Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-01
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS SUNDAY JUNE l. 1884

in the Cafe taking my rest from my pic
ture. They were nOblemen, both. One
was English, 1 know; because he had the
English manner. He said nothing at all
loud. He made nO-what you say?-
scene. But his face taught me horror"
Would you know the face of the Rus
slan?"
eyes; yes. A beautiful face. Often L
watched him. He would have made my
AdOnis; but there was too great power in
his face. AdOnis-the Greek-must be in
sincere and beautiful"
/ slipped out of the room. leaving him
talking to Lois; procured the lOcket from
Liska, who was assisting Lesley IN some
household work, and returned to the sit
ting-roOm.
.Do YOU know this face?" Iasked.
'sDu iieber Herr Gottr' he exclaimed,
IN CONSERVATION. "WhOse is this?''
''Liska's. Say nothing about it. Ionly
wanted to satisfy my mind. This is the
child's father. But we cannot prove it
so. You must not tell her. You were in
Warsaw. Did you hear the singer, Mon
taniE'
eyes, yes; and the Engllshman was her
slave. All Warsaw knew that. A grand,
blue-eyed Englishman."
Eyes; l know. COnway's cousin: Olin
McRhea. Was Carevna, the Russian, seen
much with Montani?'
Il cannot say. l think not. l never saw
them together. And every day she is driy-
ing with the other"
after Careyna's death what hap
pened?"
They told me in the Cafe that the
Englishman have strong words at mad
ame's hotel, and say goodbye. That was
artists talk; l know nothing but artists
talk"
yes; but I am glad to hear it, for it
confirms another story l have heard. Nc
Rhea is abroad now hunting the proofs of
Carevna's marriage with the singer; but
none can be found"
''Ah! hal" he calculated, in the sing
song tone habitual to him when thinking.
''Ah! ha! Is this the madame's souvenir
sent to L:ska? She tell my Annette so
much"
Yes; l brought it from New York last
winter"
''Ah! ha! By your leavev' suddenly
pricing up the thick glass covering the
face. 1--WE do this often in Dresden. The
picture gets no hurt. We copy it best so.
All! hal" turning the face out of its rest
ing place. ''What you tell us, little pic
ture, hey? Stone. photographer, South
hampton That's nothing. Eli! What's
this? You are younger, Herr Maxwell,
can your eyes read the little faded letters {?
W ~
you have an artists magnifying glass.
Yes? If you please, madame" as Lois
hastily proceeded to take it from among
the many articles on her table. "Ah!
hap holding the glass near the picture.
''Ah! hal, Linda CareVna, RiYer-rest,
Essex. Thank you, little picture. You
speak WE'LL Here, Herr Maxwell, see for
yourself"
l bent forward over his hand and read
IL Tfn Il fN.
reyna, River-rest, Essex"
''Now, mein Herr, ask Col. McRhea to
go back to England before he talk any more
with the scOundrelly Russian. Beg par
don, madame" he said, hastily. 1--WE
Germans have no love for Russians, and
l forgot myself"
'DO you think you have gained any i'm
pOrtant infOrmation?' Charlotte asked,
as re-entered the room after returning
the lOcket.
81 think we have at last caught the
right thread Of the tangle'
On the fifteenth BERTHE came as he had
written. The cottage at once became the
scene of side-talks and bushes. and of
accidental meetings which always ended
in BERTHE establishing himself in the dim
ing-rOOm where Ruth was learning Of Les
ley many housekeeping mysteries.
Ruth is really going to school to YOU,
as she once said she meant TO dO,'' Lois
laughed one morning, when Lesley had
slipped away, leaving the lovers to
getheT.
''Just now she is taking a lesson from
BERTHE" she answered, smiling.
''And the lesson is pretty apt to be a
long one" Bob put in. "LOis, did we make
love so Professionally
A crimson tide rushed over her face. 1t
was still a sore subject with her-that
love-making which she had, at best, only
endured.
''NOt before we were married." she an
swereG, softly, laying her hand on his
hair. But / am happy to say that we
have had just such talks since, my dear.''
He looked up into her dark eyes, and
smilA an answer full Of the perfect, ma
tured love that had come to them.
Il don't think BERTHE and Ruth will ever
love as we do, dear" he whispered. draw
ing the lovely face down to him. "Such
love comes only after sad experiences"
heard the words; and Lesley heard
them too, l know, for L saw a bright
smile illuminate her fearful eyes.
(which love is best, | wonderY |
asked her afterwards, when we were walk
ing together among the glowing gerani-
ums and the summers last roses.
81 should prefer the later love-" she an
swered. at must be the most endur-
ing"
'But would not one miss the fresh
ness?'
Il cannot tell. 1t may be. But if one
is to choose between the freshness of
young love and the grandeur of tried love,
it becomes a simple matter"
Pardon me, Miss Lesley; but you are
quite different from our American girls.
Do you mean to say that no choice of
love mas ever come to yOuW
"Oh, mol" she answered, looking up into
my eyes with the bright smile for which
l had long ago learned to watch. Sat
one time, l believe, l became almost a
great favOrite in London, and in Scotland
too. But, do you know, think it was
because l was always so untouched by
their admiration. | am afraid / was I'M
grateful, really. But the Prince in the
fairy tale never came; and it was he for
whom l was waiting, you know" She
laughed lightly and continued: II guess
he must have fallen in his fathers wars.
I'm getting quite old nOw-tWenty-seven
last month. And the Princes in fairy
tales do not often love their grand
mammas."
/ laughed with her when she ceased.
$50 they do not" l said, smiling still,
and looking down into the sweet eyes.
"But If an ogre should come, what would
the grandmother say then~
II don't know. PROBABLY she would
laugh at him." she answered, a trifle UNI
easily. "Ah, Ruth" she cried, seeing
the bright face; ''there's news in that
countenance. Come and 'fess, my dear"
"There is news" and Ruth's face
watched the geranium flowers. 'BertIe
is such an obstinate fellow! 1t is really
impossible to manage him at all. Lesley,
what do you say to wedding in Septem-
ber?'
Il say 'hurrah for Bertiep" I cried.
"COme right into the sitting-room and tell
the Others"
You tell them, please" Ruth pleaded,
glancing at Lesley, and tearing her hand
away from me to beat a retreat into the
shrubbery.
CHAPTER XIX.
August dragged itself along, and each
day brought me fresh disappointment, for
l heard nothing from McRhea since hay-
ing written about the little picture.
Annette and Liska were my only COM
panions now. Lois and Lesley VERY busy
experimenting Ruth's affairs, thus afford
ing her and BERTHE unlimited counting