Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
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BY MRS. oPHELIA INSECT REID.
CHAPTER Nv.


watched her mother closely to see if she,
acting always under her husbands
orders. took any dose Of medicine; but
she did not. and most evidently looked and
self better.
'-You haven't taken anything to-day,
mammal she asks, as they retired tor
the night together.
NO; Albert said / should and fixed
dose for me. but, on second thought, he
threw it into the fire, and said / must
wait until he returned, as he loved me
too well 20 delegate his duty to anyone
else. How glad he viii be to find me bet
ter! Perhaps ] NAV discontinue that
horrid medicine, but l know he Will say
il is that which has improved me, and. of
course, he must be right
And Mrs. Beltham showed herself a
true prophet, for the next day, on his re-
turn, her husband, finding her improved.
declared it was his successful treatment,
and I'm nediately carried her OIL to give
her another potion This Charlie easily
overheard as they stood in the porch un-
der her window.
Two hours later she heard a step on the
terrace outside too pleasantly familiar to
De mistaken, and, after a little hesitation.
walked out TO meet Mr.. Fearne who was
Just entering. Charlie had not seen him
since the night she had left her uncle in
his company. and since that time she had
been so perpleXed with difficulties that
his coming at this moment seemed an
answer to her most earnest wish. No
body could advise her in her mothers in
terests half SO wisely and kindly, and she
had determined TO consult with him al her
earliest convenience.
Il am especially glad to see you this
morning, SIR she said.
well. Charlie, | like that" he said,
''marvelously we'll; but Thought you had
found out that l owned some sort of a
name by which l might be called. Can
you not, by a great effort of memory. re-
call 1t? Or am to be mister and sir
alwayst"
son. don't always forget, and thenext
time I'll do better. Come into the sitting
room. Eve something special TO talk to
you about"
4 trust so. l don't care for general
topics from YOU. though you generally do
them all justice. SciO te non pauperem
yerDarum esse," be said, laughing a lit
tie at her animated face as he seated her
ON the sofa.
''Ah! YOU mean talk too much. I'm
often afraid l do
Never; perhaps l love too well te lis
ten; but l must deny myself to-day. My
visit is not for YOU
For whom then: :"
Your grave and elderly guardian Go
and send him down; but hold yourself in
readiness to interfere if we should disa-
gree. Don't get out of hearing dis
tance.'
Charlie said not a word, not even when
Escotte, declaring IL was a sore punish
ment to be $50 near and vet so far" drew
her 10 him for one moment ana kissed her
pretty lips. She dreaded this talk between
her lover and her guardian. and feared
trouble of some sort would come of it:
but this was no time for delay, and she
went slowly upstairs and knocked at
Mr.. Beltham's door. This gentleman
seemed TO be enjoying a cigar and his
Wile's company at the same time but on
seeing Charlie and hearing her message.
he quickly rose, and, closing the door on
his wife, followed his ward down stairs
y our cousin is very kind to call again.
Charlie. He has been absent so long |
have never returned his first visit. / hone
TO do better in future. Won't YOU come
in:' he asked, as he opened the parlor
door.
No, thank YOU! Mr.. Fearne's visit is
not for me, but for YOU and she ran oil
out of sight and hearing.
The two men met this time, as before,
with every show of courteous Kindness.
W hen they We're seated Mr.. Fearne asked
with real interest after Mrs. Beltham's
health.
My wife is very feeble" Mr.. Beltham
AEHAAEu- WI lCEDlt luuctua she mas
been, almost without anyOne's knOWingit it.
an invalid for year past. 1 felt so CON
cerned for her health that l more than
once called her late husbands attention
70 her condition; but he was so engrOssed
with his own sufferings that / never
could impress him with the fact that she
was failing rapidly"
Il regret to hear so discouraging an
account of her. What seems to be the
troubles"
Il think l understand her case thor
Oughly. l was, for several years,
student Of medicine, and should have fol-
lowed the profession if circumstances had
not turned my thoughts into other chan
nels. She is suffering just now from the
effects of exposure to malaria in the late
summer and fall; has very stubborn chills.
which my utmost efforts have not been
able to check. But, besides this, she has
had for years disease Of the heart. |
have called in physician who has agreed
entirely with me as to her case. As a
last resort shall take her off somewhere
in few weeks. l hope your father has en-
tiTely recovered his health"
Thank you! Yes, l think he is quite
in his usual health. But, Mr.. Beltham,
l should not detaIn you from your wife.
My visit was not purely for social pur-
poses, but had in it an important element
of business"
Mr.. Beltham had, up to this time, been
speaking in a subdUed tone, meant to eX-
press a sort of dignilied dependency, but
at the word business he walked up per
cepubly.
Il am sure l am glad of the visit. sir.7
he said, whatever may be the moving
cause"
Il have, Mr.. Beltham, in my business
affairs, just as little circumIocution as
practicable. l have come to ask of her
guardian Miss Barretts hand IN mar
riage.7
If be had said Il have come to take
your life the gentleman before him
could not have showed more cOnsterna-
ton. He had never thought of his visi-
tor as a possible sutton for his wards
hand-never, indeed, tolerated the idea
of any man in that character. In all his
schemes no anxiety on this point had in.
terfered. Charlie was young and beauti-
Iul, but, as yet, the charm g fact seemed
known only to himself. and. vet. here
was bona tide sui..or. aud a most formi-
dable one, too.
III r or mo-hent he was at his wits end.
/ ne rare prize he had been holding before
us eyes was being coveted by another
man. The blow was so sudden, so appall-
ing, so dreadful, that, for a little while.
he sat dumbly struggling for compOsure.
painfully conscious Of his agitated look.
and painfully conscious Of a pair Of cool.
dark eyes watching him intently the while
With tremendous effort at self-cOntrol
he laughed lightly and said in con-
strained, low voice:
You take my breath away, sir!"
Il observe that l do"
do permit me to explain. When
Judge Barrett so frankly and fiatteringly
gave his family into my keeping. of
course the most embarrassing feature in
the compact was the guardianship of his
young daughter; but as my wife and
mother were so very fond of the child, l
concluded that, with their cooperation,
should be sufficient for so delicate a trust;
but, until this moment, 1 have never con-
sldered my sweet and pretty Charlie as
anything but most affectiOnate and en-
gaglng child; and you must admit that a
sudden demand of her hand in marriage
came as sort Of thundeTbOlt to my con-
Entered according TO act OF Congress IN the
year 1854 by j. II. Estill, in the Office of the