpedient to be easily oft with the old
| love and on with the new;' but eXpendi-
/ encyI does not enter into Bohemian
/ thought. And it is there that one learns
to smile lightly and sing merrily with des-
pair Juggling at ones heart-strings?
"YOu speak knowingly, Col. McRhea. -
Some GOODNESS had crept into her voice.
Because | do know he answered,
earnestly. 1--WE have changed place in a
marvellous way, Liska. In four short
years you have become thoroughly con-
verted: but find L am still longing for
Bohemia"
Was there pain in his voice? 1t trem-
bled, and had lost something of its sweet
ness.
''You judge me wrongly, Col. Nc
Rhea," she protested, holly. 81 felt by
instinct that you had given me unjust
judgment when we met for the first time
last winter You carried mo to the Duke.
you left me to make for myself those dis
cOyeries of rank and pride Of place which
you knew would be revealed to me. For
three long years you left me to profit by
my uncle's training. When we met last
winter in st. Petersburg, and you gave me
the same cOurtly greeting you gave my
cousins, my heart told me you were mis-
judging me. l had adapted myself to my
new lot because il seemed right to me
that | should. God has fixed my lot, and
| have accepted it. What would gain to
carry always a sad face because nv
hearts dearest are separated from me? /
am indeed constant to the old loves.
These people befriended me when / was
friendless, and l love them; they were
tenderly cOnsiderate and very thoughtful.
and | am grateful to Them"
''And /, Liska?"
There is no language for the tenderness
Of his voice.
''And your" she answered, hesitatingly.
''And you? You gave me love at first,
and injustice at the last.''
The words came slowly. Then l heard
the rustic of skirts, and knew she had
left him before he could answer.
Don't worry, DIN" said, coming into
the room. ''I'Ye heard it all; and your
voice has revealed your heart to me.
Don't worry. twill all come round in
time"
Il don't know" he answered, YEARLY.
IAN old fool is The greatest fool of all,
Maxwell. guess it is decTeed that no
love Of mine should prosper"
Later in the day, just before dinner,
when we were all gathered around the
library fire, Liska came in with Ruth's
little Lois perched on her shoulder.
This is really the most remarkable
child"
stake care, Liska!'' Bob cried. SsYou
Will have every mother here down upon
you. I've made friends with all but Lois
by declaring that Rex hadgoOd mother wit
while all their young ones are prodigies.
You'd better profit by my experience"
"But really. just let me tell you
''Put the child down, Liskap' he cried,
with mock sternness. ''rve been a martyr