Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-25

forget that, when for months nv voice
hung in the balance? All, the pain of
those mOnthsl The horror of the posi-
bility of having to live out my life in a
mountain village and become only the
mother of childrenV
every well, madame" 1 interrupted.
turning sick with disgust. owe under
stand each other thoroughly, I believe. I
shall write McRhea at once to examine
the register of the Parish Church at Ra.
vensglass."
She smiled coldly, but did not reply.
L slgnaled to Charley; and, while the
cruel smile still fingered on her face. we
bowed out Of the rooms.
Two days afterwaTd / opened the gate
OF the cottage at RysfOth.
The winter, so far, had been unusually
mid. Roses still blOOmed near the door.
The breath Of yiOlets laden with poetry
and with suggestions of Lois womanIy
sweetness came to me as approached the
steps.
Chow glad l am to be back" / said,
when the EXPLANATIONS of surprise had
ceased, and stood on the hearthrug look
ing around me.
Robert, already strong enough to Occu-
Ply Lesley's Christmas gift-a large in
valid's chair-was sitting near the fire
Lois sat by his side on a low stool. Lesley,
nearer the fire; and Ruth stood by my side.
''After all I've seen since l left | am
prepared to enjoy your home, Lois"
continued. Il don't know how it is, but
somehow or other it is more comfortable
here than il was at the 'Castle.'"
Exactly Robert assented, cheerfully.
That is just what l have said many
times. Il can't understand it."
i think 1t is because we have been
fQmubf n hood tho Rih1a r.r1fn kRoar Va
one anOther's burdens,'D Lois said, tim
idly.
You don't know what little Christian
she has become, Max" Robert cried, iok-
ingly; but there were tears in his eyes,
and he laid his hand very tenderly on the
wavy hair.
''After all I've seen, Ruth exclaimed,
mimicking my weary infection. "Wit-
ness will take the stand. What-haye you
seen, STRIP
"May it please the court, I've seen a
beautiful woman without conscience or
heart; and a mother with hatred for her
offspring
That's enough, please" Ruth inter
rupted. Il want you all to observe that
l am duly penitent. l did not suppose
that our traveller would relate hOrrors.'
DO stop. Ruthie!" Lesley urged.
"Some one ought to explain for Ruth's
sake" she continued, smiling sweetly,
and speaking in the quiet way which had
so much of restfulness in its tone ''that
she has just been asked to take charge OF
the primary department at the Academy.
and she has not yet learned to accept the
goods the gods send with calmness.v
Really, Ruthiev' l exclaimed. 'sThis
is good news. No more frettng at de-
pendence' now, Ell p
But your New York trip?' Bob asked,
ENORMOUSLY.
"Was rich in development. I carried
McRhea's letter of Introduction with me,
and il proved a veritable open sesame. ;
! Will not tire you with details. The re-
suit of my Investigations are the follow
ing facts gathered from conversations
with MOntani and Herr Mcneil: This
M0ntani, Or-as you all knOw-Originally
Linda Beall, is a girl who went hOpelessIy
wrong from the beginning. She was at
first chorus singer in Paris afterwards,
when in Milan, she met and conquered
Carevna. He was a Polish Count, who
afterwards shot himself to escape eXecu-
ton as Nihilist. Liska is the child of
Linda Beall and Conrad, Count Carevna
but it remains to be discovered if there
was a marriage of these two. and if there
is a registry of that and the child's
birth. Facts much to be doubted, l am sor-
ry to say"
''Poor little Liska!" Lesley murmured.
'DO you feel sure that Careyna is her
fathery' Lois asked.
L thought ! discovered her wish to clear
McRhea, and L answered emphatically:
I certainly do, my dear. Just before |
left my hotel for the ferry runner brought
me small package from the madame. 1t
contained certain little souvenirs which in
our Irst interview she said she wanted me
to carry to Liska. 1t may be that at the
last moment she relented and gave us at
least clue"
Hardly" Robert said, sadly. ''From
all you have told, and many things you
have intimated, Pm afraid you and Me-
Rhea have undertaken hard job"
''POssibly. But we are determined to
carry it through" l answered, turning
from the fire to get better view OF Lesley
who had drawn her char nearer the win
dow, and sat sewing steadily.
Old memories awOke within as | looked
upon the fair Scotch girl; old lOngings, so
long dead, began to stir into life, and l
sighed softly as l turned away to examine
Lois music rack.