Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-01


like they had been married for yearsi'
So they did; and just so they looked all
the way through. A quiet, middle-aged
couple, whose Iife-happiness had come to
them at last.
Il am just beginning to realize that
Miss Charlotte is older than you," Lesley
said, when we were decorating the sitting
room for the two marriages, which were
to occur at the same time.
''Do look so very oldT'
"No," blushing; shut she always looked
so young. How old is she, reallyP
''DO you think she would quite like me
to tell ~ Then, seeing that she already
regretted her question, l added quickly,
every nearly fifty. Which makes me
Just forty-fve."
Then, as handed her another garland,
l bent forward, saying softly:
rs that almost old enough for an
ogrew
She did not answer, but turned away
hastily.
sHow very pretty it is all going to be-"
DR.. Craig said to her, as she turned from
my gaze.
Yes? 1 am glad you viii like it, she
answered, her voice trembling some
what.
esWiII you not come down and let me
take your pIace?' he asked 'YOu are
quite tired. Your face is flushed; and
your voice is really weak. You've been
standing on that step-ladder quite
while.'
Il believe you may she assented,
slowly, ''and L viii see how Liska and
Annette are arranging the vases. Mr..
Maxwell will tell you what to do. He un-
derstands Lois plan perfectly"
Just two weeks from that time the cot
tage had once more fallen into its accus-
toned serenity.
BERTHE and Ruth were off on their bridal
tour; Charlotte and her husband had gone
at once to the Farm
"I've good news for you, Domino" Lois
cried, coming down the walk to meet
Liska and me as we were returning from
the Werners. E'Robert has walked from
his chair to my easel without assistance"
II knew we would whip out the doe
tOrl'' / cried, joyfully, trying to hide the
tears which sprang to my eyes as looked
at Lois happy face. "Hurrah for DIR. Con-
way! Why where is Liska?"
| was answered when | walked into the
room, and saw her sObbing on Roberts
breast.
cts a final reconciliation, is. it?' l
asked, standing in the door, and looking at
them through mist. dob, old fellow, |
am glad. can't say MORE"
II am more thankful than anybody, eX-
cept aunt Lois" Liska said, when we sat
around the dinner-table. because you
know I once felt hurt with uncle Conway;
and afterwards, when l fOrgave him, l
loved him much BETTER"
''Isu't that just like a wOmanw Bob
cried. "Liska, you've got the true wO-
mans heart. If you want their love just
make them forgive you first"
lis that sop | asked, glancing quickly
towards Lesley, whose eyes met mine, and
then fell in confusion.
Before | could be answered, Roberts
servant came to his side.
''Col. McRhea is coming up the front
walk"
sDon't move, Robert!" Lois cried,
drawing him back into his chair. "Bring
him right in here, will you, Domino? All!
Lesley has already met him." she con-
tinued, looking through the door into the
hall.
"BIess my soul! believe you are glad
to see me-" he cried, as we gathered
around him. '.BOb, old fellow, you are
quite yourself again. All, pretty
COUSIN" turning to Lois. And l knew at
once that he had won his fight. ''You
haven't changed except to grow prettier.
1t is just delightful to come home and
find such beautiful faces belonging to
you" he added, slipping an arm around
Lesley. .EAnd here's my little LiSka!
Only she isn't little any longer. Dearme
how can one short year make such
changes? 2" he cried, holding her off to get
a better view of the beautiful face and
the tall, slender figure. ''Why child, you
will be a woman grown in two more
years. Yes; thank YOU" answering Les
ley's gesture and taking the chair she iu-
dictated. 'Such a happy homecoming
gives one an appetite. Maxwell, hope
you don't see any Disagreement in my
cOuntenance."
''Oh, mol A marvellous improvement"
/ stammered, becoming suddenly aware
that l had been staring.
''Indeed! Thank YOU"
But the light in the dark-blue eyes add
ed another meaning to his tone; and l
knew he understood me.
"And now, Liska, | want you to come
and sit close by my side. while tell these
people a little life-history l learned while
1 was abroad"
We were in the sitting-rOom after din
ner.
'Welll Once upon time there was a
beautiful girl who was gifted with mar
velOusIy sweet voice. She did not have
anyone to teach her that Gods gifts to his
children must not be abused, so her beau
tifuI face and her beautiful voice only
filled her heart with vanity and false am
bition. One day she left her village home,
determined to find the brilliant fortune
which she believed the future must hold
for her. She worked her way from small
theatres in London to small theatres in
Paris. And in the last city her beauty
made its first conquest, and she entered
upon that road to fortune which never yet
ended in anything but failure. Her voice
procured fame for her; and her beauty
procured great admiration of a certain
kind She became prosperous, and she
fancied she was happy. She left Paris
and her first lover after awhile and went
to Milan, where she imagined herself en-
shaved by another lover of more fascinat-
ing power. This man gave the best love
of his lite to this undeserving heart; and
they were married. They had fled from
the excitement and gaiety Of the life
which a famous prima donna must live,
and had taken up their home in the North
of England. Here this beautiful young
wife discovered that for love of her, and
to make her his wife, her husband had
sacrificed his heritage of enormous eS-
tates. Then her hot and restless heart
began to reprOach him; she began to rebel
at the quiet, peaceful home to which he
had brought her; and finally, when she
discovered that God meant to give her a
child, and that she might perhaps lose
her wonderful voice, her anger and des-
peratiOn knew no bounds. When her lit
tie daughter was not quite year old, she
left her husband and child and quiet
home, and became once more a famous
singer. The years rolled on. She kept
the secret of her marriage locked within
her depraved heart, and reveled in pleas
ure and sin. And every day she grew to
hate the father and child with deeper in
tensity. One day, when the child was
nearly nine years old, dear friend Of
this poor, deserted husband fell under
this wOman's power and became her
slave. Finally, she led him on until he
was ready to give her his noble name and
take her for his wife. Then the husband,
being made sure that such was the case,
told his friend the story of his life, after
which-being suspected OF Nihilistic plot
ting-the heart-brOken fellow shot him
self. His friend was with him when he
committed this rash act. And to this
friend the little daughter was given to be
taken away from her depraved and Teck-
less mother, and to be placed with good
and true people who might shield her
from her mothers fate. What is it, little
Liska?7 he asked, suddenly, as the sobs
began to rack her slender frame.
"My mammal My beautiful mammaW
Yes; my darling"
''And she saw the Count tortured for
treason and would not let me tell the
things that would have saved him"
''She wanted him to die, little Liska."
"And this noble soul, this true, true
heart, was broken by herY'
''Yes, little Llska."
''And she knew | was her child, and
only half cIaimpd me? She knew she