Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-22

made. She raised no objection. ssWha
does it matter" she said, $50 long as w
are really married p So. when the clergy
man asked who gave this woman, etc
Mr.. Jones stepped forward and performe
the Office. When the ceremony was over
and the happy pair stepping into the caI
rlage, thinking, no doubt, his services en-
titled him to some reward, he kissed tn
bride ON her f0rehead--a proceeding whicl
rather staggered Frank, although, a
Millicent did not seem annoyed, he SAT-
nothing.
THAT old Jones is a strange fellow ;, b.
said, as Millicent and he were safely en-
seonced in the brougham.
Yes. How long have you known
him?v
"only a week or two-quite achance &C
quaintance''
"Chance acquaintance are net to b,
/ depended upon,v said Mrs. Frank Abbott
sententiously.
Then, as was but natural, they talked o
other things, and dismissed sIr. JOIN
jones from their happy minds.
During the last week they had helC
| many debates as to where they should
| spend the honeymoon. AS yet they haC
/ only partially settled the important
| point. BY Millicents express wish. the
I first week was to be passed at Clifton
s.Dear old Clifton - she said. 1--WE met
there first; remember that, sir" Frank
/ did not particularly want to go to Clifton.
1 but he yielded without a murmur
Whether it should be Switzerland, Italy.
4 France, Scotland, or Ireland afterward,
was to be decided at their leisure. So the
/ brougham drove to Paddington, and Mr..
and Ars%Frank Abbot took the train for
/ the West.
| They spent five happy days at Clifton;
! although they knew the scenery by heart,
| 1t looked more beautiful than ever under
! the present auspices. Then Frank began
to talk about going elsewhere: but Milf
cent seemed in no hurry TO make move.
81 wonder, Frank" she said one evening,
''yOu don't go over and have look at your
old home.
81 haven't the heart to CO." sighed
Frank. i might have Sone myself, but
| can't stand it with you. shall be think
ing all the while how you would have
graced it."
''Who lives there now?"
"A Mr.. Tompkinson-a London mer-
ehant.v
Il should so like to see the place, Frank!
DO take me Tomorrow
Frank. who, in truth. was longing to
have look at the old place, consented.
They decided to go the next day. 1--WE
will have carriage, and drive" SAID
Frank.
''What extraYagancer,' said MilIicent.
s'Never mind. shall only be married
once. When our honeymoon is over we
will go in for strict economy
Millicent agreed to this. So a carriage
was hired the next morning, and they
started for Franks ancestral home.
1t was a lovely September morning; the
air was fresh and eXhilarating. As soon
as the dark, dusty city was left behind,
Mlllicent's spirits rose to a mad pitch,
which Frank, with all his newly-married
alteration, fancied was not quite in keep
ing with what was to him at least sort
of solemn pilgrimage. She caught hold of
his hands and squeezed them, she laughed
and talked; in fact, generally miscon-
Quoted herself. Frank had never seen
her in such mood before. He was fain
to believe that she was forcing her merri-
ment to show him how little she cared for
the loss of the wealth she would have
shared. Nevertheless, as each landmark
came in sight, and at last he knew that he
was passing through lands which one day
should have been his, he grew gloomy
moody, and miserable. Millicent saw
what passed through his mind; she sank
into silence; an occasional pressure of
the hand only reminding HIM that at least
he had her.
Presently he stopped the carriage.
'You can get the best view of the dear
old house from here" he said.
LET us get out" said his wife.
They alghted, and for some minutes
stood looking at the long gray house.
Franks eyes were full of tears.
Cant we go over the house?" asked
Millicent.
''By permission of Mr.. Tompkinson, no
doubt; but he is a stranger to me, so l don't
care to ask it,
''But / want to see the inside so much,
Frank; you have described it to me so
often. Let Us go up and ask if we can go
over it."
The idea OF asking leave to 90 over
Chewton Hall was more than Frank could
bear.
II would much rather not, he said.
''But want to 90, Frank,v said MILL
cent, pouting. s'No one will know us, so
what does it matter?'
Frank still shook his head and raised
objections. If there was one thing above
another he hated, it was asking fayors of
strangers. Chewton Hall was not a show |
place. 1t boosted no specimens Ofinterest- /
ing architecture; it possessed no gallery of |
paintings. As likely as not, when they
reached the door and preferred their re-
quest, some fiunky of this fellow Tomp-
kinson's would order them off the grounds.
In short, sorry as he was to disapp0int |
his wife, Mr.. Abbot firmly refused TO ask |
leave to go over the hall. Thereupon he
discovered that he had married a young
woman who had no intention of giving him |
abject obedience.
'It's very unkind of you," she said. 81 |
will 60 over the place. If you won't come, |
shall go alone"
She turned away, pushed the lodge gate /
open in a most unceremonioUs way, and |
was twenty yards up the drive before her |
husband had recovered his surprise. At |
first he resolved to leave her to her fate; /
but that seemed an unkind thing to do. |
After all, she wanted to look over his old /
home solely for love of him. He could not /
let her 60 alone; besides, as he was hest |
tating, she turned and beckoned to him. /
So he walked after her.
AS soon as Miliicent had satisfied her. |
self that her husband was following her |
she quickened her pace to such an extent, |
that without actually running he could /
not oYertake her. Arguing that a mans /
running after woman up a strangers |
carriage-drive was not II dignifed prepa- /
ration to asking a favor, Frank followed /
his wife at a reasonable pace; and when /
he came up to her, found her standing at |
the door of the hall in conversation with |
an elderly woman, who was evidently a |
Frank thought this good |
woman eyed HIM very curiOusly and sus-
piciously.
Its all rlgnB. FRANK SAID mlluce0b, /
turning her smiling face to him. "We may /
90 over the hall. Mr.. TOmpkinson is not 1
here at present"
s'Please walk in" said the hOusekeeper, |
dropping a courtesy.
Miilicent did so, and Frank followed her /
sulkily. He did not approve Of the pro- |
ceedings. As his wife had forced him to 1
the house he had determined to send his 1
card up to MIR. Tompkinson, trusting that |
his former connection with the place |
would excuse the liberty he was taking. |
But he did not like this going behind |
the mans back, and felt sure that Milli- |
cent had been soothing the way with a /
bride.
'sThat's the drawing-room-the dining |
om-biIliard-rOom," said the house
keeper, Jerking her finger at the doors in |
''Please walk through them, /
and ring when you'd like to go up stairs I
and see the Yiew."
Herewith the woman vanished, after |
giving Millicent knowing look, which |
Frank felt sure spoke of wholesale bribe- /
81 say, Millicent." said Frank, .'we
can't go walking about a mans house alone |
in this fashion,"
my DEAR" said Millicent, very serious
ly, ST pledged my honor we would pocket |
nothing"
Then she broke into hysterical little
laugh; and Frank wondered what had |
l. L.