Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-22


rushed 10y her without a word and out
into the rising storm.
she stood in the doorway with the snOw
falling, and watched him sOlicitOusly a.
he made his rapid way against the wind.
Once she reached out her hand and
called, but the wind took her voice and
swept IL down the street and her arm
dropped aimlessly at her side. She did
not know what she wished or what she
feared, but his swift limp was charged to
her distressed vision with a kind OF re-
lentlessness which made her tremble for
its purpose. Her eyes anxiOusy pursued
his frail figure struggling against the
storm until he assembled the steps which
would lead him into COnstance's pres
ence. Then gust filed her stTaining
eyes with powdered snow, and che turned
away with pang which she could Meth
er explain nor refuse.
Mr.. KeatOr could have borne the intel
Igence from Dinkel or from Rose If either
had came alone. The thorn with which
the dl ing man had tortured him had been
too swiftly pressed home by Roses IT =
luctant confirmation. He was not given
time to put up his delenses, and SURELY b.
had never before stood in such pitiful
need OF all his defenses. In his modest
faith he had rightly felt that he was I'M
likely TO fail by the slow trial TO which he
had hitherto been exposed. Everything
cried out against 1t. The temptation was
bitter, but il assailed nature strong to
meet it. While il came in its wOnted, its
expected form while it gave warning and
suffered him 10 grid himself against it, it
must have conquered all his traditions
and cancelled his past to have overcome
him. But it stole upon his passions and
seduced his will. 1t appealed to the
worst in him; it called upon demons Of
his youth which he had thought long ago
Cead, and before the more amiable spirits
of his later years could clinCh with them
they had the mastery; and then he knew,
despairingly, in the midst of his passion,
as one feels in a dream a fall which he
car Ut arrest, that he was lost. 1t was
a kind of madness that possessed him
the madness in which peaceful men do
muir ier. He had felt the wicked insanity
coming over him as he read for the first
time the sentences to which Rose point
ed, but found strength in the remnant of
his Will to forbid it. AS his eyes de-
vOured them rain, however, the fascina-
tiOn Of delirium had verWhelmed every
g od purpose, and for the moment he was
its slave.
lie went from the house with merely an
absorbing intention to have speech with
Constance, but as he went lamely along
The street the sentences with which be
meant To sting her began to shape them
selves in his mind with horrid fertility.
He wished 10 hurt her, certainly; but it
should be done gently-ever so gently. 1t
was very simple, what he had to say. 1t
could be done quickly. But he lOnged,
with an incredible longing, for a man
whose mercy a few hours before included
all The world and who had never been able
To hurt an insect, to make every word a
wound. The Sc wounds must be gentle,
though. He reminded himself OF that.
They must be ike steel thrusts that creep
Softly through the flesh and only make
their pang known as the knife is with
drawn.
"Yes, gentle, gentle,'' he kept murmur.
Ing over TO himself as he hObbled through
the snow, - must be very gentle.0
As he raised the knocker of her door he
shuddered, and a mOmentary lOathiDg for
what he was about TO do UYercame and
sickened him. But the demons pos
sessed him TOO firmly. He scOrned tn
emotion with a forced smile, and taking
the cOuchant lamb in his hand again
stOutll sent Its summons through the al
most empty house. He went up the step
and past the woman who came To the door
without a word.
miss Van Cleef," he said, briefly, as
he began To rub his snow-cOvered boots
upon the mat.
The girl vanished silently, keeping her
wandering eyes on the minister's passion
charged face.
Constance found him in the centre of
the parlOr. Sac wentquickly TO him with
the smile she always had Tor him and to
his iistless hand.
You don't look WE'LL" she said, as she
.4A IN rA
Onder after such a drive. What made
you take it, Mr.. KeatorS But l needn't
ask0
She seated herself and awaited his an
swer WITH memory OF her smile upon
her lips.
Dir. Keator did not sit down. A
sense OF the bitter contrast between her
manner and his Inward thoughts made
him shudder again. But be- turned to-
ward her with blank look az she asked
about his drive.
81 went down with aunt last night to
call on your sister. That is how knew"
she said, ViVaciOusly, In reply to his look.
Il am glad you called" returned the
minister, vaguely. 81 want you to know
her."
''YoU can't wish it so much as 1 do"
"NO, think l wish 1t MORE" quietly
opposed the minister.
He felt his quick heart beats shaking
the hand with which he leaned upon his
crutch, but it did not seem difficult to be
gentle. His trouble was to fad his way
through the maze Of his emotions. But
suddenly his lips compressed aud he said
with a calmness which frightened him:
81 have determed to make her your sis
ter as we'll"
The blood fed from Constance's face,
and she sat staring at him in helpless
amazement and alarm.
81 have come" be said, with gentle
ness, ito ask You to fulfill your PROMISE
He would have given much at the mo-
ment to lend his tone the indignation of
his Scorn for her imagined treason. But
he could scarcely raise his voice above a
whisper, and he could only let his en-
phasis of the few words translate his
feeling.
If he wished 10 make a visible effect
upon Constance be was not disappointed.
she still sat staring at him in stony won
der. She seemed immObile as statue, and
presently ne was fascinated ana then half
appalled, by her fixed gaze. The vitality
under the marble became an intOlerable
sight. What could be her thoughts? He
turned away, setting his teeth. He tried
to feel that she was suffering properly;
that she dest rived it. But his lively love
would not permit him to exult in her
pain; instead, he found himself foOlishly
panied with her, and with an irresistible
impulse glanced again toward where she
sat. Until he died Mr.. KeatOr never
forgot the heavenly look of pity on her re-
Taxed and shining face. 1t teamed from
it In a soft glory and seemed TO make an
atmosphere about him. He sat down
with a sudden giddiness.
'YOu do not mean 1t. Say you do not
mean it, Mr.. Keatorl" she was crying.
The minister summoned his indignation
before be could say:
81 should be guilty of falsehood. L
never meant anything more positively"
A lOUk Of anguish crossed Constance's
face.
"You have consideredW she asked, hest
tatingly.
Il have considered repeated the min
lister, gravely.
Sue gazed at him a moment in per-
picked dread. A lump hung in her
throat. She could not speak. But she
commanded herself proudly.
'Y0u make your request suddenly"
she said, with wan smile. ''Give me
time to consider" But, after a mOment:
san, it's no usei" she exclaimed, weari
ly. Il come around always to the same
thing. L don't understand" she MUIR
INJURED, passing her hand over her eyes in
a dazsd way. ooh, Dir. KeatOr, don't
understand"
"YOu can understand that you are I'M
dor an ohfiUaffou =, 10 caid with aHnrf