Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-28
CHAPTER Y

| Winter came on apace making cloaks
and wOolens in demand. l had no win
teTs outfit, for all that belonged to my
past save the wedding trousseau was LETT
in my fathers house.
One morning Eugene came into my
| room, where L was enjoying a cheerful
blaze upon the hearth, and threw into my
lap several heavy gold coins.
$50 into the city," he said, "and buy
you some pretty warm tOggery-sOme
bright warm dresses that l will love to
see you wear. Something in effect akin to
this.v
He babe me stand and helped me adjust
about my form an elegant velvet cloak of
his own selection. 1t was evident that
his taste was perfect. He had very win
ming faculty of observing what l wore,
and loving to see rae in graceful and pref
ty things. Why is it that mankind gener-
ally underrate such trifles? Alas that
wOnan's life is so freighted with the trifles
that sometimes make up half her exist
ence.
1t certainly was childish in me to be so
pleased, yet my childhood was scarcely
out Of sight.
Ny delight was very pleasing to him,
for it was certainly true that in making
me happy was his chief JOY.
When be had gone Oat to make some ar
engagements for my driving in | kept
jinghng the gold, thinking how pleasant it
would be to buy just what l pleased, tor
it was so much more charming to wear
pretty things than it had ever been before.
Whas would they have been to me in our
eXiled existence without his approval?
Not long afterwards he stood by the
phaeben In which he carefully placed me,
charging the faithful driver to guard his
precious burden. The shining bays arched
their necks and shook the glittering har-
ness as if proud of the situation. never
rode behind those horses without thinking
OF the starlight evening when Eugene
brought me home bride. He thought of
it then as he said softly and proudly:
Chow beautiful to me is the bloom upon
yOur cheeks! the red glow of your lips,
my bride of a seasOni On that twilight
evening when we first came home you
were but frail blossom. Are you con-
tent, little wile?-dOI care for my Own?"
The bTacing air made me gay, and, in
unusual merriment, l exclaimed:
''What! care for your own? Do not
most men act as unseltshly? Now if you
should be not my own, would be silly
enough to care for you forever"
would yOuG Oh! bless you for those
words, Daisy"
The carriage moved off and ] looked
back upon his glowing countenance, most
happy that my words were true and that
L
Mace. l drove along the well-knOwn way,
49, tried to Danish all memories of the
~Ne from which was an alien, though
| wessed in sight of the curling smoke
| thatNme from the heaTthstOne where l
was ON IA light-hearted child. L tried to
| have no ~ on that morning. Eugene told
me to rides Mrs. Sears and get her to ac-
| company mI1Qn my shopping expedition.
Before / reHhed there DR.. Douglas
| HI ri LHaos f in n fG n
was so fine-lOOkfg and smiled at me from
the low seat ba& Of those fiery black
! horses. Why did p pass me without a
word? 1t was the ia time, and so used
was | to the old wdAA. that my driver
| paused at my bidding.
Drive on" cried. ''tKcNoctor is hur-
Tied to-day"
A slight check was made upon my
/ spirits. but 1t soon passed away. 1t was
| with light steps that l ran up the graveled
| walk leading to the parsonage that wae
| so full Of sweet memories for me. would
! have passed in at once to the sittlng-rOOm
/ as was my wont, but a new servant ear
! ried me to the parlOr. There was much to
| feed my thoughts in that room where
| was married, so the time l was waiting
| there did not seem long. At last Mrs.
| Sears came in and folded me atfectionate-
| " to her heart, yet almost painfully long
| was the clasp. We talked together for a
| time quietly, but an almost imperceptible
! constraint stole over US. My sensitive ma
| ture was chilled at once, and careless
words died away. There came long ST.
| lence in which my wistful chances were
! fastened upOn her. Whatever barriers
! restrained her confidence at first must
| have been swept away by my searching
/ looks, for she burst out with the eXclama-
/ ton:
"Oh! Minnie. how my heart aches over
YOU! How bitterly do | repent my share
| in bringing about your unfortunate mar
riage. l cannot keep silent longer, for
you are only child, Minnie-a poor, be-
| trayed child"
She tried to weep over me, but l drew
up proudly.
II do rot need your pity, Mrs. Sears.
/ Look at me and tell me if you think suf-
fer wrong and tell me why you pity me-"
''Ah! see now how it is" she con-
/ tinued, sadly. Perhaps you do not know
all, and it is WELL"
We were both silent for awhile, and then
l said calmly:
Il do not shrink from the truth, and
would be glad for you to explain your
meaning"
Il viii be glad, too, Minnie, for you to
! tell me, il you can, whether the sad ru.
mOrs we hear are false. 1t is the opinion
of society at large that you are aware Of
the fact that Mr.. Williams has wife i'm
prisoned in the house where you live
Some servant has told the story of your
shrieking at finding your husband with
his wife; Of your upbraiding him with the
truth and yet living on with him. Is this
| true"
Perhaps uncOnsciously her voice was
hard, yet it stung me and l retOrted toe
quickly:
Il would not live ore moment with my
husband if l doubted his truth. He il
mine. and nine Only"
"Can you prove this, childf If he hat
| explained those strange things to you, il
mercy for your once honored name tell i
to me and let my husband reinstate yoV