Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-02

buAC " LCClS uGl a NLAttAA W lLC 81 otOCs DAO0
up a fire, helps her off Nth her wraps,
finds a stool for her feet, then rushes
around frantically for the smelling salts,
until all laugh and feel comfortable. just
then Sam pops his head in and says in his
pOmpOus style:
doctor, dere's a man 'quiring for you.
He say dat his dorter taken quite bad, SUIT
tent"
VERY well. Ask him to sit by my fire
a moment, and YOU get my horse ready,
sam. Now, ladies, you see l can never be
a society man. l was just thinking what
a pleasant evening l was to enjoy, but see
first, l have received a scOlding for
want of gallantry, and, having only par
TALLY recovered from the shock, you hear
me called upon to 90 out again into the
pleasant May shower. as Miss Irene calls
With a deep-drawn sigh he sank into a
chair in mock despair.
''Aunt Mary, the salts are in demand
again." exclaimed Irene,
"Reginald," said his stepmOther, 81
really do think it is prepOsterous the
manner in which you allow the people to
impose upon you. l heard Sam say you
did not have time to eat your dinner. Now
| know you are just silly enough to tramp
of in the rain without your supper. Why
don't you have Office hOursT'
Il do, most gracious mother, but some
times those unfortunate people are I'M
thoughtful enough to get sick between Of
fee hours"
otis raining; you need supper, and
Irene will play for you if you'l stay"
Thanks! l should find it more than
pleasant, but duty before pleasure must be
a doctors inevitable rule, you know and
bowling gallantly he withdrew.
"The Queerest of men. He has such
odd ideas of duty. am really provoked
that he should leave us, on your first even
ing, too" said Mrs. Mayfeld.
"Oh, no; Pm tired anyway, and you
know he always went when called under
all circumstances. L should not be pleased
with such an Indifferent beau, myself. l
shall want to be first duty in my husbands
heart. He would cOolly tell his wife she
could not have his important self as an
escort to some expected resort, which
probably she has quite set ner heart upon,
because, f0rsOOth, some beggar is drunk or
has the cohc," sneeringly replied Irene.
Douglass begged to be excused from
supper, as he was feeling unwell. So
Mrs. Mayfeld entertained her niece uStil,
seeing she looked tired and worn out, she
invited her to her old room, and affection
ately babe her goodnight.
The next night Mrs. Maytield sought
| Irene in her room, and began to pour out
her grieVOus wrongs.
do you know the first evening you
came Reginald was telling me be was 60
ing to be married, and Fve made it my
duty to-day to get all the information |
could from him in order to tell you. He
is actually going to bring a wife here
within a month. Actually, she cooks and
does all sorts of things. Think of it,
| Irene. Reginald has been so Indifferent
to society. ] did not dream he had a
thought of anything but his profession.
Lately l have had some misgivings.
will take you through his rooms tO-mOr-
row, and you will see why. Surely, l
knew he would marry some day, but
have hoped it would be to some one to
whom l could willingly give up my place
hoped so much, in fact, that l had taken it
as a certainty. l can't see how l can en-
dure to live with this green country girl as
mistress here.'
"Well, auntie dear, give up your laurels
as gracefully as possible. You must own
we have failed, for the snares you aud
have laid ought to have caught half a
| dozen husbands"
Don't speak so, Irene, for heavens
| sake. What's the use to talk over such
things?''
20, well, l have done my very best to win
him, and as there was no love mixed in
on either side, it don't hurt me to speak OF
it to you; but the girl must be more than
a green country girl. l know Reginald
too well to believe for an instant he could
love such a person."
'.Oh, he didn't say that in so many
words, but twas all the same. She's
never been out in society at all and l be-
lieYe she's as poor as she's Ignorant,
teaching a crowd of dirty country ur
chins. I'll venture you can't guess hei
name.'
'Jane Smith,"
mo: WOrse.o
Jones? Q, well, you know i: will soon
be Maytield, and that won't be so bad,o she
laughed, heartily.
Il see, Irene, you are bent upon any.
thing but cOnsOling me, so we'd best DROP
the subject
"NOw, aunt Mary, you know ! sympa
thiZe with you. She may suit you better
than YOU think, though l own 1 have my
| misgivirgs. From the very first | would
take it as a matter of course that every
thing was to be carried on just as now;
never let her know that Laurel HIP be.
longs to her. In a word, think she'll
hardly feel herself capable Of taking your
| place"
How L wish it were you, Iren5w
"Never wish it again, auntie, l pray
you. How do you know l would have
/ been as tractable as you wish? Suppose.
| after becoming Mrs. DR.. Mayfield, l had
/ demanded the keys, and, with many
/ thanks for helping me get a desirable hus-
/ band, shown you the dOOr?"
Il know better, but l shall never speak
to you on the subject again; be sure OF
that said Mrs. Mayteld, half angrily.
Irene laughed. and drew her into chats
of s-AuId LANCE Syne," and soon had the
satisfaction of bidding her very afec-
tiOnate goodnight.
Irene took off her pretty dress, let down
her lovely black hair, and reached out her
hand to call her maid, but another
thought changed her purpose, and, put
ting on a soft wrapper, she hastily combed
out the long, glossy mass, and tucking it
up soon found in her trunk a package OF
letters.
Il will soon see,'' she exclaimed, as she
eagerly went through the whole number
of the prOmiscuOus scraps and letters.
Eyes" she exclaimed, with eyes spark
ling with triumph, ''the very name, and
YES. here | have the photograph too. Ali
Pauline Jones, these letters and this pic
ture shall work you trouble enough to re-
pay me in part for my disappointment.
Don't like Yidders, does he? Well, he
shall have no cause to change his opinion.
It's well enough in novels to talk about
breaking off marriage by stratagem, in
tercepting letters, etc. / believe they are
generally thwarted anyway. In life, mar
rage is the beginning; in novels, the end
of life. l know can't prevent this mar
riage. l feel 1 could never gain Reginald
Mayfield's heart, but l will give them
some trOuble-that l am resolved upon"
She caught a glimpse of her cleaning
eyes and crimson cheeks in her mirror,
and smiled as she thought how well ex-
citement became her.
f'POOr indeed Will be my power if with
my face do not gain a suitable settle
ment in this fashionable world of mine,
even If love is net part of the bond; for
oh. Reginald, deny it as | may, l have
never loved but you, and will never care
A pin for any other man. But this coun-
try Iassie, Well, we shall see." So NUT
tering she fell asleep as calmly as if no
thought of evil had ever disturbed her
brain.
In her own room Mrs. Mayheld sat up
right in her stately chair-she never used
a rOcker-knitting her brow darby.
Failed in the very bud of my plans, II
only he could have married Irene! | will
have to swallow everything whether l
like it or not. My income is too small to
keep up the style l desire, beside the
world shall not say l have been supplant-
ed and must leave Laurel Hill, l will be