Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15


his sympathy.
The logic was not clear, but be under
stood her perfectly.
Certainly. / know" said he. mus
ingly.
His eyes were fixed on the representa-
tion of Washington crossing the Della
ware above her head, and his thoughts
had evidently undertaken a long tourney
suggested by her words.
Miss Van Cleet," asked he, abruptly,
twill You excuse me for a mOment?"
Constance sat silently wondering until
he returned. AS he entered her face ques-
toned him.
"WhO does your father consult in Phil
adelphiay''
Or. Fleet" replied the girl, mechani-
cally. ''Where are you gOingy' added
she, as he turned.
To bring him, il you will give me per-
mission. lie is skillful, is he nOt?-emi-
nent in that sort of thingf"
"Of cOurse-tbe best" she answered.
Her eyes followed him To the door with
vague bewildeTment. But what do you
means How shall you get him"
II am going down 10 the inn to book my
passage in tO-mOrTOw's cOach'
You must not do that. Surely it is not
necessary. You said yourself just now
it could nOt be very serious
March looked troubled.
Ibid II Well, it's not. / think; at
least, it's not alarming" Her face paled
as be said these words slowly and with a
remote effect Of embarrassment. but the
fact is l just ran up and saw your aunt
and DR.. Click. It's not bad I gather. YOU
know: but las not TO be triiled with. You
know that sort Of thing" be said. with a
light wave Of his hand which he meant to
be reassUring, Its often 50. Not serious,
You know, not at all. But just as well tC
be looked after, YOU KNOW"
In his eagerness be dropped into the
English argOt which had family at
tached itself to his speech in the course
Of his brief residence In Britain.
You know l fancy DR.. Click would be
glad Of a little council. He SAID as
much
.Does he-does he think father very
H."
Certainly not. Miss Van Cleef; but
you can imagine his being willing to have
the light Of little larger experience upon
the case. DR.. Click il an excellent ply
slcIaU, no doubt; but he is young"
Yes, yes. of course" answered Con-
stance. musing sadly. DO what you
think right, Mr.. March. ! shall be salts
fed. But 1 really don't like you to take
such journey for US"
"Oh, If that's all.'
'.Couldn't it be done some other way:
Couldn't you sendt"
Not with any certainty. You must
know that. Miss Van Cleef"
"NO, no; well, if you Will. But you
will take our gratitude with you" she
said, rising ana impetuOusly holding out
her hand while she flooded him with Z
smile. "HOu must remember that. You
are altogether too good, but we have at
least the grace 10 appreciate the fact.
And I think l shall like it that DR.. Fleet
should come" she ended, softly.
With that far away look in her eyes she
struck March as very pretty
"Y0u viii come back to SUPERB she
asked, as he went, bur the outer door had
closed behind him, and she went back and
finished the meal alone.
When he returned. a half hour later. he
ran silently up TO his room and changed
his dress. He came down with riding
whip in his hand, and Constance only
knew he had come back by the click of
the closing door. she had been admitted
TO the sick chamber at length, and sat
immObile in a straiaht-backed chair with
her hands folded in her lap. She had re-
moved her cap, and the thick blonde hair
I disposed itself about her head with uu-
/ conscious grace. The screen which sue
/ had set before the candle threw all the
light on her absOrved features as she
/ ing in the shadow. DR.. Van
! Cleef had not spoken nor recOg-
/ nized her; and had only stirred restlessly
/ when at her entrance she had held the
I candle above him in inqClring question Of
J his pale face. Miss Cynthia slept peace
( fully in the Curtained alcOVe, and Con-
I stance was alone with her thoughts. Her
I vision included nothing but the softly
breathing figure on tie couch.
Her reflections also were chiefly of her
father, and when they wandered soon
came back to him and the relentless fear
which she would not name. Sometimes
these mental excursions seemed 10 pain
her, for she returned to the thought OF the
SICK man with kind of frightened sigh.
Certain memories inslstently encOm-
passed and solicited her only to wound
and thrust her back. Everything mad
been bright this morning. the fates
seemed well-dispOsed, the world well !
coined her as an appropriate figure. 1t |
seemed impossible that she was the same /
girl who had hght-heartedly hidden her |
father and aunt and MIR. March good /
morning" In their innocence they had !
wished her a like happiness. Tue sar- /
casm was almost amusing; she stllled a |
pitiful laugh. Had she returned to Elder !
WeisSS Had those atTOciOus words been 1
meant for herr Had they been spoken |
before the whole congregation, before tine |
few who loved and understood ner, the /
many who distrUsred her for her cold al /
legianCe to the church and IndetinabSdit- |
ference from them2 On this day also she |
had been asked IN marriage. That, one |
would say, was not occasion for young |
girls regret; tut il had followed and |
grown out of the other. Ii meant nothing |
in itself He had himself assured her OF |
that. IL was all part of the same 1
wretched. iTreparable matter. And final !
In the intOlerable pOint-her holiness to /
make il known TO him who now lay in /
stupOr before her, and her present haunt !
a. r.H.s. Nsaa fsanr
forever from her hands. she looked into !
the future with "a chilling sense of her /
loneliness; she recOiled from it as If she |
had been suddenly pushed into the storm 4
which she perceived beginning outside. /
But the thought was tonic rather than /
cOwing, and she remembered that she |
must be brave.
Constance rose and throwing open the |
window leaned out 10 draw IN the shut |
ter. The wind fled bowling through the |
trees, a dozen swift, sharp drops, messen- /
gers of the storm, huTtled upon her face |
and head. Down the dark wind-swept 1
street a single light burned steadily be- |
mind an unshuttered window. 1t was in |
Mir. KeatOr's study. Her face frightened |
as she saw 1t.
Not alone" she said, thOughtfully, to |
herself. as she barred the heavy shutters. |
seTbere will always be Mr.. KeatOr."
She stirred up the failing fire and threw |
fresh wood on it. AS she went to give |
her father his medicine the storm burst |
over the village. An appalling clap of |
thunder shook the house and went deton- |
ating southwark.
Constance stood erect with the unemp- |
tied spoon in her hand.
sPOOr creatures who are out IN such |
stormv' she said, musingly.
0Wbat-what is that?" asked her fath-
or, thickIy. speaking Tor the first time.
Nothing, dear father; nothing" an
swered Constance, STOPPING quickly at
the sound. "Here is your medicine"
he slipped it thirstlly as she held him |
ND. and dropped back with moan upon !
the pillow, where he instantly relapsed
into his former stupOr. Constance re- |
carded him for some minutes in misery;
presently she wiped her eyes with swift !
motion, and regaining herself walked |
firmly into the alcOye where Miss Gym
tbia slept. She had neglected to close the
shutters here, and, the window having
been lett partly ODen, the rain was Hood
ipg the floor. Opening the easement reso-
lutely she threw out her arms TO catch
the shutters which had become detached
from their tastenings and were beating
against the stone TANKS of the house with
sullen thuds. They evaded her for mo-
ment. during which the storm drenched
her head and shoulders. On this side there