Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-01-18

/ dropping her hand-"not that eXactlv 1t
/ Is the nervous strain. L have been watch
ing YOU"
"Gou are very good" murmured she.
Il don't mean" He paused a moment.
y on make an excellent hostess. my-my
( dear girl" be SAID; ''but YOU let The work
/ wear upon YOU. / have been observing
you. as l say. You have seemed anxious
/ and urged. You burn too many candles"
He spoGe with quiet deli seratiOn, in
/ maryelously gentle voice. and ended with
| MS winning smile.
Mr.. heatOr, facing the blazing wood
fire, with the light of sympathy in his
| eyes, might have been thought at the mo-
ment handsome man; but, in the COM
mon acceptatiOD, he WAS as remote as
/ possible from mertiRg that epithet. !
/ suppose we think of "a stalwart 4 -ure in
| using the ad jective, and Mr.. KeatOr's alas!
was not stal~art figure. 1t seemed to
have been loosely put together, like a
hastily-made house. The joints were I'M
! certainly knit, aud responded to the de-
mands OF their owner in the distant,
secondary manner OF the last wheel in
! mu-h-geared machinery. " hen he stood.
/ bis frame settled naturally into relaxed
posture, and his sitting was species OF
disaster. 4 painful infirmitY, which had
made OF one foot mere impOtent weight,
I compelled him to use crutch; and be
went about leaning his light form on its
! assured support. IL need hardly be add
ed that he was Of an eXquisitelv sensi-
tive nature, and the ingenious reader
would guess, if it were left unsaid, that
his face, If not a handsome one. was at
/ least a notable one. 1t was one OF those
/ unusual Visages that tempt painting In
deed, 1t suggested certain paintings.
I There We're the spare, wan features. the
! high cneek-bOnes, the irregular lines, the
passlOnleSs eject OF those interrupted
monks Of the early Church whose Inca
| ments cling in rare canYases. 1t was
sweet and benignant face, and it had. be-
/ fore all. that indehnable aspect which GER
| titles man 10 the divine calling. Mir.
/ heatoT was little more thans thirty-fye.
and these characteristics were perhaps
more conspicuous because Of their natu-
raj attributlon 10 an older man. He was
/ striklngly tall, and his STOPPING should
ers We're swept by the half-curl Of the
even, satin locks which fell from his adj
miracle forehead. There was a tine soft
ness, singular mOdesty in his presence.
"l-may | have little talk with you,
/ Miss Van CleefY' he asked, presently,
with embarrassment. They arc occupied
/ just now" he went on, indicating the shift
/ Ing groups; ian absence will not be noted
/ for a short space. VIII you come into
/ the other room with me?'
His manner grew more confused. and
! he finished with an anxious smile. His
!
! to someth NJ tacitlv understood between
! them. Constance snOt a swift, question
/ ing glance of intelligence at him.
I mo, no; not that" he assured her. in
response. "You have my promise" said
he. with touch of repToacn.
Every WE'LL" returned the girl & But let !
rs 20 10 the cOnserVatOry.'
So there accordingly they bent their I
steps, Constance leading,s and MI. kea- /
tors crutch resOundlng upon the bare /
narquet floor of the hall.
a., IRE are seeds there, | think" she re- 1
III, u indy, as he leaned against /
the edge Of one OF the - I'D +bo min
"Ah-ah, excuse me,0 beExu -
lister, snatching up his crutCh ara -
bling down to a seat nearer her, II was
not thinking. Il lie turned to meas
ure MS distance, as is the won't Of Grip
PES, before sitting. and did not conclude. !
he sank upon the bench, and remained
looking at her painfully for some mo-
ments; his glance wandered over her In
a kind Of perpleXed compassion, and he
seemed several times about 10 speak, tut
as often restrained himself At length he
m0Oduy said;
81 could wish l might tell you this
vicariously. l would much rather an
other did IT,"
'If 1t is painful. pray leave it unsaid,
Mr.. heaJOr; l Im sure l shall not like it.
and it VIII only wound YOU"
Nay. nay; it is nv duty. | must not
shuttle out of it. even if my conscience
would suffer 1t. But | scarcely know now
to bedn," said he. with a puzzled sigh.
chow II say Il SO that 1t may not offend I
you,V questioned lie with himself. sit
may ever strange YOU from me wholly /
cried the minister, looking up in sudden
alarm. ALAS. / am selfish. Ii that
comes, it must; but it's right that /
should tell you.'
Constance was regarding him with dis
trust. sue remembered, afterward, that
tac fu.l moon was shining tGrUuuh Tine
pauya above them and falling ia Il kiad 81
dur-otc upon her COUl |dHI0u's head. size
knew that Do was very warm in the green
house, out SHE AID nor muster solution
10 rise and shut the camper of the little
stove. Toe mum If conversation in the
other room came to her vaguely, as
through a dream.
.'MIss Van Cleef," said the clergyman,
suddenly, with quVering lips, "tGe FL
dcr's Conference felt ii its duty at the
last session TO discuss matter concern
Ing YOU
Costumes self-pOss essi0n returned in
stanIly.
The Elders Conference was very
rude" she said, quietly.
Nay; they mad no cuOice. The regu'a-
tons OF the church did not leave it within
their discretion. / wish ] might spare
YOU. my dear girl; but must speak
plainly. Your association Wlth-With the
Young man we met tonight is offensive /
10 the SOCiety's rules | thought YOU
would rather ! spoke 10 yOu than trouble
your father. | have waited, thinking he
might go away, and that this would be
unnecessary"
He paused ioarfully, and watched to
see now she received the announcement.
Her eyes shOne with suppressed pas
sion, but she merely smut her lips and said,
cOldly:
"Well?"
He stared at her an instant, with little
comprehension.
"Idon't understand be said, at last,
"How does that affect me- -
"Why, you are member Of the S0cle-
ty, are you notY'
~. member OF the Society!' repeated
Constance, with a compassionate smile,
'svOu know how much, and in what way.
When | connected myself with your body
to please my father, YOU can imagine that
| scarcely expected the fact to be used as
weapon against me-"
You put 1t harshly," pleaded Mr.
Keator. Il know it is not pleasant for
you; bat you see there must be restrlc-
lions; that is implied in admission to all
privileges" he ended, gently.
THAT may be true; don't know. But
YOU may be sure that / did not agree to
such an implication. Can you fancy, Mr..
Keator, that meant to give up any part
of my libertyV
II don't know. We supposed So" said |
he, msekly. "You-you went through the
FORMS"
THE formsw cried she, with irony. |
eyes, l remember; but did l make |
vow 10 refrain from conversiD@ with |
young menY
pray, don't, Miss Van Cleef. 1t is
part OF our discipline, and sacred to us"
he declared, with soft dignity.
ION, beg your pardon" cried the
| girl. impetuoUsly. "But you must re-
| member my feeling. Mr.. March IS my
fathers guest; that, if nothing else" she
| paused.
man. sadly, Il think you will be given
| grace to see the sophistry Of these natural
/ feelings"
II beg your pardon" said Constance,
/ with pr,de. Il am unlikely TO see 1t other
/ wise. l must not let you take away the
/ idea that the Elders wishes will atfectmy
/ action"
| sob, / feared that you would take it
/ this way" said he, despairingly.
! How else could l take ity DID you eX-