Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-10


They were going fast toward life and
light, and they were ready, even some
times eager, he fancied.
Well! when they were gone, the tender
est human tie, almost the only one he
knew, would be broken, and he should be
left GesOlate. He felt this desolatiOn
! creep over him as he thought OF these
things, but he had been always a grave
man, and nobody took note of his moods.
Charlie had come this morning just
across one of his lonely hours. He was
glad to find her, glad to find that a new
duty would grow out of her condition for
his empty hands. But he was not
charmed by her youthful sweetness as a
very young man might have been. He
felt it, and enjoyed it to a certain extent,
but she irritated him, she veXed him.
There were great possibilities for her and
she would never reach them. She was
cOnstitutiOnally careless and systematic
cally spoiled. Lies great purposes
seemed trifling matters to her, and she
laughed at all serious questions.
MIR. Fearne was wise man, but he had
not, at a glance, fathOmed Charlie Bar
rett. On the surface of her undisciplined
girlhOod, he saw some thOughtIess tokens,
and by these he took her moral and intel
lectual measure. He had no prophetic
ken to reach her mature years and tell
what they might represent. Let no man
dare to map out from present signs the
possibilities of girls life when he takes
her horoscope at seventeen. Let him
rather acknowledge his ineficiency, and
wait silently until nature develops her
pretty handicraft and the bent of circum-
stance decides the manner of growth.
Possibly men can never know women
thoroughly. They are either too Indifferent
to study her complex nature, or too par
tial and too well satisfied to fathOm any
greater depths than her gentleness and
sweetness suggest.
While Escotte had been very busy with
scientific matters women had been ever
looked. They represented specimens"
which had failed to come under his
especial investigation, and he had cOOlly
set them aside to await ''a more con-
Yenient season."
That Charlie Barrett, with all her con-
tradictiOns and vagaries, should be his
first study seemed a whimsical chance.
But she had crossed his path, childish,
spoiled, wOmanly, dependent, self-assert-
ing. capriciOus. beWildering, self-Willed
and beautiful! She was to become per-
pleXity and a trial to him, he believed;
but he was interested to find her out, and
determined to set himself to the work;
not SO especially just yet from choice,
but, as he had said, because ''she is a wO-
man and a kinswoman," ETC., ETC., etc.
Now a vague kind Of trouble seemed to
threaten her. He could not tell where
the danger lay, nor even feel certain that
it would come. Still his father feared 1t,
and he had promised to look about him
and see if it would show itself in response
to his fears as it had done to his fathers.
1t seems desirable first to know those
multitudiOus friends of whom Charlie had
spoken so pertly and so pathetlcalIy.
Judge Barrett had always extended to
him, on his rare visits home, the most cor
dial and constant hospitality. 1t seemed
nothing more than a proper courtesy to
call on his guest, and early on the morn
ing following Charities visit to his fathers
study" EscOtte made his way to Judge
Barrett's residence.
The morning was singularly beautiful,
even here where a gorgeous sunset is
succeeded by a sunrise of equal splendOr
and promise each twenty-four hours,
sometimes for weeks without the variety
of one day Of miSts and shadows.
Mr.. Fearne had had many experiences
of climate, and by contrast had come to
consider his native State as atfOrding the
best. as represented not alone by effects
for the eye, but tor a combination of GER
tain beauty with the best health-giying
influences. This day he saw on all sides
the confirmation of his faVOrite theOry-a
perfectly clear atmosphere, into which
was effused a breeze just cool enough to
temper the effect of the direct, near
touching rays of the sun. A little later
solid heat would weary those who were
compelled to be outside of shelter; but
within doors and under broad trees this
would even at noon prove a perfect
day." He walked slowly and enjOyingly.
The brief glance he had taken of Judge
Barretts home when he gave Charlie into
Marin Marg'et's hands had told him moth
ing of it's improvement and beauty. Now
he took in each fair detail, and wondered
at the skill and taste which, of few city
acres, could so aptly have utilized every
natural advantage, and with the aid OF
art had wrought thing of so much har-
mOny and beauty. But, slow as was his
progress, the house was reached all too
soon, and there was nothing left but to
make his visit.
There was a curious air of exceeding
stiffness about the place. The hall door
was wide open, and the long windows of
the sitting-rOom were partly Enclosed. He
could see that the room was empty, and
could easily detect the fragrance of dish
of summer flowers on the table. Know
inc this to be house Of sickness and
threatening death, he felt reluctant to
startle the echoes by a sudden peal of the
bell. AS he deliberated moment on
this point, door in the hall opened very
y.
toe, stepped carefully out. He knew at
once that this must be the person he most
desired to see, and Mr.. Beltham was as
easily certain of his guest. Advancing
with his pleasantest, because it was his
least conscious smile, he said, extending
his hand most cordially:
81 am sure you are Mr.. Fearne, sir;
YOUR resemblance to your excellent
father makes an introduction entirely UNI
~ IN, md DC I
boast of any resemblance winch Will
guarantee .my easy acceptance, must
stand by a more formal means of intro
ductiOn. / am Albert Beltham."
81 readily concluded as much, Mr..
Beltham. l am my fathers son, and l
have called here this morning especially
to see YOU"
you might have met me on my way to
your house to forestall this pleasure as L
had purpOsed doing, but Judge Barrett's
condition seemed to render my stay here
imperative. Permit me to give you this
chair by the window. 1t is the most COM
Portable. and insures something interest
ing outside, in any event."
Mr.. Fearne took the prOffered seat. This
Young man seemed cordial, kindly and
graceful. His manner was more than po-
lite. 1t was cOnciliating and deferential.
His voice was low as suiting the present
tinct and pleasant. For once Mr.. Beltham
did not pose for effect. He was shreWd
enough to see that such arts were useless
toward this grave and observant gentle
man, who, he easily OWNED, had come to
interview him. Dropping all self-con-
seriousness and vanity, ne set himself to
please this stranger whom his mother had
marked as a person to be cOnclliated, and
not knowing just what he feared or eX-
pected, he made no effort to conceal the
fact that he coveted the good will Of his
visitor. One thing Mr.. Fearne remarked
about Charles guardian: He never
once met the clear penetrating gaze of
his watchful eyes; but this did not mean
to him quite what it usually does to less
accurate observers. In his constant com
merce with life be had met more than one
villain who looked into his eyes with the
trustful frankness Of a little guileless
child, still the interest and intelligence of
a full and free meeting of the eyes is, to
put it at its least value, q comfortable
and graceful adjunct to conversation.
Mr.. Beltham seemed to deprecate any de-
sire not to meet his visitors glance, and
even sometimes ventured on a quick and
telling look, but it was soon over, and,
whilst his words evinced all possible gra-
ciOusness and kindness, his truant look
wandered sometimes to the pictures on
the walls, and sometimes to the brilliance
outside, but Oftenest to his immaculate
hands, which he looked at critically, and
IL