Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-14

father, or Of any sin that would Justify
| YOU in making me a prisoner. and refuse
! to be one. When 1 am guilty of wrong
then you may chastise me as YOU will. but
net now: never will submit to appear
like a criminal"
what! thus TO mes I,ll show vo,, vvbo
IS master" He seized me by the arm.
say again, will YOu promise to obey me?
l VIII trust your word still, for you come
from an honorable stock. but if YOU do
not promise me here sOlemnlY to give up
this base, low foreigner now and forever,
L Will make you obey me. You shall be
| my prisoner TO your cost"
lie still held my arm with painful
force, or it seems to me l must have
| rushed out from him in terror; but was
! only weak girl, and by physical weak
ness surely was prisoner.
Ion, fatherV was my anguished
! prayer, do believe my word that there is
no cause for your anger, no reason why
| you should exact such a promise from
me-"
"Ah!" and his clutch became tighter.
Gan you say you have never deceived
me. Why was this last nights mystery?
Why do l find you leagued with this man
about whom the public are telling
/ doubtful tales-in such secrecy you will
not own even tome? Say, quick, will YOU
promise to be mine or his? You shall
make a choice"
'Ohl father, spare mej'
| My cheeks burnt with shame.
] mo answer yet" he echoed, violently
/ Il say then you shall not leave this house.
/ You may remain if you will, but if ever
/ you 20 out without my leave YOU may
I stay and that forever. I'll have done with
| you. Go, and think well Of what l have
{ said, for il IS laW.''
When he released my arm he turned
/ abruptly away and went out. 1 was weak
/ and wretched, and sank down on the floor
I PROSTATE. How long l lay there l never
/ knew. 1t was father who at last came in
/ again and carried me uD stairs. gently.
| too, as woman. 1t was he who called
| Dlnah and helped her make me cOmfOrta-
| bic In bed. He gave me something 10
/ drink which l took without a word, and.
/ after a long, dreary time, sleep came to
/ me, bringing at least oblivion of the I'M
happy present. Thus passed away the
/ day and then the night, and another day:
/ still felt lifeless and so sick at heart |
( cared not to note the passing of time. At
/ fathers earnest request l arose and
/ dressed towards the evening of the second
/ day, and sat in my large chair close by
/ the window. The roof the old Lodge
| arose above the trees and greeted my eyes
/ as soon as they were turned upon the
/ outside world. The sight aroused me
/ from my stupOr. L tried 70 realize what
/ life was to be. Where vas Harry? |
! asked myself. By and by Dinah came in.
I and l asked her where he was. He was
/ down stairs she told me; had come in the
/ morning pale and weak, but father had
/ asked no questions.
went down stairs with Dinah's help.
I and there were father and Harry cOnyers-
/ ing quietly tO-etber. Both greeted me az
! fectiOnatelv. and we met as If no storm
I had swept over us changing all our home.
I How strange for Us 10 live and move in
Lon.
| NOS III AL our hearts. 50 the days came
/ and the nights, and the gladness of those
/ late September days came back no more.
I Alas! Tor me. l tried TO do my duty as an
( atlectiOnate child. but miseTably failed.
! Only once did Harry touch upon the sad
/ scenes through which we had Just
passed. IL was few nights after the
/ changed life came upon US. He and I
! stood alone upon the front piazza. and
\ father was away about the place. A deep
I silence was between US. He asked me az
4 ter awhile if knew that he was gong
/ soon 10 college. Then his voice became
/ unsteady:
! Il intend to lead a new life, Minnie.7
/ l told him truly how glad l was.
-.Ohl Daisy" he almost sobbed out, 'Fif
| l could only see you look happy once
mOrel Sometimes l feel like killing my
/ self when l see you so changed
/ Am | really so altered!" L asked try
| ing to laugh.
The truth was / thought very little
about myself then; even thought seemed
TO sleep. Harry came closer and threw
his arms about me lovingly before he said
| almost in frightened way:
Minnie, l wish you could feel right
about fathers decision; if you only knew
| how people talked about this new Protes-
| sOT-what strange, ugly stories they tell
/ about him and family. you would not
| think them worth grieving about. l am
glad we have done with them for my
/ part"
| And ssafter alp Harry had come to this
come to feel it a relief to be rid of him
! who was so much to US. / could not say
! one word in return. so he went on:
You will be reasonable after awhile,
/ and feel glad that father has chosen for
| your"
chosen? What do you mean?".
/ wanted to learn how much he knew
of what had passed.
To break of from these people," he
| stammered. I'VE were too intimate with
/ them when such stories are a1Oat."
A pang of pain made my heart ache at
! last. It was almost a relief to feel any
thing. for lately nothing had moved me
! from the horror Of dead calm. 1t was
! keen pain TO realize that Harry did know
/ who had shielded MIN to the last, who had
/ brought him in during his deleTiUm, and
! who had so tenderly guarded him through
| that long night; yet latter all' there was
/ not one thrOb OF gratitude in his heart.
| That nv sorrows had come because Of my
determination to shield Harry caused me
! little concern, but his ingratitude weighed
| upon nv very soul. | was glad he was
I going away where contact with the world
/ might teach him the bitterness of the
worlds opinions. 1t was through Dinah
/ and Simon that / learned how Harry
| came out of his last disgrace for 1t was
his last). and how he wept over ii, fear
| ing that father would dis0wn him.
/ learned that Prof. Williams never re-
I turned to the Lodge during the day, as he
/ promised. Father chose to dismiss him
from our regard by letter. What 1t con-
| tanned l never wished to know. W hen
| Harry returned to consciousness and be-
came aware of all that had befallen him
he was at tie Lodge with Simon, and
from him he gathered every particular.
can see plainly now why Harry de-
termined to break away from a passing
friendship and cling to his father if he
could. He came back TO his home with
out word and father received him. 1t
| was well that father could. The letter OF
his VOW had not been broken; he had been
| careful not to see Harry during his dis
grace. l was thankful, for Harry's restO-
ration was the daily prayer Of my girl
hood. My struggles were ended, but were
was the peace that was to be mine!
CHAPTER VI