Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-29

getherg She could not remember what
sba had thought; she only knew that she
had felt implicit faith in Mr.. Keator. And
vet as she booked about TO find food for
the self-accusatiOn, which was a kind of /
desperate pleasure, it seemed an incredi- 1
he innocence that she should not have
fO-eseen that man filed with such a
passion as his must fail in the difficult \
temptation he had set himself. But she
always returned TO her old belief in him,
and when she asked that to say how she 1
could have suspected him CT a wrong I'M
der whatever trial silence answered her.
She knew that she could not have had less !
than the unquestiOning confidence in him
which he had abused; and her feeling to-
ward him. as constantly since their in
terview, was OF honest grief for his fall /
rather than resentment for her own inju- \
~. She had been perfectly truthful in
telling him that she believed, If the lot so
determined, she should not be found an /
indifferent wife. She could not help cling /
ing 10 the frank liking and esteem for him /
which seemed to have been immemOrialIy /
part Of her nature, and even in her anger 7.
she had known that something which /
he would not say eXtenuated his ruinOus /
failure. Her imagination did not 20 so far 1
as the vision Of herself as his wife when /
he should have abolished the Dir. KeatOr I
she had known by abandoning the minis /
try. She preferred rather to cOnjure her- /
self back 10 the time when she had been /
abe 70 look upon the spectacle of herself /
as his wife, at certain rare moments, with |
a vague, il alleged, satisfaction; when Oc- /
casionally 1t had seemed to her that his /
persistence might some day accomplish I
ITS end Tor very lack of rivalry.
But since then Mr.. March had come,
and love with its gift Of new eyes had so |
cheapened these easy theories that as she
looked back upon them she used her COM |
passion. The thought was fruitful in
memories, and all her memories seemed to !
be full OF March. As the bitter fear that
he was now forever lost to her required,
notwithstanding her resolve, she gave
herself up to ttrc luxury Of her sorrow,
and tried to think that the treasured fact
Of love, even renOuuced love, would al
ways console her pain. But at the mo-
ment il was itself a far too painful
thought TO be long pursued. She found
time, however, to upbraid herself for the
pride which had hidden from him the full
measure Of her affection and to determine
that u when they met again she was not
Mr.. keatJr's wife ne should know how in
cOmparably dear he was To her. she was
I suddenly seized from she knew not width
CT with tue whimsical fancy that she
should tnu him at QuinnimOut. He had
come as Unexpectedly before. She lOnged
20 cast some Of her wearis0me bu den
upon him. In his presence il seemed TO
uer that sne should be- strong fOT anything
tae future held.
She scorned tue hungry wish that en-
dDWed uer with an imagination OF its ac-
{ romplisnmeut. But next day when they
found Lincoln awaiting them in the
i cetcu-ydrt she experienced a des0lating
r -nuse 90 disappointment In not finding
March standing besid- him. As he drove
4 them On the house In which Constance had
. spent 81 many nap Y days and in which
. love had first com % her she was dis
. rirctIY conscious If a future weighing
. up1u her with tue unsOught gift of days
NniCh would have lost all value. The
I happy hours seemed permanently over;
. perhaps this was What older people meant
IS experience. IL was certainly not
what she had meant; but she remembered
. BIO " she had sigh a for II even ii it should
I prove all wounds. 81 far 1t had been very
I generous 10 her, and she braYely said TO
herself that she must take the evil with
the coed. Here was an opportunity to
/ show that she had been in earnest in her
/ willingness To paw for experience at any
price, 20 prove herself worthy TO know
life.
Lincoln told them that the trouble at
( Gerrit had som what subsidized, but that
be feared the dissensiOn beyond remedy.
Il Wish March were herev exclaimed
the young man.
Yes, indeed" murmured Mrs. Echols,
ferventy; but Constance only looked at
HIM anXiousiy as ne added:
perhaps he may come vet in time.
[ That is what have been hoping for. Tnis
difficulty began in October" he con-
fes>ed, as he ehirruped to the horse. 81
thou gut it better NOS 10 write you, but I
did write NJ area advising him 70 return
40 once. As / reckon it he could have
been here fortnight ago with favorable
Z Winds. bUt making every allowance he
b.. D. fHas 81. a
have given ~ the contest last week II
p had nor held GA thar to nope"
.'IOu forget his agreement said
Constance, sadly.
Lincoln glanced at her compassion
5 ate'y.
No: but hone he will break it,
An, 50 do IT, cried Constance. $50
go -
On the second day after their arrival
Lincoln came over To call upon them, aud
Constance was not surprised TO see him
accompanied 10y March.
Constance never understood how Mrs.
I E-hlls aud Li-cOlu so swiftly made
known their mutual sympathy for the sit
. uatlHu and vanish Il. but at the moment
she was not inclined to question any
thing she glided into his arms and
so0Ded out the story Of her sOrrOWs on his
breast. MOaningly she went over the his
3 tory II Mr.. Realtors ia i and OF his de-
maud upon ner. or the lOt she had not
spoken when she told him Of Der pledge
IA the ils-gtllery, aud she did not venture
vet 70 make SHOWN 10 him tue aTbitra-
m-nt 10 which she had entrusted her fate
and his.
March was, however. too much occu-
Z pied with the pleasure of seeing her gain
% make faT-redching inquiries. or even to
trouble himself SD mucn as might have
been expected regarding the main disas-
Z ter. For tue instant 10 was sufficient To
see her averttken by an infirmity 50 little
Z part OF her usual disposition. His love
was founded, "a love always is, upon his
sense Of her unlikeness to other women:
but with tue curious faulty Of the las
/ sion be would not nave her ike all other
women in her WON tniiness. Her weakness
endeared her 10 nun, aud the affection
which ne had curDed for months over
flowed in MS caresses. Just then il WAS
the richest privilege IN the world to COM
fort her. ami he did not suder ms connec-
tiOn with the cause Of her griet to chastsn
his pleasure.
"Hush, darling, hus1l" he whispered,
as she fiuisned her recital. wv Bat differ
ence does it make? You still care a little
for me, don't your"
She neld him of quickly with light Of
passionate devotion in her eyes that told
him more than BE- had heen allowed 10
know. IL touched him with a mild rap
ture.
He folded her in his arms.
'Then, dearest, there is no other fact
in the world. How gr. edyS~Te should be
TO ask any thing mOrel"
He smiled down upon her where she lay
looking up at him.
.'Oh, no, no." she denied.
But the glOrified light on her face did
/ not iate, and she deyOured his glance with
an almost fearful trust.
y haven't told YOU" he said, as he led
I her 70 the sofa, my mother is charmed
I As for my father''-he paused with a
smile-'-my father has given me an ex-
I cellent precedent for marrying an Ameri-
/ can"
Il fear yOu'n never marry this one"
I she whispered, with panied little laugh.
'-1Cu dOn't know her nor me-" March
/ returned, with a fond pressure of her
| hand.
But, Mr.. KeatOrl"
| tOrl''
You can't fancy how have Ionged to
I see YOU since Il happenedlv
/ You don't blame me, thenpr
"Blame your
i hesitated to break our agreement.
Nothing less imperative than this trouble
AZ GeTrit would have brought me over"
Il don't need proofs OF your truth and
( loyalty" she said, "and did need you.
50 they did at Gerrit. | cared even more
that you should come for that than for