Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-02

UdU
never touched his heart, not even for a
moment; but this child, this darling of his
good fathers, this und scIplined young
creature of whom he said again and
again that he did not approve, this young
girl had taken him captive, ensiaved him.
fascinated him, and he had folded his hands.
ceased reasoning, stopped Analysing. drop
ped his theories. and became lover for
life, and until death he knew it would be.
The strong soul within him, never before
moved by the storm Of passion, would not
be quoted with a word, and the surrender
gave him no pain. He had thought Of
himself as sort of dictator always, the
one to order and the one to be Obeyed.
Now, he had become a suppliant; eager
ly, passiOnately he had asked, DO you
love mey' and his very soul had stood
still awaiting the gracious answer.
He had studied laws and theories which
might serve as lights on obscure points of
science. He had formed plans for the
GOOD of men, wherein he had been the
power and the lever; row, fair young
girl had gotten her small hand somehow
among his heart-strings, and her touch
WAS bringing out the music which had
slumbeTed there so long. As he passes
the window now he sees her once again.
She is playing the game his father loved.
Her face is flushed, a bright carmine
colors her cheek. Her little hand rests
doubtingly on knight. But he cannot
see her eyes. They never leave the
chess board.
How does she know what she is do
ing!' he thinks. ''IIOw can she calm her
thoughts to chess?"
His soul is moved beyond his keeping,
and she. flushed and strangely silent, goes
on with her work.
''Ah! she is woman born to be loved !
She has only just come into her natural
blrthrightl l am a man who has
stumbled, as it were, on the bliss of low
ing.v
lie stands a while gazing, and She
draws him to her with the subtle power
of her beauty.
Look on my fairness and my youth ="
she seems to say. They are enhancing,
they are lovely, and they are yOursw
He longs so to see her eyes, to see the
love he hopes she feels glow in their Won
drOus depths; and be walks slowly in, but
neT head bends lower and lower, and she
never lifts her eyes. He looks on at the
game, or rather at a small white hand
which touches the losing queen, and then
retlres to the sofa behind her. This he
does for her comfort. She is grateful too
Her head is raised, and she sits cree t
once more with little show of interest
in Il e game.
'.Escotte, do look at US; l am beating
this child; she is not half playing"
mo, WON'T" he says. Nobody wants
their game watched. Charlie can beat
you. sir, / am sure. She is only generous
tonight and disposed to indulge you"
Indulge me, indeed l always beat her
three out OF five"
"Well, do it again, sir. Pye a book here
to look at whilst you play"
Charlie, what would EscOtte do if he
couldn't get a book to look at2''
He'd write one, | reckon"
"Ah! I'm afraid he knows so much of
books he viii never care for anything else
in the WOrld.r
There you are very far wrong, sir.
There are many things in life far more sat
isfYing than books"
EscOtte's voice, always remarkably
fine, sounds so tull and rich, so steady and
sweet, that his mother looks up quickly.
She thinks she has never seen him half
so bright and handsome.
That sounds wholesome, my boy"
said the doctor, looking, as he felt, graft
fed and pleased. suppose you say what
these good things are.'
mo, don't think l Will; might retard
your game, and l am anxious TO see it
close. Amt it the least little bit selfish
in YOU to keep Charlie to yourself so long,
STRIP
AYE If is; it is; old folks viii do such
time, and sol Oyerturn the board. I'm
tired child, and so are you. Take her
out, EscOtte, for few turns in the porch,
and | will read my paper. When | have
finished it | will call you in to praYers.o
But, uncle Henry began Charlie.
But Escotte was an Obedient son, and
already had taken her hands and was
carrying her ont under the stars. For
moment, after they were seated, he SAID
nothing; only held her hand and smOothed
her hair back from her forehead. Then
he spoke In a whisper:
Say once again that you love me.
am so DIe7t, 90 glad to know it,!
Another girl would have waited to be
urged, but Charlie was very unlike an
other girl.
Il am sure it is strange to me that i
should. You scold me like the rest; you
snuD me like the rest; you are hard on me
like the rest; and vet, and yet love you;
l cannot tell why"
"But can, Charlie. Love sometimes
begets love. l am SO fond of you, so full
of you, so devoted to you. that my love has
helped to create yours; or, if it has not,
the happy fact remains the same. You
love me and 1 thank God for it! 1t is such
happiness to think how | shall take you
away from your grandmOthers and guar
dams and hold you in my arms forever"
take me awayT'
Eyes, take YOU away to be my wife. Do
you suppose L can wait for that many
days?
This idea was too new and strange for
Charlie.
'.Ohl that will be after many years."
1T should be tomorrow, but | will try
to be reasonable. thought once tonight
l should tell my father and mother that
you were to be my wife, but l was afraid
it would excite my father too much, and
so l waited; but it was hard to do. 1
feel as if everybody should know my happy
fortune
mir. Escotte," she SAID, very earnestly,
''dOn't, please, tell anyone just yet, not
just yet, Letme grow q little accustomed
20 the idea first. Grandmother will be so
angry"
Escotte laughed.
do you think l am afraid of Mrs. Bel
than, my darling?"
mo; but she would be hard on me-"
Then, she shall not know it yet; but
there's mother. What is it, mother?'
1T is too cold out here for Charlie;
bring her in"
Happily his mother did not see in the
darkness a little piece OfpantOmime which
preceded his answer. He stood up and
held his pretty darling close to his heart
one moment and then, taking her hand.
said:
Perhaps it is; l am bringing her in
now, you see"
But Charles cheeks looked hardly as if
she were suffering from cold when she
reached the light.
At last, after what seemed a long time,
she had babe them all ''gOOd night and
was in her room alone, and she sat down
a moment to think.
"Going to be his wife! be said. l
should not be anybOdy's wife. l am
only a girl yet, only a girl who never even
thought of such a thing before. Well,
why does a girl become a wifef Because
she loves some man so dearly she wants
his society always. Now, Charlie Bar
rett, l am going to have it out with you
at last. You have been Sinking, dOub-
ling, acting and deceiying for many
weeks past; now, some few little ques-
lions must be answered, and answered
truthfully too; no Sinking, no lodging.
Do you love EscOtte Fearne? 'Yesi yesp
Much? Aye! as my liteP Why? Be
cause he is good and great, and strong
and masterful; because he is not a trifler;
because he is a gentleman; because he is
so marvelOusly handsome; ahl because
his voice is so maTvel0usly sweet, and be-
cause he is like no other man. How long
have you loved himY Il shall not tell'
You must, even if you are Inundated
thereby. We'll, then, l have loved him all
the time since he returned, since he met
me that dark night in the streets, and not
mo fOOE QQrn that / UOf homo