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

and / became dazed. / have faint remem-
brance of rushing off to one side, and
then another bullet struck me, and l
sank down. Afterward / learned that a
man living many miles back in the coun-
try found me before the battle was ended.
Beside me lay his dead son. Believing US
both dead, he took US into his wagon, and
began the journey Of thirty miles back
into the woods. He told me afterward
that he had a notion l looked something
like the dead boy beside me, and somehow
he couldn't leave me.
''On the first day when 1t was thought
l could live, a negro came to the log house
of the man who saved my life, and gave
me this note from SidOnie. You perceive
some one had tracked me in my retreat. l
was there, half alive, almost year. The
stream of battle did not penetrate to this
poor and lonely farm. 1t was some time
after had read the marriage notice that
my friend, the old man, suddenly resolved
to go to California. His boy was gone,
and his wife had died of fever. Why
should not go with him? His name was
Irving, and when the people whom we
met took us for father and son, l let it 60
so, and in the mines l was 'Ey. Irving l
did not care. l had no near relatives to
grieye for me; and perhaps you Will
think me weak, madame, but after l had
lost SidOnie l cared very little for any
thing. l worked. l specialized, was al
ways lucky as regards money out there,
and l became very wealthy.
''Three years ago, when Mr.. irving died,
l suddenly took a fancy TO come East. but
1 had a strong, almost a violent aversion
to being known as Everard Adams. That
man was no longer living 70 me-Or l tried
to think so. l knew | was thought to be
dead, and was content to have it so. From
the time / went to California until this
day l have heard not one word of SidOnie
Pace. l carefully avoided reading East
ern news. l wished to forget every
thing"
with woman's unreasoning swiftness
Of conclusion l had gone straight to the
belief that the letter and the marriage no
tice were the fOrgeries Of Capt. Ralph
Sarke, whose name l now heard for the
first time. put my question quickly:
Did Ralph Sarke ever wish TO marry
Miss PaceF
Yes; he was deeply in love with her,
and / was sometimes moved to be jeal-
GUS"
1T was he who forged Sidonie's writing,
who manufactured printed slip TO look
as if cut from a newspaper. You must
be kept out of the way, first of all, and he
alone succeeded in finding you"
But he was gentleman" exclaimed
Adams.
she was knave," said /, savagely.
Here let me say that it was never dis
covered who was guilty. No one tried to
discover, and no one, as in novels, came
forward to confess.
There was one question trembling on my
lips. Had Adams married? He seemed
to me. like a man who would love his
home, whose wife would be fond of him.
He was looking at me. Did Re see the
question on my face?
YES" he said; Il married when l
found myself growing rich. My life was
very comfortable indeed. l brought my
wife here, but she died within a few
months after our arrival"
when did you come here?''I asked
''Ihree years ago"
1T was three years ago that SidOnie
suddenly believed that she knew where
YOU We're. The city, the street, the num- !
Der were revealed to her. 1t was part of
her mania, they said. Who shall tell what !
it was?"
Adams was moving uneasily about the |
room. All at once he said:
Il am going to Richmond. Do you re-
turn immediately
Instead Of replying, l said:
"NOthing would have made her doubt |
you-nothing save words from you when
face to face with her"
.'Do l not know it?7 he cried, his lips
trembling. Il have lost my life, my hap
piness. Do not remind me Of It. Are
you going"
Yes
When we had reached Richmond,
Adams walked up and down the street |
while l went in to see Sidonie.
There were the roses in the room, and !
the odor greeted me as l went. This time |
Sidonie was dressed in a gown Of white
of some soft stuff. Her eyes were alight, |
her lips scarlet, and with the hint of
happy smile upon them.
Il thought you were coming" she said, |
advancing and taking both my hands. Il |
had great wish TO wear white to-day. |
Was it hot strange? You have heard from |
himg'
1t was of no use trying to consider now |
whether she could bear a shock or not. l |
must answer must tell her what / had |
discovered.
Il have seen him." said.
She held my hands hard. She stood |
perfectly still. looking at me.
HE was at that house in New York |
where you sent me. He was deceived
about you. He"
She interrupted me.
els he here?''
She was far calmer than 1 in her ap-
pearance, but 1 foOlishly said:
Can you be calm? Can you control |
yourself?v
For answer she said again:
rs he here?r
was not obliged to reply. There was /
a sound at the door. She turned, dropping 1
ny hands. I saw that Adams had her in /
his arms, that she was clinging to him /
with all the passion and tenderness of de- |
frauded years. His head was bent down I
over her and his voice was murmuring TO 1
her.
l walked to the window, my eyes full. !
had not stood there more than a minute /
before a sharp exclamation from Adams /
made me turn quickly. 1 saw him stride /
to lounge and bend over it with Sidonie I
in his arms. Something in her figure /
made my heart cOntract-she was no |
longer clinging to him. ran to her. l /
snatched cologne from the table and !
drenched her face, While Adams rang the /
bell furiOusly.
In a moment Salome was there, and had !
hastily given her mistress some simple |
remedy, or rather she tried to give it, but
the drops were not swallowed.
looked at Adams, and felt that my
face was as white as MS. The same ter
rible certainty was IN both our minds. de
knelt down beside the lounge and bent his
face to hers. She was dead, We knew
it, but we did not restrain SalOme from
sending for the doctor.
For many minutes Adams did not move.
In my mind was the fearful question as to
whether | had done right.
Too late now for that question.
Adams rose. l shall never forget his
face as he walked out of the room. Even
now | cannot tell whether l did right or
wrong. Sure l am that had Sidonie Pace
known that this greatest JOY would take
her life. she would gladly have chosen it.
By Mdrie Louise Pool in the Continent. |
Tt Made the Engineer Cry.
Chjcag0 Herald.
eyes, indeed, we have some queer in !