Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-01-20

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although he had almost reached his
.hlrtleth year he was still unmarried. and
had lot the last tive years. with only Oc-
caslOndl visits home. been pursuing his
studies in Germany. Between Judge Bar
rett and DR.. Fearne there had long exist
Ell Il strong personal regard If the world
ing ana politician sneered sometimes at
the simple faith and credulOus belief of
the churchnan, he still paid ample tribute
to the character Of tue cultivated gentle
man. and was only too thankful to en-
trust his only daughter to his care, and
Iuliy appreciated the kindness which
prompted his friend, though already full
handed, to undertake and continue her
education.
How really fortunate the child had been,
neither she nor her busy father ever
knew. Besides = drilling IN text books
such rs falls to the lot CT few pupils, all
she had ever learned OF Lille or of duty had
been gathered here. The moral atmos-
phere OF the mause was far better and
purer than at the child's home, and no.
where on earth was she so happy as
when there. For eight years she had
spent part of almost every day with her
uncle's family, and, although he had been
rather an eXacting teacher aud her work
had been hard aud continuous, she loved
dearly to be there. With all her strong
young heart she loved these two SO far
ahead Of her in age and experience, and
she firmly believed that they We're of all
the earth the best, the very best. But,
with all the minister's care and kindness,
he had allowed himself u fal into very
human but unfortunate weakness. He
loved his bright scholar tar too we'll for her
good, aud it was love which grew ten
derer every day. Poor Charliel Even here
she often lacked the best discipline be-
cause she SO filled the old mans eyes and
heart that, under the spell OF her girllsh
sweetness, he forgot to reproVe. forgot to
punish; and 80 IL came to pass that in his
sOftened old age the learned and distin-
@ulshed doctor was the fond and dOtIng
slave OF IA fair young girl. just the in
dulgent tenderness ne had hoped to give To
his grandchildren fell to the lot Of his
scholar, aud her absence, even for a day.
was sOrely Ielt AT his home. Nuta whit less
than the grave doctor did his wife love The
girl, and the two hours spent by Charlie
with them was counted to represent fully
tw o-tnirds at least OF the days sunshine.
On this particular day she had failed to
come, and the two old people had spent
rather restless morning. The doctor
purposed to write III his study, but
about every thirty minutes he strolled
back into the sltting-rOOm, where his wife
sat at the window to speculate on the
girls absence.
Il can't understand il, wife. Charlie
surely don't care Tor the rain last night.
She has come sometimes in hard storm.
I'm seriously afraid something is the mat
ter. The judge may be much worse, or
SHE may be Ill herself" and he rubbed his
slender hand across his heavy brow as if
tins last thought were hardly tOierable.
$40. doctor. tharie Is not sick, but I'll
tell you what it 10: Mrs. Beltham is
keeping her TO punish her Tor some little
tiny Gfftnse. ! feel sometimes as il |
wished AIRS. Belthdm were safe n-well
in amy pleasant and remote place.
Her husband said nothing. Charities
grandmOth /, sO-cdlled, had been a bitter
ness IN his thoughts for many years. Ii
the truth must he told he had come as
near hating her as his universal beneVO-
lence would PEI nit, and her name this
morning was not too pleasantly sugges-
tive.
WELL" he concluded, after a moment
Of looking anXIOuSly up the street from
the window. II think We may give her up
tor to-day, and l will 20 To work on some
thing else; but really 1t seems dull not To
have her here"
"Of course it does; but she won't come
until tomorrow, as it is now after l
O'Clock. So you had as we'll look after
your SERMON. | would not mind it so
much, but she will feel the dsappOnt-
ment even more than we will, and it is
little comfort to know that Grandma Bel
than is ut the bottom OF it,
All! fear me, it is some act Of hers
thai has no relish OF salvation in IT."
"Why, doctor, how severe you are"
$50 | am, and 50 | shouldn't be, but
that woman always makes me feel wick
ed. | must try To OuthVe her impression.
Poor Charlie!" and the doctor, more ir-
rltated than he liked TO show, strobe out
and retired 10 his study, where he soon
recovered the amiable tenor OF his way.
At home Charlie had been having IL live
~ morning with Mrs. Beltham. This
lady, thinking 10 promote matters com
fOrtably, had told her that in considera-
ton OF her fathers illness she had better
STAY at home this morning, and. as
farther concession. that she owed "A few
hours i'll the sttlng-rOOm as 4 duty to
''uncle Albert
The first suggestion Charlie did not con-
slider one moment, as under no circum-
stances had Size ever been permitted to
enter her fathers room before noon. AS
TO the last, she stOutly refused TO find any
matter of duty in il at all.
Her mamma was hostess" she de-
clared, and she felt no sort of obligation
that way. Mrs. Beltham was the oldest,
the suongest, the most resOlute, and
Charlie, who WAS hOmesick and heartsick
81
compelled to spend long, bright morn
ing almost alone in the sitJing-room
awaiting the return of IL person she alb
hOrrCd. Still she was not altogether I'M
happy. She spent her time concocting
little scheme Tor the afternoon which she
believed would pay. Mr.. Beltham found
something of interest in the city, for he
only returned in time for dinner, after
which Charlie quietly slipped off to her
was lif-p1Sf fnuF in thn aft,.r-
noon, and the weather was perfect. The
day had been hot. but even as early as
this hour the cooler approach of evening
might be felt. Ii was AN afternoon TO be
outside Of walls and doors to enjoy the
autumn glory which, like Il thin veil, was
spreading "A hazy sottness over all the
earth. Charities music lesson, taken
since her fathers illness, at the Young
Ladies' Institute" in the city, was just
accomplished; her music had been safely
deposited III tue house, and she had start
ed Tor walk toward the parsonage, de-
termined, if too late for Il lesson. that at
least she would have Il chat with the good
doctor before night.
Now Mrs. Beltham stood in no little
awe Of THIS grave and reverend dominic.
She never felt absolutely at ease in his
presence. His penetrating grey eyes
seemed to read into her soul, and she felt
curlOusly as if he were watching her all
the while. And she was rot wrong in
tins impression. He had formed uncon-
sciOuSly Il habit of listening To and look
Ing at her, try ing to keep up with her
many and far-reachiug schemes, and, if
possible, to thwart them if they proved
adverse 70 his tav0rite-al for Charities
sakel He was as anxious as fond
grauddame, and as vigilant as her father
should have been. But he treated Der, as
he did every other woman, with courtesy
and kindness.
Just ut this Juncture, and during AL
btrt's visit, Mrs. Beltham deprecated his
presence in the house. She wanted neither
his cool scrutiny, nor his actual blood re-
lationship to interfere i'm her fast-ripen-
ing plans; and the next worst thing was
Charities visits To him, which, for Il few
days, she had determined, with one de-
vice or another, to intermit. But, watch
ful as she is, the Young girl sometimes
managed little tor herself.
AT four O'Clock this afternoon the
house door is quietly opened, and port
~ and cOmelS looking woman walks out
and takes her position on the top step Of
the terrac-, and, shading her eyes from
tue sun. looks carefully about her.
This Is ''Marm Marget," Charities old
nurse, a respectable and intelligent mu-
latto. and IL tactotum in the house hold. |
She is the perfect picture of neat and
comfortable strVing-Womau. Her blue I