Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-01
THE SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY MARCH l. 1885,

ALlludLlOu UlCQ ne COulu Only feel.
1t was rich opportunity for the friendly
Offices, but 1t might easily have been made
too much of; Lincoln went Just far
enough, and ais unfaltering adherence to
his original view Of the situation was a
grateful tower Of strength in the midst Of
Aarch's uncertainty.
Constance drove home one day with her
aunt especially disturbed by his manner.
she had fancied at first that she deceived
herself, and the impalpability of the
change certainly lent it a dubious air.
One aware of her imagination would pre-
fer to bring her first charges against Il in
such matter, but it was a case in which
for once she could acquit her magma
ton. She had just become satisfied of
that, and it was the necessity of resolv-
ing the question which this decision left
upon her hands that at the moment con-
cerned her. She asked herself what his
changed air seemed to say, and found her
self unable to frame a guess. 1t con-
tanned no reprOach for her. OF that much
she was certain. On the contrary, 1t was
full of an almost exaggerated, if distant
respect. Its constant presumption upon
her understanding, its manly, restrained
pleading for a suspension of judgment,
appealed with a kind of subtle tlatteTy to
all her WOmanly senses, and perhaps this
was the reason that she could find no re-
sentiment for it in her heart. The sensi-
tive chords of pride which she felt ought
to be stirred seemed to have forgotten
their office, and she tried TO believe that
they had been disused so long by her
systematic humbling of herself that
miner temptation could not set them vi
brating. But she could not caiOle herself
so tar. She knew that slighter matters
had reused the ancient sentiment, despite
the best that her newly-won strength
could do, and the certainty that if it We're
some other than March she should find
the appropriate feeling awake without
her summons, broke down this pleasing
fancy.
Rather from her appreciation of the
humor implied in an inability to veX ones
self to order, than from a desire for SYM
patty, she said to MIR. Echols:
Aunt, do you ever feel that you ought
to feel rebelliOus without being able to
feel like rebel?'
Her aunt met her glance with a pleas
ant smile.
''What a question! Buff understand
No, Pm afraid not. You mean, find
yourself unable to resent properly? No,
dear, the inclination of us all is the other
way. am Ottener right sorry for letting
my emotions run away with my fOrbear-
ance, but l don't remember the opposite
case occurring. If it has happened to
you pray don't mournl 1t is a thing TO
be glad OFF,
Its my unregenerate pride, l suppose
but Pm not glad OF it. Aunt, haven't
you noticed change IN Mr.. March's man.
ner recently?"
Mrs. Echols was silent for a moment,
apparently piecing her recOllectiOns to-
gether.
Il don't know she answered, slowly,
az length. "HaVe yOu?"
II can't tell. l ask you"
~ by, remember-"
"YesP"
81 remember very little, dear, but L
seem to feel something now that you speak
of It."
Constance touched her whip thought
fully to the pOny's flank.
~ s, that IS what makes 1t hard. One
can't say what it is, or even certainly that
il is at all, but it's impossible not to feel
ito
Mrs. Echols looked musirgly at the po-
ny's even, nervous little motions.
"And Is that what you would like to
disturb yourself about?" she asked, kind
".
Constance smiled.
"DOn't you think l oughtT"
THAT depends" Mrs. EchOls hest
tated an instant.
Constance looked at her questiODingly.
Upon whether l like Mr.. March,
were you going 10 say? Certainly ! do
greatly. He mas been very kind. He
was fond of father, think. and when he
went'-she turned away an instant to
hide the brief emotion which she had not
yet learned TO master-''when he went he
did eYerything-mOre than everything.
He rode to PhIladelp hia-did ! tell your
through a terrible storm for DR.. Fleet,
and then afterWard made all the dreadful
arrangements and went away without a
word. Yes, have every reason to like
Mr.. March"
1t was a cold, dreary day with the pro
phetic tang of winter in the air. The
leaves took the wind shiveringly upon
their coloring backs, and the stacks of
corn cut and standing in soldierly ranks
seemed glad to hug their comrades close
for warmth.
Constance caught her pelisse about her
as a colder breeze sprung upon them from
the depth of the wood, and pulled tue robe
over her aunt as that lady said:
II understand, and 1t was very good Of
him. But was not going to ask you of
your feeling toward him. / wanted you
to ask yourself whether you had given him
cause for oftense."
"OGensel On, my dear aunt, there is
nOneW
Constance reflected a moment; then she
gave utterance to thought which was
that moment born in her, though she
spoke as if it were immemOriallv familiar.
Don't you see that he is Withholding
himself from some generous idea that 1t
is the part of delicacy not to approach
meY'
Mrs. Echols looked at her rather blank
ly and tucked the robe about her matrOn-
" form before she said:
81 m hound tn say that | DON'T Int Pm
willing 10 believe that you see, my dear
girl, and are right-Only it would be right
interesting from your point of view To a
little more clearly understand. Go over
the history of your acquaintance. What
is there that could have brought this
about? Perhaps you will think, if you
run through it carefully. Tell it to me,
dear, if it Will help you"
Constance listened to this kindly logic
in silence.
Get up, Ladyp' she admonished her
pony, and gave her an urgent little tap.
at would take long time" she said, at
length. somehow great many events
are associated with MIR. March. 1t would
be hard to give you fair idea of some OF
them, and One-Oh it's too awfulr
Don't, my darling, don't! Forgive mel
| didn't know l was laying old sores
bare. | couldn't let you tell me now"
Constance kept her eyes resOlutely fixed
on the road in advance.
"But if you thought 1t might help me?'
she said, through her compressed lips.
Mrs. Echols leaned over and kissed
her for answer, and Constance did not
need more Insistent invitation to pour out
her story.
"And then what do you suppose he
didP exclaimed she, when she had told
of Mr.. Realtors warning, of her Obstina-
cy which she did not attempt to palliRte
in any way, and of the neyer-t0-be-fOr-
gotten scene ia the church.
81 don't know, Pm sure" was Mrs.
EchOls' eXpectant answer.
You would scarcely imagine. 1t was
not like what every other man would do,
and yet as he did it YOU could not conceive
that any gentleman would do anything
less. Fancy, dear aunt, he proposed to
meS After being sc0rned and upbraided
in that public way, after fallen to what
seemed TO me the lowest depths, he lifts
me up and asks me to marry him! Iney-
er imagined anything so noble"
What did you say?''
What could say? l couldn't accept
very well, could ~"
THAT depends upon how You felt to-
ward him."
at seemed to me that it rather depend
ed upon the feeling which prompted him,
At all events, | had no feeling toward
him to inquire into. You can fancy
mans being great deal to one and moth
ing to one, can't you, aunt? Pm sure you
can. That is the feeling, or lack OF feel
ing, had for DIR. March, He was an ex-
tremely agreeable friend. and now he