Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04


L
In the uncertain glory Of fading April
day, owen March stood before a door in
the village of Judea, and let fall its
knOcker. His Imagination. which went
forward with a vague interest, as he
raped, to meet those with whom the
opening Of the door would make him
acquainted, stood still with a mild shock
when no footsteps answered his summons
But he lifted the reclining lamb again
quite patiently, and waited once more for
a response. As it did not come, he let his
eyes wander down the street up which he
had Just come. 1t was a thOrougbfare
full of entertainment for one who saw il
for the first time. March regarded il at
tentively for some minutes, during which
he once more caused the little brass figure
to make gentle inquiry of the dilatOriness
of the houses inmates. When this
knock also proved fruitless, he turned his
glance toward the garden, endeavoring
TO bask beneath him in the stingy sun
light. As he looked, he was aware that
the solitude was abruptly peOpled. A
young girl emerged from an arbOr which
he could sec among the bare shrubs sur
rounding it in the midst Of the enclosure.
He had time TO observe her as she came.
for she often stopped to pluck some early
spring flower, and did not perceive him.
She was cOmpactly end rather largely
framed. Her face, as it showed itself 10
aim, in unconscious TepOse, was DOS
sessed by a certain dignity and serious
ness, touched with curious grace. It's
lines were strlkingly regular; in her fair
full cheeks a faint color showed. The
pensiYe calm that March felt in her ex-
preston may have been partly the result
OF her unusual dress, for her hair was
entirely concealed beneath a clOse-fitting
white colt, a stainless neckerchief WIS
crossed upon her breast, and she was per-
fectly simply attired in a gown Of blush
gray. This dress, which touches the
most Indifferent form with a neutral
shadow Of beauty, illumined this girl
with singular beauty. March at once
guessed that It was the MOraVian cos
tune, but If the figure moving toward
nlm was, as ne supposed, DR.. Van Cleefs
daughter, he was surprised to see her in
this attire. He would not have known TO
what to refer his impression that he
should ind this young lady, of whom he
had heard so much, habited i'm altogether
the worldly way; probably, however. il
mad been merely an inference from the
ample suggestions which his cousin.
Frederick Lincoln, had let fall touching
her character. March had the sense Of
tearing up foolish mental photograph as
she came nearer. The original was hope
lessly different, but it was not disap-
pointing difference. When she bent
scarcely a dozen feet from him to pullawav
the leaves matted upon a bed Of crOcuses.
stIl. not observing him, he eXperien" al a.
humorousteelingof more absolr. ta NEGLECT
than the silence Of the h~.use had oiven
MN. but IN Z lent she raised her
cle:ii, seIe I. es, and encountered his
waning 81 -Ae. Her color deepened for an
- denly, with the damp leaves in her
nands. She was quite tall. but all her
motions were graceful. The little ges-
ture with which she held the leaves away
from her seemed to him indescribably
pretty.
My father is visiting patient at a
distance, if you wished to see him." she
said, after a moment. ''But he VIII be
back soon. Hope you have not been kept
waiting long"
ssPve done very vel, >" answered March,
glancing down at her where she stood in
the garden at little distance from the
high stOOp. 1t is very good of you to
live i'm so interesting village, Miss Van
Cleef"
She looked up with a fresh light in her
sensitive eyes. They seemed to be CROP
ing for clew to the easy confidence of
the young stranger before her. As she
glanced at him with keen, quiet regard,
sudden thought appeared to pass through
her mind. for she dropped the leaves and
moved quickly toward him.
But March had already said, You are
going to tell me that l have the advantage
OF YOU. d0n'tmea to keep it, however.
/ am"
pardon me- she interrupted; Il am
very stupid. / think I need not trouble
YOU 10 tell me. You are" Sac paused.
Are you not? Perhaps l venture. 1t
may not be- She bcsitated again, and
seemed to be plOughiug up her memories.
March stood on the porch above, smil-
ingIy awaiting her conclusion. and she
Glanced up at him with luterrogative arch
-nCas. rs she said. Yet it must be,'' with a
Il .mness which decided nothing. ''No; I'll
no. venture it." She gave little, laugh
Ing sigh, looking in study at the foot with
which she corrected 4 wandering crOcus
bloom.
E'But you guess rightly"
sab, how can you say? You might be
a dozen different persons"
Il don't know" answered March, with
enjoyment. ''DO you think l amp
Il know thousand persons who you
are not" she urged, with a conscious
pleasure in the Tepartee.
Was this bright illOgic issuing from
yoJng woman arrayed in plain gray and
wearing a nun-like cap? March asked
himself. 'Ihere are unquestiOn&bly
billions, If we may believe the census"
he returned. 1.-The thought Overwhelms
one with a sense of insignificance. /
hesitate TO introduce SO small unit; 1t
seems a little like the presumption of
coming forward with q minority report"
PRAY do, snip she said with a sudden
Withdrawing, born Of the Saving appre-
hensiou that she might indeed be as mis-
taken as she seemed 70 fear.
Must I abet your doubts? am Owen
March, Miss Van Cleef, and ] am the
bearer OF a letter to your father"
''FrOm Lady Amprey? Then I was
righs. We are very glad to see you, Mr..
March. Your credentials have preceded
YOU. Lady Amprey wrote Us, and we
nave been looking for your coming" She
ended with a frank smile and put forth
her hand, an amica5le token, which
March FASTENED 20 accept 10y descending
the steps and placing himself beside
her.
Il ought 20 invite you into the house, L
suppCse. Dir. March; but l credit you
with a preference FOR this pleasant air.
Perhaps yCu don't think it pleasant, but
It is-at least for US. The sun is not a
perfectly amiable body with US, but it has
It's humane impulses, and this is the
result OF one Of them"
She spoke OF the chagrln which her
father would feel that he should be abs mt
at the time Of his arrival, and then, as
they strolled into one Of the Grant and
unrelated paths, Lady Amprey seemed
very sweet" she exclaimed, ''when she
came to visit Us in New York. ] was
quite young, and she was diferent-yes.
But she had real charm, / am sure. she
was very gentle, and courteous and fine,"
She unused, with a sigh, which was not
envious. but which March thought might
be called cumulative.
Lady Amprey is extremely agree
able" he said, aloud. 81 trust you VIII
not think her less so when you lind to
what she has exposed you"
"YOurseifg' inquired Constance Win
mysterious smile. "Ah, we shall see! y
MARGINS amiable opinion of Lady Am
prey was of old standing. 1t was not
due to the shooting which she had been
able TO offer him when he spent his EtCn
and Cambridge vacations with her; bat
the shooting was very good. His regard
for her was entirely the product Of her
own admirable qualities. She was a
widow and she was forty; but she had the
yiyacfty OF youth. Her attitude toward
him was that Of a sp.ightly young aunt.
She was in fact a cousin Of high attenua-
ton to some people who were cousins OF
his. Her klnsmanshlp villa DR., Yam