Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-05
CHAPTER XIII.

the dinner table when jamie Thompson
made her appearance.
"Here comes that tiresome girl again."
said Mr.. lie Verrier.
s'Arthur, am surprised at yOu," was his
mothers gentle reprOof
''We are not to be kept at home by her
from our ride, Clare" he said. "We shall
only have one evening more after this,
and we must make the most of our time.
Please excuse yOurself-do, dear Clare"
he whispered, as Miss jamie entered the
room.
Clare shook her head deprecatingly, but
made no other reply.
MISS Thompson had only heard that day
of the return Of the family, and that they
were accompanied by Mrs. and Mr.. lie
Nerrier.
Il came as soon as heard of your arri-
val,' she said, "tO pay my respects, and
only regret that l did not know you were
here sooner"
Mrs. Honfieur asked after the health of
her mother.
"She is about as usual" replied Miss
Thompson. ''She is always complaining,
you know. 1 see no particular change in
heI."
II understood she was much worse,
and had sent to New Orleans after you."
''She did, and the message which came
to me was that her life was despaired of,
but l knew then it was only one Of her
whims; she is always so alarmed about
herself l am tired to death of the cOun-
try already, and if | could have my way
l would never spend another day in it."
Arthur and Clare had arisen and taken
seats on the opposite side of the room, and,
as she was engaged talking with Mrs.
HOnfieur, he took occasion to say to Glare:
"YOu certainly can have no cOmpunc-
tions, Clare, about excusing yourself from
such a heartleSS GIRL
s'You do not know her as well as do.
If / should do as you wish 1t would be as
it was befOre-she would be sure to have
to-mOrrow's ride"
THAT she would not do" said Arthur,
decidedly.
1--WE must give up for to-day, Arthur"
said Glare. ''We may as well do it cheer
fully"
Miss Thompson, approaching them,
said:
q suppose the city was as gay as ever
when you left, Mr.. LIE Nerrierr
II am not very well posted in that mat
ter, for 1 participate so little in gave
ties"
''Was not Mrs. Houghton's ball bril-
liantY' she ratified in. 81 declare / never
enjoyed myself so much in my lite"
Mr.. lie Nerrier seldom INDUCED in sa-
tire, but he was in particularly Ill humor
for HIM, and could not help saying:
''You had very entertaining beau that
evening"
81 had twenty of them! That was
what made the evening so charming. /
was told several times by persons who
came up to me that they supposed, on APP
preaching me from the crowd which they
saw around me, that l must be Miss
HOnfleur. | told one of them Clare would
be frightened to death if she were to see
so many gentlemen about her. Did you
bring Lucien up with you, Mr.. lie Yer
rier? l want the privilege of riding him
again."
Il brought him with me, but l shall re-
main only one day longer in the neighbor-
| hood. If you would like the use of him
| he is at your service. will send my SER
/ want around to you with him at any hour
/ you may name"
"You provoking mani" she said, pout-
! ingly. ITO talk about sending him
| around. How am | to ride without an at
/ tendantY
''My engagements are such that it will
| be impossible for me to ride with you.
/ Any girl who has twenty beauX at a par
I " ought certainly to have at least one at
/ home to command"
/ For once Miss Thompson WINGED.
sClare and / have an engagement to ride
| tomorrow" he continued.
"Well, that viii be the very thing. can
| 90 with yOu.'
sYou know we discussed that matter
once before, and L told you | always found
it was all l could do to take care of one
lady at time"
Clare was astonished that he should
| talk to her so plainly, when she herself
| stood IN awe of her and was compelled to
| submit to her wishes.
You are really very ungallant," Miss
/ Thompson remarked, Ito say the least of
/ you"
! Il never protested to be a lady's man."
/ he replied. probably the reason never
enjoyed society life is because never had
! any taste that way"
| II suppose Frank left before you did,
| Glare? Though L need not ask you; you
! would not have left him, of course. When
| does he finish his studlesW
| 'sHe expects to graduate next fall"
ssPoor Frankv' Miss Thompson con-
/ tinued. 81 am sorry for him. The part
ing must have been terrible. Did you
! witness it, Mr.. LIE NerrierP
/ Eyes; and it was hard to tell who felt it
most, he or his parents"
Miss Thompson was provoked at being
/ fOiled in all her invidlOus attacks; but
/ continued:
"Oh, meant the parting with Clare.
| That must have been the affecting scene."
''Clare was too happy at the prospect of
/ returning hOme," replied Mrs. HOnfieur,
| ''tO be saddened by anything; but l felt
very sorry for Frank, for he disliked leav-
/ ing home so much. He is so much at
tached to his home, and then he tells hard
| tales about his fare at college,"
'Haye you seen your friend Carrie
! COchrane since your returnY' inquired
/ jamie of Clare.
mot yet"
Il understand she is to be married very
soon to DR.. Morris. 1t is creating the
col in fho 10Th hOrbnnJ -
'Why should it create surpriseE' asked
Mrs. HOnfeur.
ssWhy, he comes of such an old family,
and one that has always held itself so
high. Nobody supposed he would ever
stOOp to marry an Overseer's daughter
''She is a very lovely young lady," said
Mrs. Honfleur, land one that any young
man might be proud to VIM"
81 suppose she is; but she has not my
spirit, or she would not marry into a
family where she would be looked down
upon. l hear that they are all opposed to
the match, and have said everything to
him they could to b ,eak it off. His Sis
tiers say they will rever speak to him again
If he marries her."
s1Do YOU know his fathers family?"
asked Mrs. HOnheur.
IL do not. l never knew him until he
moved into the parish about year ago."
II do" said Mrs. HOnfleur. ''They are
old friends of mine, and more estimable
people / never knew. Old Mr.. Morris is
a man of sterling sense, and his wife is
every way worthy of him, and it would be
very unlike them to object to this match
on any such grounds as those you state.
As to his sisters, the only sister DR.. Nor
ris has is a little girl ten years old.
So you can see at once how very improba-
BILE this tale is. 1t amounts only to SLAM
der, and has no doubt been manufactured
by some enviOus girl, who would have
been glad to have secured for herself a
person of such high social standing and
rare mental and moral worth, and who is
likely to take the front rank in his profess
siOn."
Miss jamie was not at all taken aback
by the implied structures, but launched
out on some other subject. She made her. 4
self quite at home, and drawing out her
knitting went to work evidently prepared
to spend the evening. AS the tea hour ap-
preached Clare arose and lett the room,
and was in few minutes joined by Ar
thur. They walked out into the cOnserva-
tory to have little quiet chat by them
selves.
81 suppose l Will he obliged to 60 home
with Miss JAMIE" said Arthur. cal
though 1 have no respect for her, my self
respect will not suffer me to see her de-