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

sOrrOwful sternness.
sob, did and do, and vet
yet when you are brought face TO face
with the question, when for the moment
II comes home to you, you find yourself
faltering and wondering. Is that it?v he
asked. kindly. Sac assented Unconscious
~, hanging absorbed upon his words. 1T
IS not uncommon he went on, with
faT-awaY look in his eyes. "kvery one
must have felt the infinitely slight dis
lance in way between faith and no faith.
1t cOeXists and is not at war with the i'm
mensity of the difeFence-as wide as the
world. 1t IS simply 'yes-no,'" he
breathed, thoughtfuly, as he paused for
an instant. Sometimes for the slightest
instant IL IS easiest to say mo- That
comes in such a time as this for you, Il
rises from the very intensity of the crisis
But the saul affirms left to itself and the
yes when You have reached II, has
tremendous force; the no never has any
force at all; in the yes you rest aAd
live. But didn't mean a sermon"
ono, no, you are very good. l CGa't
thank you. What you say helps me- 1t
is so s-ue; and yet sometimes it ali goes.
But you I'll me with courage" she sand,
more chelrfully. You know Dr.. Fleet is
coming up,' added she, irrelevantlE.
MIR. March took my horse. Lt was
Sunday, but felt it was right" Re said,
VIII his native simplicity.
Did hep l wondered She paused
absently. Then ut is too much. He
ought TO have waited for the coach"
bat your father"
'Ah, yes, father! Yes, of course l am
glad. But couldn't have lei him do it,
"NO, ne knew that. He did not give
you the opportunity" returned Mr.. Kea-
tor, with the famtest SMILE
Nv e can never repay him." she said.
~, hc
looked up at her with hesitating intelli-
gence, and a wistful smile trembled upon
his lips.
'Mr. KeatOr" cried she, with incrimi-
nation.
The minister blushed.
Constance" he murmured, leaning
forward with a sudden impulse and as
abruptly retracting his slight form.
'YOu 90 very far" she said, briefly.
Il have but one thing in my thoughts;
sometimes il will escape" said he, huski-
lY.
''You ought not to see me then"
"As you say" returned he, rising with
dignity.
She was at his side as he reached the
door, and brought him to face her deter
minedly.
You know do not mean that" she
said, with low energy, taking his hand.
"No, did not think you meant it," he
answered, simply, gazing hungrily into
her eyes as she stood before him and slow
ly releasing her hard.
mo, did not. But / was veXed. There
is nothing between Mr.. March and me.
have told you that. There is not likely to
be. You have very little faith"
That is true. But my act-the act
which | could not reconcile it with my
duty to discourage the elders in-was
like throwing you into his arms. l felt
that. | saw il. But | could not do other
wise. And now | suffer tortures from II.
on, Constance" grOaned he, you must
bear with me. l despIse myself, but /
can not conquer the feeling. And every
thing seems TO be slipping from me. My
calling seems less and less related to me
day by day. Yet ] love il. God knows |
love 1T 1t has been my life; until you
came it was the dearest thing in the world
to me. / cannot see IL 90. 1 could not
leave il. 1t Is not what it was, and yet
it is thousand times more. Sometimes
tear 1 am neglecting the church," he
said, sadly.
flush! hushw
yes, yes, it Is true. l do not yut the
same VIgOr into my work"
You have not been so we'll. You are
not"
Dearest, love you, and fear to lose
youl That is my malady."
Constance redeemed wildly, and looked
down at the foot which she swung slowly
from side to side upon her heel.
"Mr. keatOr, you believe that l pity
yOuF p she said, softly.
''Ah, that is not what | wish. | do not
think / care for our pity"
"But you believe itY'
''Surey."
And that l mean to be quite, quite
honest abOut-about the other matter"
"You do not know; you may think"
He broke of the irresistible cry abruptly.
Il have laid the train SO well! 1t is as if
/ wished it. 1t will dominate you without
your WILL" he said, hUpelessly.
Il think nOt,' returned Constance,
quietly. 1T may be some satisfaction to
YOU to know tuat l have refused him."
The dazzling light of joy that shOne from
his deep, lustruus eyes frightened her, and
she looE hastily down. II do not mean
anything m0re,' sne said, quickly.
NO, mop cried he, IN a rapture whose
confluence appalled, her aud gave her an
intOleraole feeling of obligation TO its de-
mands upon her future.
That is enOugh-enough for the
present"
Then with a seli-possession which
baflied her he asked:
MAY l see your father, Miss Van
CleeiF'
AS they stood thus she heard her aunt
call her name twice quickly from above.
She left Mr. Keator standing it the door
way and ran upstairs with a wild fear.
For a long time she did not return.
Father IS very Ill, )" said she, in tense
stricken voice when she came back.
He has grown much worse. viii you
20 for DR.. Glck?' AS he imped toward
the door and opened it. ION, pardon me,
MIR. KeatOr. | forgot"
He saw that she meant his crutch; he
looked down at it and shook his head with
aquick smile. She tried TO stop him, but
be was gone.
When March came up the steps half an
hour later warm ana dusty, accompanied
by venerable gentleman carrying a
brown leather medicine case, MIR. Kea-
Tor, who still sat in the parlOr, went to
the door and let them in.
care we in timer" asked March, as he
took Mr.. KeatOr's free haLd.
"He is much worse"
March went rapidly up the stair ana
coming down again Immediately led DR..
Fleet up 80 the bed chamber. The ply ST.
clans step was SLOW and heavy like the
step of fate.
For long time Mr.. KeatoT sat in the
room in which he had passed the happi-
est hours of his life. Their ghosts seemed
lowering about him now, and from time
10 time he let fail the volume OF illusUra-
tiOns of Palestine scenery which he was
nerVously lingering, and sat dreamily
turning over the leaves, without glancing
at them. Occasionally a servant went
stealthIly up the stair outside bearing
warm cloths and hf ated water in bottles.
Overhead the swift footsteps were con-
tinuOus.
Mr.. Keator got up restlessly as night
fell and went down to his study; he took
out dozen specimens from his herbari-
UNI one after another and turned away
from Them in disgust; the servant when
she brought his tea found him endeavOr-
ing to fix mis- mind upon a volume of ser
mons. He said he did not care tor tea.
Then he went back and found March
seated before the fire which he had left.
"Dr. Van Cleef has asked for you. WIN
you go upw
Mr.. Keator turned and assembled the
stair in silence.
March waited a weary time. 1t was
eleven O'Clock and he sat musing upon
miniature which he held under the light OF
the candelabrum when he heard Mr..
Keator's crutch descending the stair. He
laid the miniature down and went TO him
as he entered.
''WellY
The minister's face v ore look of set
tied gloom. He paused moment staring
dejectedly at the floor. He looked up
with an effort.
ut is all over. DR.. Van Cleef died half
an hour ago."
ru,.N a nd Gfnnd vi IL