Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-17
saioruino ztrmo srrialo.
Q H a r. L H -
A NOVEL.
BY MRS. oPHEL1A INSECT REID.
CHAPTER YIII.-CONTINUEDI

CHAPTER NIII.-CONTINUED.E
There followed two fair and lovely DAYS
days when the flowers blOomed into
fuller beauty, and the birds sang in an
ecstacy of delight-when, upon tree and
flower, a new freshness came. and the air
was rich with fragrance. Outside. there
was life, moving, stirring, beautiful life
everywhere. Within, where the closed
windows shut out this autumn splendOr.
the dead man lay white and still. In his
own house vet, but how little its master.
Already blr. Beltham was supreme.
Every question was referred to his iudg-
ment: every homage paid his position.
The dead man could not lie here without
his consent; could not be laid in his grave
but by ms orders, Mrs. Beltham had
studied carefully to promote this early
recognition of Albert's claims. Nothing
was done but by his imperial decree. To
every question of friends or servants she
had but one answer: you must ask my
son, Mr. Beltham. Judge Barrett has left
him control OF everything; he would have
uJ other even spoken Of
Even at this early day he looked and
felt himself entirely master. Annie, ut
all times tue most Submissive creature i'm
the world. was now shut in her room. and
would NOT bee mJl4stod- and Mrs. Beltham
even was willing Co i0rcg0 temporarily
her prerogauFes 90 establish her son
authority permanently.
Friends % the family came and went.
Albert saw each one, talked to each one.
and stUdiOusly endeuvOred TO make them
his own friends. He spoke n0destly of
the judges singular partiality'' for him
SELF and politely asked their approval of
his arrangements. IIefelt cheerful, alert,
cratified- but he was far too wise To show
lmself so. Many persons meeting him
now, for the first time, We're charmed
with his modest worth, and admired his
devotion to his mother and sister; and
when, a few days later, the dead man was
lowered into his grave, no face wore
look Of such profound sorrow and regret
as that of the young man who stood in the
attitude of a mourning son at its foot. An
ME was too iii TO attend the funeral, and
Charlie, pale and sOrrOwful, leant on the
arm of her young guardian. She had
never seen him since he closed her fathers
ewes until this hour. Her grandmother
had put on her heavy mourning dress and
veil and said; This is the last act of re-
spect to your father, Charlie. You must
wear this dress and follow him to his
grave. Albert Will be with you; Albert
VIII take care Of you; don't be nervous
and afraid"
She did not remember now that uncle
Albert was already her guardian and that
she hated him. She was thinking always
of her dead father, and wishing that she
had known him better and been more easy
with him.
In the lovely autumn evening they came
back to their lonely home. Though Judge
Barrett had not left his room for weeks,
lie seemed to be missed everywhere.
Everybody walked softly, on tip-tOe. as
they bad done so long; and any sudden
noise frightened each one with the old
fear they had known so long of disturbing
the master. Albert had tried to say some
thing tender and kind to Charlie as they
rode slowly homeward, but she had paid
no heed; under her heavy veil he could not
see her face, and he wisely let her alone.
In her own room she felt so desOlate and
nervous that she had sent Marin Marg' ct
to ask Anne if she might come to her.
Mrs. Barrett had told the servant to
bring her by all means, and Charlie went
quickly, longing to be with somebody who
loved her. Mrs. Barrett was sitting at a
window looking listlessly out, but, on see
iug Charlie. she began to weep exceeding
ly. She believed she was heart-brOken at
the loss of her good husband, but she was
only weary with nursing, and nervous
from long excitement. In a week she
would be rested and cOmfOrted. Not so
easily do women weep when the horror OF
a relentless despair tears their hearts
Not so easily does a woman weep who
buries out OF her sight the idolized hus-
band of her youth, and the father of her
helpless babes.
Charlie" she said, drawing the girls
head down on her bosom. lit Is so hard to
think he is dead, lost to me forever. He
was SO kind! 50 kind! He was distin-
guisned man, and an old man, but he
loved me always, always. He never said
an unkind or impatient word to me in all
these years. oh. it is so hard to know he
viii never speak to me again. Only last
week ne salG i had been good to him, a
good wife Charlie, do you think l was
Did everybody think L was:"
''On, yes, dear mamma, I'm sure every
body knows you were.'
Mother used to say so; but now that
he is gone. I'm afraid there was something
more | might have done"
people always think that. mamma. /
know you did all you could, and he thought
SO. too
Charlie, he talked to me about you
lust the other day"
The girls face flushed painfully. Ii
was hard to blame the dead, and vet she
had felt so neglected.
What did he say. mammal"
'Oh! he talked as if he loved you and
was sorry to leave YOU; and he asked me
TO be good TO you and love you, and he
gave you TO me; and, Charlie, l promised
him, then at his bedside, and if ever l am
unklnd TO you remind me that l have
broken solemn promise and cheated and
deceived my good husband.'
You will never be unkind to me or TO
any one, mamma. You and l must be all
wecan to each other, for we haven't many
friends"
Your aunt came for you yesterday,
but I sent her word l could not spare
you just vet. Was / selfish and wrOng?''
No; 1 viii stay with you now; but,
sometime sOou ! must see my uncle and
aunt. / want them all the time
You shall go, dear, but please don't
lust vet. Mother Is so busy down stairs.
and Albert is going away tomorrow"
Il thought he would live here"
son, no. He has business in B:
but he says he Will come up at least once
month and look after things"
She sat quite silent a few moments:
then, as If continuing a train of thought,
said Softly:
Judge Barrett loved him so much!,
Loved whom, mammas'
Loved Albert. He seemed to suit him
exactly. He loved to have HIM with him.
l dent think anybody could have been
more thoughtful and kind than Albert has
been the last two weeks. lie has been
everything to your father. We can't be
Nr. EearDe. called on him few days ago,
before-befOTe your poor papa died"
Charlie said nothing. 1t seemed to her
that Annie was even more child.lke and
innocent than ever before.
Nv hat sort of man is he, CharlieS'
"Ohi 1 don't know. He is tall and
grave and handsome, and veXatiOus to
me. / don't know what other people think
Of him."
''Why, 1 heard he was just like his
father"
Entered according TO act of Congress IN the