Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-04
CHAPTER XII.
ASK thy soul if we must partw

ASK thy soul If we must partw
There was no one to see my flight but
perhaps a passing servan, who had no
right to stop me If l chose To 20 out alone
into tie park about my home. When the
chilly wind began TO blow about nv I'M
covered head l drew up the light crimson
shawl that was around my shoulders so
as to shield me from some of its blasts.
had been a wanderer before.
-Ohi meTciful God" | cried, when toe
dark pines were surrounding me and the
darkness Of night was coming on apace,
where now shall L find shelter?''
My SORROWS confused my brain for a
season, and have blOtted out the remem-
brance of what passed just then. The
IeXt act that / recall was kneeling near
the tree where the young man had found
me in the morning. 1t was well for me
that there was some poor wretch whose
woes were deep enough to bring my
thoughts back to reasons bounds and
save me from insanity.
Kneeling upon that spot brought back
all the events of the day-that visit to
Mrs. Sears-Harry's nOte-the threatened
attack upon whom? Was he my hus-
band?-he who thought it cruel to wish
me longer life? Why had / promised to
give the young man money? Was it to
save the one / loved from suffering, or
was il to save a dying sinners soul? 1t
must be the latter, for what was there in
the white house behind me that l could
hope to shield? What mob could pierce
into the dark caverns OF the human soul
and bring to light its hidden skeletons?
But the minutes were passing by and
there was 4 work for me to dO-something
to leave there in those woods. | was
thankful for any thought, and tried hard
to nerve myself for some action. 1t would
be cruel to break my word and give the
young man nothing. All at once | re-
mCmbered that in my pocket were Jewels
of great value that would surely meet all
his needs. l would bury my necklace be-
side the pine tree and tomorrow he
might come and ind it. l could at least
have the blessedness Of giving left me. 1t
was very easy for me to find that spot,
though the cleaning might have beWlld-
cred uy eyes that were unused 10 the
place. When | shook out the bright links
OF the band there was the empty lOcket-
fortunately empty, for would not have
Given away dear Aunt Miriam's picture.
w hen this deed was done and my hand
kept on idly packing the earth over the
treasure, the agony Of my situation
rushed over me afresh.
/ started up and began roaming without
aim through the gathering shadows over
the woodlands. Once l saw a figure
standing near the fence-the figure of a
man leaning Win ms head upon his hand.
Z ceased walking and sank down noise
lessly lest l should be discovered, and
then the words o. HaTry's note came back
tome. He said he would be there at dusk
he would wait for me. Long might he
wait there-lOng would he wait for Jes-
sizes smiles of acceptance if bis sister
Minnie must show by her actions that
she had lived with villain. Ny pur-
poses grew strong as upon my bed of pine
straw crouching the minutes went slow
Il by. Society might shun me as sinful
my only parent already had made me
homeless. I could bear all; but never,
never should grief or shame or torture
force me to condemn Eugene whom had
vowed TO trust forever
Harry. for it was he who kept his APP
pointment. waited for me otter In rest
less wanderings up and down, until the
horse which was fastened not lar oil De-
came unmanageable and then he drove
OIL. drew q freer breath and once more
BEGAN my pacugs among the sentinel
pines, That io. "a time kept me company
lGr more colgcDial than any friend. mad
no friend on earth. Ny punishment for
loving Was indeed gTeat-it was growing
keener every moment. My movements
were almless, yet instinctively they were
leading me nearer the house where the