Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-14
CHAPTER XVI

Magdalen from taking her promenade
under the trees or standing at the gate
late in the afternoon, nor Mr.. Lawrence
Cammack from occasionally joining her.
They were chance meetings, or at least
appeared so. If she was outside, he
would take a turn or two with her, if lean
ing on the gate he would stop Tor little
talk. #N
No one noticed it. There was nothing
clandestine or secret about the way they
met, and all the world might have heard
their conversations, but no one paid any
heed to it, aud the fascination OF love
grew upon the man, and the girl lost her
heart, before she knew it--as il ls the fate
ofmany woman to do. Had she known OF
! the danger in time. she might have guard
! ca against 1t, but sne had no one to watch
over her, to warn her.
1 John Grant loved his daughter, with a
strength and devotion it is the fortune OF
/ lew girls to gain, but ne was a man, and
! IL needed a woman TO interpret her
| fancies, and to warn her against them.
She had not been to a party since the
! one AZ the OrclVals- 1t was some time be-
/ fore her arm grew entirely We'll, aud she
| Kept closely AT home, but the cot
ton was picked, the corn gathered, and Mr.
Cammack had gone to the city TO spend
his gold for necessaries, and Injuries.
lie was unusually lavish, buying even
AiA Abl GsAGu DAN Va AAp w.
de put no faltn in the war talk, and
laughed when men talked Of economy.
Eat, drink, and live. Take care OF to-
day, and tomorrow viii take care OF IT
self" he said, linging down handful OF
money.
Ills family should not be denied any
thing, his negroes should have the mer-
riestholiday season ever known in Louis
lana. The year had been a rich, and pro-
tfnhip aud all GhOmlH nn1AV
benefit from it. So box alter box was
sent up the river, and at Cammacks the
house was nearly turned inside out, pre-
pairing for an entertainment on a grander
scale than any ever held in the country
before. The daughter OF the house must
be properly introduced to society and the
son and heir established in his Tightful
position, as bis grandtather's successor.
Mrs. Cammack threw of her inyalidlsm
and completely astOnished Magdalen, by
the energy and animation she displayed.
Dear madame, how can you attend to
so much" she exclaimed, astonished
II cannot, my dear except when the
occasion requires it, said Mrs. Cam
mack smiling rather sadly. Long years
ago, when my youth sat lightly, freshly
on me. ! never gave way 10 Incidence or
slight illness. but now my life Is dying
within me. / feel languid, and DID,
Her slender delicate hands dropped in
her lap, and her ewes wandered towards
that graveyard on the hillside, where
her husband lay buried, but her daught-
er's arms were clasped around her neck
and her hands were clasped, and csressed
by one whose gratitude knew no
bounds.
My dear mamma, you are younger and
prettier now than your daughter" cried
Cordelia, with a gay kiss on either cheek.
Magdalen only knelt at her side, and al
lowed her eyes to speak for her. They
were more eloquent than her tongue.
what lovely tablea," cried Miss al
cours, stopping IN the doorway to survey
them with anything but admiration.
Lawrence looked over her shoulder, but
held his peace. A slight, satisfied smile
passed over his face. and he turned away
and entered the library.
About a week before the entertainment
Cordelia quarreled with Henry Lee for
the first time ID her life and It was
done almost before she realized what had
happened. He had been making some re-
marks about the approaching war. and
because she felt unreasCnatly impatient,
because he could think Of that remote
possibility, when they had just been talK-
ing OF ner party, she said rather sharply:
"Why do YOU always talk as though
YOU expected to 90 to battle tomorrow
Grandpa says there will not be any war;
with all due Difference TO your grand
fathers age and opinions, / must say be
does not knoww he retOrted, nettled by
her tone.
Indeed! You are not very polite to say
so. | believe your thoughts are eternally
liked in that grooyeip
They need never be YeXation 10 you
again. can keep them to myself"
Il hope YOU will" she cried, passion
ately.
He flushed, then turned pale, but left
the room, and C3rdelia began 70 repent OF
her anger and 10 wish she had been less
hasty, less rude.
And they are going of in the morning,
to be gone nearly a week." she SAID, later
in the day, when she had acquainted Mag
dalen with her trouble.
''fheyY Who are they"
"Brother Lawrence, Henry and Mr.. Lu-
cas-. They are going down on the river TO
hunt and TO meet some people from New
Orleans, who are coming to spend a few
days with us. | never disputed with
Henry before. We have always been the
best Of friends, but really be does provoke
me with his wild, visionary talk about
war, and trouble, and poverty
A graVer look crept over Magdalen's
face.
lit may not be all visionary, Cordeliag"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"You have caught the fever, too, and
Lawrence must look grave and deeply IN
terested when the subject is mentioned,
and read all the papers he can get. Well,
we may have war. but am sure we have
nothing to fear. We can whip the Yam
KEGS any day" proudly and confidently.
After little experience she smiled Bit
terly at the folly OF her words, and thought
her pride and simple faith in the great
ness Of her own people, foolishness.
She did not make peace with her friend
before he went away, though she lOnged
to do so. They parted in very stiff ana
formal manner, and for a short time she
felt that life was not such a desirable
thing after all. But when she received
her dress fresh from the city, and saw its
beauty and fashion, she grew cheerful
again. and thought how sweetN and
gracefully she would make friends with
Henry that night. So much for variable
human nature.
CHAPTER XVII.
The guests were hidden, the feast
a 4 e 49,. 44.fs $50 a.