Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-22

dash Of . daring spirit, ana tne cur III ga
rol. be bad taken hcr heart captive. She
hal promised to marry him, but foolish
misuaders tanilng had broken the engage
ment They had parted in anger and she
hal never seen him since.
He fond of adventure, interested in al
fairs, went away, abroad, TO the far west
to Australia, everywhere it seemed For
tome time she heard of him as here and
there-now getting very rich, now meeting
with losses, and again planning big enter
prises. A year after she last saw him b er
father, in the hope Of beneiting her mother S
failing health. had taken this farm in the
great northwest, and here she had lived
ever since As time passed and the links OF
friend ship that bound her to the old place
were broken. By death or change she heard
Nc more Of Frank Bascomba. But she had
not forgotten him. He was the one mem
CRY that never grew dim as the years sped
away. A thousand tmes had she reproached
herself for her share in the quarrel A
thousand times had she forgiven him his
And she stiH hoped and prayed for his re-
turn Indeed; this hope ruled her life By
incessant fostering it had grown into a
fsith. In her heart Alice Garnett was sure
he would come backbone back with the
CHEEKY grace and the irresistible fascination
of the old DAYS to laugh over the foolish
words that parted them. The years Of sepa-
ration would be 10 them then as though
they had not been at all, and the future
c'ouiiess Again and again she had PCT
ursd bis coming and rejoicei in it. ANY
day, any hour, this wonderful joy might
come TO her Who is without experience in
be ieving what he wishes to believed Who
has not known the power of hope to work
miracles in the mindl
And yet sometimes this woman doubted
bitterly. Sometimes she realized how
shadowy, how well nigh hopeless, was this
dream which ten years OF absence and
silence hal not broken. Never had she felt
nearer despair than tonight, as she leaned
on the gate and heard the sound of Dr.
S dye wiclls carriage wheels die away.
''He would never come; he had forgotten
her; he was no longer living, perhaps; II
was vain to hope" And yet only few
minutes before, when DR.. Sedgewick had
spoken to her OF love and marriage, Frank
Bascombe's image had danced within her
mind, compelling her to say No" And so
it had ever been. All men who paid homage
to her suffered in comparison with this
dashiDg lover Of her youth whose memory
was more potent than the personal presence
Of any other.
Nobody dreamed of this weakness in Miss
Garrett, She was considered exceptionally
healthful in mind, thor oughly in harmony
with life What wouldn't they have said
had they known Of this wild love dream,
cherished so long, with so little chance OF
fulfllmsnt, What wouldn't they say of
any of us could they peer into the secret
corners OF our minds and read there our
fond longing5 and vain naginingsi Who
could main tain a reputation for wisdom if
minds we're photographed
People often wondered-as people Away
win wonder about what doesn' concern
them-why Alice Garnett didn't marry.
She was greatly admired. She was hand
some, but she had a charm that transcribed
beauty-the charm of broad, bright mimi
alive to the thousand interests which affect
the welfare of our day aud race. She was
thirty-two years old, and was more attrac-
tive than she had ever been, though the
premature young lady of sixteen VIII think
that an impossibih5y. she had not dreamed
away the ten years of Frank Bascombe' alb
sence. She had spent them in wholesome
work and profitable study, aud dreamed
only when she rested
But now she was calling herself to &C
count. Her faith in Frank Bascombss re
turn was despondingly low; and into her
disbursement some bitterness was trick
ling. She thought Of DR.. Sedgewick with q
certain surprise that she had refused him,
a certain regret, too. He was so admirabls,
a man to be proud of-yes, and fond OF,
Tiff she had only never Lowell Frank
Bascombe; or if she could only forget
Frank Bascombe. How foolish TO think
Frank Bascombs will ever come again.
F"Why should he comep said Doubt.
"Why should be comeP echoed Common
Sense.
"rhere is no reason, none at all, " said
Truth, save that you want him to come ="
"And that will not bring him." said
Common Sense.
IF be loved you he would have come
long ago" said Doubt.
Perhaps he thinks you have forgotten
him, whispered Hope, angel of good iutan.
tions and few fulfillmeuts.
'You ought to forget him." said Common
Sense, severely.
I And marry the doctor" said a voice
hat belonged to she knew not whom.
While this council Of the facut ties was in
session in Miss Garnetts mind she turned
her face toward thu house, as though it, too,
had a right to speak on this subjecs The
windows were ablaze with light Her mar
ried sisters and their families were there
celebrating Thanksgiving. The dinner over,
she had slipped away alone for long walk.
Holidays al ways made her secretly sad
They reminded her that her dream was long
of fulfllment True, she had interests,
plenty of them; but this, the greatest was
lacking, and she was human enough to feel
a little bitter OVERT And this was Thanks
giving. How thankful she would be if
ali it was a vain dream. Why should she
cherish iti
She thought Of the future a little sadly.