Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-16
3ftornina 1lrtuo SrriaIo.
Q H a n H H =;
a NOVEL.
BY MRS. OPHGLIA NIsBET REID.
CHATTER XIV.

CHAPTER AlN.
This was a happy visit for Charlie, al
belt the shadow Of the coming separation
darkened its brightness with an occasion
al cloud.
She had never seen .Esc0tte at home or
elsewhere exert himself so much to
please everybody. His mother looked at
him with too evident admiration, and his
father listened with quiet delight to his
voice His short absence was deplored
far more than his lengthy and dangerous
ones had been. and lac too felt. this even
ing, somewhat as Charlie had said that
little money, more or less. hardly paid
for the loss Of her pretty face for two
months; nevertheless, when morning came
with its energy and responsibility, he
took her home and babe her goodbye"
most tenderly, yet with a clear apprecia-
ton of the urgency of the present bust
ness.
When he was gone life looked little
dreary to Charlie until she received her
first letter from him. Then she thought
that, perhaps, there was more cOmpensa-
ton IN the results of the United States
Post Office Department than She had
ever before thought possible. Men like
Mr.. Fearne are Oftentimes, even with the
woman they love best strangely reserved
as to the direct manifestation of their de
yOUiOn, especially if it is very strong
Hardly liking to acknowledge even to
themselves how complete is the surren-
der, they constantly withhold a portion
for fear of seeming too lavish; but. alone
with their thoughts, their facIle pens tell
true story, touching their devotion with
a tender light, and shaping their IOndnesS
IN words full of the poetry and beauty of
absolute tenderness. Escotte hardly
knew what soulful letters were sent in
these days back to the girl who loved
him.
He only knew that he was possessed Of
a great longing to be once again at her
side and to hear again her voice. Near
her he deprecated Just a little his grow
Ing weakness. Away from her he could
not too sweetly tell the old, old story. On
the whole, Charlie bore the separation
best, charmed and surprised with his
beautiful letters, whilst he, always hereto
fore a careless man OF the world, going
and coming only at his own good pleas
ure, constantly missed and yearned for a
young girl, only young girl, one whom
six months before he had not known, but
who had at last enslaved him with her
youth and loveliness.
In February again Mr.. Beltham came.
Charlie thought it was only one of his
usual visits, and kept out of his way as
much as pOssible; but one morning he
sent a special request to see her alone in
the sitting-rOOm. She went down and
found him looking quite pleased and
handsome.
"You see, dear Charlie" he said. Il
have at last been driven to the necessity
Of writing formal petition to you to
come down and see me. l have tried
every other means and have failed signal
ly. IL it was not such a distressful and
notifying conclusion. 1 should think
You had purpOselY avoided me-
Il am quite willing to see you now,
Mr.. Beltham," she answered, a little
cOldly.
'FGere were some little business mat
tiers to 20 over. These. fortunately. my
mother could attend to as well as your
self and l wanted TO spare you when /
could: besides, there was another which 1
trust viii interest you inasmuch as it con-
Germs Annie"
Il suppose know already, sir. Mann
ma told me last nighU that YOU and she
were to be married very privately to-
morrow"
yes, that is so; 1 suppose tomorrow
Will sign away my freedom irretrieva-
bly,, but Annie's happiness had to be con-
sidered.7
Armies and not your own"
Il said nothing of mine. / am fond of
Annie, of course; she certainly deserves
as much; but l love liberty, perhaps. bet
ter than l should, and TO resign this |
should nave grand and absorbing pas
sl0nt0r the woman marry. which unfOrtu-
nately all this cannot interest you.
Happily, you are too young to know any
thing about these things. If l have re-
Joiced in anything OF late it has been in
the thought that living so isolated life
as YOU have done, this knowledge has
been kept from YOU"
What knowledge. siTf"
The thought and knowledge of love. ]
am glad Of my approaching marriage;
that it will compel my residence here
with you for time, where l can watch
over and protect you even as my heart
COuusels."
II don't think I am in any sort of dan
ger, sir
Perhaps not just now, Charlie; but
you must know that you are the lOveliest
and most beautiful of women, and men
Will soon find it out and cOyet you, and
shall have to look closely to such as
pirants.'
No girl of seventeen was ever more alb
sOlutely unsuSpiciOuS than Charlie Bar
rett- this morning; but she had listened
too often of late to words of love not to
be able to detect them, especially under
such thin disguise, and this was not the
first time that Mr.. Beltham's eyes and
voice had far Outstripped his words in
meaning. There was no mistaking the
expression with which ne had spoken OF
her beauty. She hardly permitted herself
to see all he intended, but from her soul
she resented 1t. still she was wise enough
picity.
Il have no fears for myself, Mr.. Bel
than, and feel no necessity for any es-
pecial guardianship at present"
You don't see yourself with my too
partial eyes. Charlie. You cannot. of
course, feel as do that men have only
TO see you To love you. Some day, per-
haps, you VIII find out your power. l
trust YOU viii then be merciful."
AT what hour did you say you would
be married tomorrow, Mr.. Beltham?"
''At two in the afternoon. OF course,
this affair Will be very private; indeed
II is not altogether a joyous OCCASION
Il trust mamma Will be happy!'
"Ilaye YOU not even a good wish for
meF All! if you knew all you might give
me so much as that"
Il trust you will be as happy as you de
serve, sir"
Don't say that, dear Charlie. for L fear
am not good man; say rather, that you
hope l Will become in time a little less
miserable than / am now.'
"Come in. dear mamma: We're talking
about yOU," Charlie called out to her
mother, whom she saw passing the win
dow on the porch.
Mrs. Barrett came pro mptly, as if glad
to be asked, but finding Mr. Beltham so
quietly seated with her daughter she
at once suspected the object of their con-
ference, blushed rOSy-red, and stammered
out some excuse about being wanted up
stairs.
Mr.. Beltham got up quickly, and put
ting one arm around her seated her on the
sofa by his side.
You are wanted here,' he said, laugh
ing a little at her embarrassment. Il
was just telling Charlie our pleasant ar
rangement for tomorrow, Annie; telling
her that after years of dreary waiting
you would be mine at last. She has been
very kind, and trusts you will be happy
in my hands. What do you think of the
prospect, dearl You have no anxieties,
have your
Charlie, is always kind,' she answers,
under her breath, always kind, and
shall never love her less, no matter how
we are ciTcumstanced; as to you, Albert
Entered according to act OF Congress IN the
year 1884 by j. II. Estill, in the ONCE Of the
Librarian Of Congress at Washington.