Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-09

strange new music OF EScOtte'S low
toned voice ringing in her ears. Her
first conscious thoughts the next morning
were a swift rehearsal Of the last even
ing's acts and experiences
Il don't know how | can 20 down and
meet him this morning." she thought. ut
was easy, sheltered by the darkness last
night to say, i love yOU;' easy to accept
his kisses, but to-day. with the broad sun
shine full IN my face. with his fine ewes
always on me-fOr he has always
watched and wondered at me-ah | have
good mind to slip of and leave a line
to quiet Auntie when she finds / am
gone"
Fascinated as much by the mischief as
the advantage of this plot, Charlie dressed
as rapidly possible, wrote her little
note in startingly distinct characters,
placed it in conspicuous position and
prepared for flight. At the side of her
uncle's garden was a small gate, rarely
used, which led into a short alley. and
from thence into the street. This way
Charlie concluded she would take, as it
e4fecWally sheltered her from observa-
ton from the front piazza, and
also from certain chamber win
dows which she particularly wished
TO avoid. But to elude the house
girls eyes was her first enterprise. This
required some tinesse. Jane was so long
sweeping and busting the stairs, so long
on the piazza and steps, and so long gaZ-
ing up the street from the front gate that
Charlie almost concluded that she had
been set TO spy out her movements. But
at last she is zone. and has even shut the
front door and the way is open
Charlie slips softly down the stairs.
crosses the garden, and has only to reach
the little gate to accomplish her Whimsi-
cal plan; nut near the gate stands vine
covered arboT, in which, not even half
hidden by the leaves, a tall gentleman. who
is an untOlerably persistent early riser.
has been standing Tor several minutes
watching her game. He had seen her
first as he strolled up and down the gar
den walks. open her window and look out
suspIciOusly. She was ready for walk
ing, and at first he concluded she intend
ed to join him; but, later, seeing from the
low windows her careful watch of James
movements, he began TO suspect her idea.
1t was rather childish, certainly, but very
like Charlie; SO, much entertained, he hid
in the arbOr to cut of her flight. He let
her get quite to the gate before he coolly
walked out, and as she reached for the
latch shut his hand tightly on hers.
Not so fast, little culprit," he said
You don get of so easily. | shall take
you to my father and tell him Of your ne
fariOus conduct, stealing away like n
thief in the night. What does this mean2
Do you hate me, darling, that you run OF
when | am starving for a sight Of you:7
He mad carried her back to the arbor
where there was a comfortable seat and
was untying her hat and veil, but she had
never spoken. She only looked down at
her small hands with scarlet flush on
both cheeks.
"How could you do so, Charlie?" he
asked, taking both hands into his. Don't
you love me well enough to want to be
near me: L thought of seeing you as
soon as l awOke and | could hardly wait
until You came down; and l saw all your
little manWuvreS, saw you watching Jane,
saw YOU creep out of the house aud
try to run away. Child, child, l was 60
ing to be generous. | was not going to
press or hurry YOU about marrying me.
But, don't you see. if you are likely to be
always slipping through my fingers,
must take some steps to tie you to my
side. Now, tell me what you were run
ming from. Surely not from my love;
surely not from me, CharlieE'
Il don't know Just what; perhaps from
you; but / think it was from uncle Hen
~"
''Why from him, dear? Don't you want
to see him perfectly happy?'
Il suppose | do, but I told him only yes
terday that-that 1 didn't love YOU. and.
and-yOu see, one doesn't like being
caught in a tib-by a minister. too"
EscOtte laughed.
You amt very much afraid of uncle
Henry, L think. Why did you tell him
that?"
Il don't know. Oh! Escotte, maybe l
didn't know any better until / found you
loved me-
i shan't quarrel with yesterday morn
ING; alls well that ends well. You are
certainly mine now. and that l may take
proper care of such valuable property, |
shall carry you in to breakfast; but
promise me before you go that YOU viii
never run away from me again. l feel a
curious and perhaps an unreasonable
anxiety about that"
NO, l won't promise, but | Will 90 into
breakfast. See! there's Auntie IN the door
waiting for US"
Mrs. Fearne was in the door watching
them. Her quick, wOmanly perception
had noted a change in her son last night.
She could hardly have described it. Some
thing of its potent spell sounded in his
voice. Something shOne in his strangely
expressive ewes. He had not only looked
happy and. in some curious way, rested.
but he had been moved.
His usually calm expression, his digni-
fed reserve, his quiet, intellectual pose
was disturbed, and there was pervading
the whole man a change so subtitle, so del
icate as 10 be evident only to his mothers
acute sensibiliues.
"Why," she wondered, chad his always
pleasant voice sounded unfamiliar, and
vet softer ana sweeter than ever be
fOre?"
She watched him furtively during the
evening, and she was watching him now,
never thinking that Charles wistful vet
happy face might have been her easiest
answer. But she mad said nothing
would say nothing just yet; only wait un-
til he chose to speak.
'-COme in, Charlie; your uncle is wait
ing, and so is breakfast
But, marvellous to relatel Charities
ready tongue found no answer. She only
walked quietly in, hung up her hat and
turned to the breakfast-rOOm.
Il am so sorry you have waited for me,
uncle Henry. Do have your breakfast
now, won't you:'
Why: there's no hurry, dearie; no
hurry. Shan't we wait for EscOtte and
mOther:"
I'VE are here, father. Let us have
breakfast, for I've a little business with
You Afterwards
Then, my son, your business must
wait. Another time will do as well. To-
day must devote to Charlie. She shall
read some Latin with me before her
grandmother sends an express after her
which / look for at any moment. All!
that woman. Well. let's have the bless
ing" and. forgetting his animOsity to-
wards his only living enemy, the good old
man asked his blessing, not as almost all
other intelligent Christians do, as if 1t
was a little stiff formula to be gotten over
with all possible dispatch, but as if he
really believed that the bread before him
should actually be eaten after a blessing
had been sent down on it.
THE Latin, father, is well enough in its
place, but my business must come first.
When you have heard its puTpOrt, Pm
sure you will agree with me.'
In her heart of hearts Charlie felt thank
ful for this timely business. She had
feared that EscOtte might, IN the fullness
Of his satisfaction, tell some trying thing
concerning their present blissful but new
relation. Now, relieved of all this, she
ate her breakfast chatting gayly with
uncle Henry, and rather broadly ignoring
Entered according to act of Congress IN the
year 1884 by j II. Estill, in the Office of the