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

never understood anything with such
! dreadful clearness. But you knew why
| | could not cOmprehend-why l would
! not. 1t was my faith in you. could not
, believe 1t. 1t was the standard which
| you had given me. | could not think all
| your life, even at your bidding, CHASTITY
| iie."
Mr.. Keator shrank at the words and she
turned away for an instant TO hide her
shameful tears.
You wrong me-you wrong me cruel
! ly," he SAID. with sad calmuess; but he
| would not bring his indictment against
her.
some of Us must forbear," he said,
to himself And indeed he was too much
| grieYed to speak.
Wrong yOul" cried Constance, repos-
sessing herself with quick hauteur. ''How
do ! wrong you? You are scarcely the
one to speak OF wrong. Is it no wrong 70
me that you win such promise from my
! trust in you-win it as a solace to Your
pride that you may tempt yourself with
IL, only TO abuse ny foolish generosity
| You have indeed tempted yourselfi Do
/ v fancs that If | had dreamed OF this
| should have given such pledge? You
| cannot have fOrgOtten-if supposed you
! would ever claim the fulhllment of my
! word no, hing on earth would t, mpt me to
give it to you. You must remember that
| told you that. Aud then | said that my
faith in you was implicit
] Mr.. keat0r was touched. He could bear
! her indignation even when it seemed most
genuine, but this CALF appeal searched his
/ gentle heart.
Il was worthy of it," he returned,
and then more assertively added; 81 had
the right to it,
"Yet you think it strange that cannot
instantly disabuse myself of it, and you
use my creduiiJy as a weapon against
me. YOu doubt my honesty because in
my wonder at an act at war with every
| other act of your life, 1 cannot immedi-
ately assure you Of my honorable inten-
! ton"
1t was a sore temptation to tell her that
| he had no reason to rely on the hOnOra-
! bleness OF her intentions, but Mr.. KeatOr
| firmly turned his face from its solIcita-
! ton. Despite the wounds she had dealt
him he began to feel calmer. He was able
| TO look about at length with measure of
! Judgment, and he knew that he could not
| soil his lips with the charge he had meant
in his anger TO bring against her. But
| upon the main point he was relentlessly
/ determined. The outrage had been too
| bitter for yielding there. Whatever came
she should not c0nsummate her perhdy-
she should not become MaTch's wife.
Il do not think l doubted that you
would keep your word" he said. "You
must do me that justice. l have only
been thinking of the temptation to break
H."
Constance, when she had finished
speaking, had sunk into chair. Her
! head was turned YEARLY away and she
kept her handkerchief 10 her eyes. But
at these words she was instantly reused
again.
You understood the temptation! You
| dare say that?'
She paused, choking, and MIR. Keator
| flushed.
Dare" seemed singularly audacious
word upon her lips. He looked at her In
pain. she talked of losing her IDEAL
Was 1t possible That be was wholly to lose
hiss Yet he asked himself why be won
dered. 1t she could be guilty of the orIgi-
nal breach of faith this was merely the
! necessary confirmation of II. But Con-
! stance went on:
''Ihe emDtatiOn was 10 save you from
| yourself and you venture TO say thatT'
MIR. KeatOr started. 1t was not this |
temptation to which his thoughts had
ieaped.
Il was about to beg you to let me do it
when you doubted me-" exclaimed the |
girl, with uncertain voice. "Now | |
should despise myself if ! attempted for |
| moment to plead with your better self. |
You would affrOnt me with the belief that |
IL was in my own Defense"
Her form shook with single unwilling |
sob. The pitiful declaration that was so |
Ready to be gainsaid-fOr Constance still |
could not tear her faith wholly from her |
| heart--atfected Mr.. KeatOr with a pang |
~hich nothing had yet forced from MIN. |
But ne would not answer the accusation |
which her tone denied. He had grown !
afraid to speak. He did not know what |
he nigh say, and he should never forgive |
himself if he said too much.
Constance nervOusly dried her eyes. |
While he watched her a great calm |
seemed to take possession of her. She |
sat quickly upright, and some shadow OF |
the look of infinite compassion that had |
illumined her face a few moments before |
renewed itself. Mr. keator saw it and |
even as he resisted I'll under it's domIn-
ion. He listened with rapt eyes as she |
began with exquisite genteness:
Mr.. keatOr, do you remember how |
you took pains to picture this position to |
me before you would let me promise? IL |
was admirably fair and generous in you, |
| thC ught, at the time. L can almost re- |
member the words. Wait moment" |
she looked up at him with smile AS she |
repeated slowly: "'PrOmise,' you begged, !
'tnat il come to you and say l have |
tailed-I have given up my ministry-I |
offer you a life be Ggared of everything
that makes life worth while-Of deliberate |
malice divorced from all good and noble |
things except my love-JOu will submit !
yourself TO the lot Do you remember, |
Mr.. KeatorP And do you think 1T strange |
that 1 hesitate TO believe you have fallen |
To that pOIntp
Mr.. KeatOr was greatly disturbed. As |
she began to repeat his words he had gone |
over and stood by the fireplace holding his i
crutch in his hand and leaning an elbow |
against one OF the supports OF the high |
mantel. His face as she finished was bent |
upon mis- arm. He bit his lip aud stared |
into the fire.
81 give you up" he said, at length,
huskily.
He did not raise his head.
what do you say?"
81 resign you. Isurrender my claim"
81 can't let you do that" she returned,
briefly.
With the faulty of his love he started |
and went toward her.
"Why, Constance2 Why?' he asked,
agitatedlY.
at is not"-she hesitated q moment;
then dealt him the blow very gently-"fOr |
the reason you think"
Mr. Keator turned upon his crutch and |
went swiftly back to the fireplace.
"PardOn me, she begged; IL did not |
mean to wound YOU"
son, knowl L know! L have always |
understood. Surely you have not left me
in douUt. Only TOOLS fancy could have |
deceived me even for the instant"
Constance was pained. But she said,
quietly:
81 was only about to say that since you
have made the proposition it is for me to |
insist upon it. / cannot hOnorably allow |
YOU 10 retreat. l shall keep my word to
the utmost letter"
Mr.. Keator looked from side to side in
restless misery. He took up his crutch,
however. almost Immediately and came
over 10 where she sat with the energy of
her statement still alive in her eyes.
Constance" he said, shave some pity.
do INV nrOV0Catinn Lat