Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-03


to give her the best light, carefully re-
moving his own chair quite on the other
side of the room. Everything was done
with careful eye to her comfort. but it
was done as gracefully, as unobtrusively.
There was something even kind and con-
slderate in his attentions to her comfort.
1t was perfectly evident that, with all his
quiet and easy savoi faire, he neither
intended to introduce himself nor leave
the room. Decidedly he was as cool as
he was comelY. Something gentle, and
thoughtful too, in his manner seemed to
say:
''Try to forget last night am too gen.
erOus to remember it."
Charlie was touched and irritated at the
same time. A certain generous business
OF character had always made her espe-
cially severe in her judgments on her own
actions, and a certain cordial frankness
had always made her quick to make the
amends, and this sense of being decidedly
wrong afflicted her sOrely. She wanted to
do what she considered just and right, but
she was puzzled to know how.
In the meantime the stranger had be-
taken himself to his window and his book
as quietly as if they were only two
chance occupants of some comfortable
public reading-roOm; and, for all token he
gave of her presence, they might have been
Charlie took up her books; there GER
tainly seemed nothing else to do, but not
line or word could she master.
Her eyes would wander to the silent
figure sitting so mOtiOnless opposite her,
and her conscience kept suggesting that
she was IN his debt at least to the amount
of q courteous apology. She was a child
OF impulse-a just but very youthful adj
Juster of her own difficulties. Acting
a n irraci cfinTa oh
''1ou are pleased, sir, to ignore the fact
that we've met before. l don't wonder
that you prefer to forget i'll shall try to
do so tOo-but not until have thanked you
for your kindness and asked your pardon
for my persistent rudeness. There is no
possible excuse for my conduct; l only
ask you to try to forgive, or rather to for
get it. and myself too as speedily as posi-
bIe."
1t is quite probable Charlie did not
know just how earnestly pretty she
looked; just how soft her dark eyes were,
almost fearful and very penitent; Just
how brightly the rich red color flashed
into her cheeks; just how easy it was to
read in her expressive face and manner
the brave resolve which held her equal
to the tremendous effort she was making.
No child of six years ever showed more
touching penitence; no mature woman
CfGI buOWGu a luOIG I6SOlub6 SDTlG.
Standing, as she did, beside the table,
self-accusing culprit, she looked, quite as
truly, a bewilderingly lovely girl.
Charlie was at her best, her very best, at
this moment; but she did not know it. 1t
seemed the hardest, the worst undertake
ing of all her life. Startled, at first, at
her speaking so Unexpectedly, the gentle
man rose from his seat and, with two
hands leaning on the back of chair, lis
tened most kindly, most deprecatingly to
her quick, short words. He took her in at
single glance. Far easier was this expo
sition of his fathers pet and darling to
comprehend and appreciate than hours Of
labored description.
This was Charlie, a living, breathing,
soulful portrait, such as words rarely pic
ture. A WinsOme revelatiOn-a study in
epitOme-a sketch, brief and rapid, yet
with all essential filling out, complete,
charming, winning.
AS soon as she had finished speaking,
in his calm, controlled voice he said:
eve have met before, and / am in no
danger of forgetting it. 1t is only a
pleasant memory now; a memory of fair
and helpless girl in a lonely street at
night, fearing, as we'll she might, and re-
Senting, as she certainly should, the pro-
lection of an utter stranger. Try to be-
heve that l am only sincere when l say
that neither your actions nor words leave
a regret with me-"
'But I was surely cross; there was no
need for that"
eyes; there was no need for that
land it is that beg you to excuse and
forget"
''That is easily done; butt would like to
make a condition"
"What cOnditiOnY'
''That the next time you are provoked
you will control your temper"
"Then you will withhold your forgive
ness forever, for | cannot control my tenn
per-"
''Do you ever try?''
81 don't know, sir; know / get up
every morning with a fixed resolve to be
amiable, and 1 go to bed every night hui
inflated by constant failures"
There was no mistaking the earnestness
nor the hOpelessness of this little expose
of her struggles. The man listening so
graVely had more insight into her troubles
than she could deem possible. Very
gravely-his naturally stern manner tenn
pering very much the gentleness he meant
to shOw-he said:
sis not my forgiveness, not mine as an
individual, but as an injured party,
worth trying to obtain by little efort?''
effort" she exclaimed. 81 shall
certainly make the effort, and as certainly
fail.''
81 am sure you will not; am confident
you will not"
''Yes 1 shall. Don't you ever fail, STRIP
she asked, with little, a very little mis-
chievOus naivete.
''TO control my temperY'
eyes"
.'Neyer; but 1 fail in many other
things"
"Well, you have no temptations; there's
the difference"
For the first time he laughed, and he
looked well when he laughed.
"My child, what do you know about
temptations?"
"What do you know about grand
mothers and uncles, and guardians and
friendsY'
care these so trying to youY'
"EXasperating~
''Is your teacher included in the list?
'My uncle Henry?'
This was asked with daring show of
protest and establishment.
eyes"
''Certainly not. He and his wife are the
two persons in all the world who love me,
who believe in me, who are patient with
me; and l give them all the love other
girls give to fathers, mothers, sisters.
brothers, kinsmen and friends"
''They must be excellent and lOvable
people," he remarked, with much quiet
amusement.
''YOu should know them, sir. 1t would
prove a liberal education for you"
81 do know them slightly; but you've
wandered from the subject. Will you
make an effort to control your temper for
my sake?'
''NO, sir, not for your sake, but be-
cause L am ashamed of losing it last
night"
The easy and graceful gentleman color
ed perceptibly, but still, perfectly self
answeredin a low but distinct
tone:
sit is well worth your while to do it,
whatever your reason may be.'
His smile had all gone; he was only
grave and stern now. Charlie regretted
his pleasanter phase, but bravely deter
mined to do right. She said:
81 shall try, sir, try very hard, and
be made miserable as usual by falling"
'"There's merit in persistent effort,v he
said, as he easily resumed his seat.
Charlie felt brOw-beaten somehow. She
was beginning to be afraid of this cool
stranger, who seemed so at home and so
but she took up her Horace
and went to work. In her impotence
twice she dropped her big dictionary.
Twice it was kindly replaced. The light,
as the sun mounted higher, fell broad
across her open page. The blinds We're
quietly drawn, and a softer light let in
from another point. A low, very low
'Thank you" was ali the
cound that dicturhad fbo e4,II,,o-, . - -.