Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-22
ON THANKSGIVING EVENING

gave lifo and delcscy to tAs bleak Novem
Der landscape. Tao man in the light car
riage some distance behind her thought 4
surely. He knew her very we'll, dimly as
she was outlined in the shadows, and TOOK
pleasure in watching her.
For awhile the wheels * his carriage
turned as slowly as the mills of he gods
and made as little noise. Forgetlu- OF all
else, he was dreaming of the woman moving
50 silently before hlul. His horses, taking
advantage Oih.s absent mudsdnes,, craUIed
along Ike laz d.e,.
The woman walked with an easy, grace
full step, apparently uncyns c.ous Of being
the subj C. Of any man dreams She wa,
tell ana clad in dark garments. she stood
amomsnt at tie top OF he bill, making a
statue clear-cut against the SKY.
The man in he carriage suddenly whipped
up and overlook her.
Coed evening, Hiss Gainett" he sad,
with the confidence Of one sure of a pleas
ant reception as he checked the bays and
sprang out permit me to drive you
home
This man, though be seemed never TO
command, was apt TO lie obeyed But the
woman was not used to obedience While
she felt the charmo his manner, she under
stood the force that his gentleness conceal ID
and resen ted it.
You are very kind, Dr.. Sadgewics, but
am out solely for the pleasure OF walking.
Why, then, should ride"
Because should be delighted to have
you" be answered, with sincere gallantry.
Besides tie evening is delightful. and we
are going in the same direction
IAN good reasons. certainly" she re
piled, IN a cord al voice. Yet she made no
movement OF acceptance. On the contrary.
without definitely refusing the invitation
she made the doctor feel that she did not
intend TO accept.
She leaned carelessly against a tree
that stood close by the roadside. and her
long black wrap slipped from her shoulder
to her waist whore she held it with glove
less hands that looked white and ghostllke
in its black folds. IL was the unconscious
expression Of an effort to throw OF a
thought that was sitting her mental breath
She was "a picture good to see,7 she
stood there in the dim light Of the evening
sky, strong and handsome as a daughter OF
the gods. Hers was mature not caIlow
beauty. It's charm was strength, not weak
ness.
"An absolutely perfect evening" she
said, bali dreamily, looking iazily down
the hill into the lent meadow lands, ap
parently forgetful Of the request Of the
man who stood waiting her decision, with
the lines Of his restless horses in one hand
1T would be absolutely perfect for me.
Miss Garne tt-Alice-ify GU would say but
one word" he was leaning toward her in
an attitude Of earnest appeal. His voice
was full Of feeling; his eyes looking earn
estly INTO hers, and-he was very hand
some Il am sure you know that / love
you, but for years you have made me feel
that It would be useless TO speak But to
night feel impelled to speak, and to hope.
1have been following you with my eyes as
you walked up the hill. as I have followed
you with my heart 50 long, Hove you.
want you wi h me always. Win you
marry me, AlieeP and he clasped her
hand with a pressure as intense as his
voica.
Il vas strange time for a wooing, but
Love. like Life, deals in the Unprecedented.
Hour AMI place are of no consequence when
its message is to be delivered. The two
tall figures stood alone in the gathering
darkness; the horses champed uneasily in
the road The wind rustled the few re.
naming leaves, brown and crisp, overhead
The first star was glimmerlng feebly in the
sky, and the night was falling like a cloud
around them
TIE woman turned toward him and BEN
her heal We're his words sweet to herr
Did his truth pleassl She laid her Olsen
gagged hand on his arm with frank a&ec
ton, and said slowly: 81 am very fond
of you, DR.. Sedgewick, but / have never
thought OF marrying you Lot us be good
friends, as we always have been, and talk
about other thin IS"
'But l can't talk of anything el SO just
now, Alice ! am too deeply in earnest.
have waited till ny hair is gray to say this.
not because ] was coward, but because
believed that my love for you would win
love in return if was patient
She made no answer.
If you are fond Of me, why not marEg
mer' he went on. 'If You have neve.
thought OF it, think of it now"
Il can't doctor" she said, entrsatiugly.
II think will let you take me home"
Wrapping the robes carefully around her
bey drove briskly of. or the subject
uppermost in his mind he spoke no more.
Instead, as people who feel deeply and
wish to appear perfectly self possessed are
sure to do, both began 70 talk Of matters in
which they had no heart at all.
They were not the only travellers on that
lonely road. Behind them hidden by the
shadows, walked a man Of the pattern one
likes not to meet on lonely roads.
Whom the doctor put Miss Garnett down
at her own gate he remarked that be was
going two miles further, but would stor
on mis- return and see her father, who was
an invalid under his care.
She stood leaning on the gate looking
after him as he drove away. 1t might have
comfortei him to know that as he disap-
peared entirely from her sight, she ghed.
The rumble Of his carriage wheels grew
fainter and fainter and at last died away,