Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-03-11
IN the temperance Of the boy with the

bilities.
Leaning against Che side of a window
in No. 81, in the dim light of the
turncd-down gas, seeming only deep
er and denser and darker shadow than
that of the heavy curtains themselves,
was the weary figure of a young wom-
an. Even seen at this disadvantage
one could but feel the witchery of
rare and loveable presence, rendered
doubly attractive by the fact, which
half-lights and shadows could not con-
ceal, that she was in sore distress-that
she was fighting one of those battles
which all of us must sometimes fight,
and fight alone. And yet for her it
seemed cruelty hard and unnatural
thing that some knight, as OF old,
should not do brave battle and win the
victory.
Indeed, if you had seen Miss Eggle-
ston as / have seen and known her,
fearless and leal, you might have put
the facts in more elegant phrases; but
the kindlier and better chosen your
words the less cause would you have
had to regret the hopeless poverty OF
the language in what might have been
your glad duty to say of or for her. X,
With sigh that bravely tried not to
be sob, she said softly to herself;
"Oh, my dear! You were true and
noble and good. How could l have
ever, even for one minute, believed
him when he softly insinuated the aw-
full falsehoods he was too treacherous,
too base to put in honest words? He
would lie about an angel from Heaven
if he thought it would serve his base
ends, sent you away-we are parted
forever, only, am to blame. |, too,
must-I do-suffer for us both-and
yet, the pain would be harder still to
bear if l thought, if could think, you
do not care at all. Heaven bless you
bless you--w wherever you are!'
Presently she, too, pressed zone
time" and asked that she might be
called for the morning train to Mon
treal.
E IL.
They had, indeed, parted forever. "
Those who part themselves forever,
|
habit of meeting, sooner or later
usually the former. The world is small
when we would, or think we would, es-
cape any one human being. 1t is only
when we say "Good night-I'll see you
tomorrow, "Good-bye-we'n meet
next week. that tomorrow never
comes-that next week is swallowed up
in eternity.
Why these two had parted forever,
as she said and believed, is quite an
other matter. Perhaps the gentleman
in No. AZ could have explained if he
would. But | have nothing now to dc
with causes. Effects are about as large
contract as the majority of us in this
life are able to concern ourselves with
But to glance once more at the three
rooms in the Down East Hotel in which
we are at this moment interested:
In No. AZ was an honest, whole
souled-but far from whole-hearted-
young fellow, who could not sleep. II,
had not yet comprised the frozen anC
pitiless philosophy that sit is better tt
have loved and lost than never to hav,
loved at all"
In No. 48 was a treacherous wretcl
who was rapidly replacing the quar-
bottle as congenial receptacle for it
fiery contents.
In No, 81 was the pall-like shadow o
the figure that still fingered at the win
: dow's side, half lost in the caressin,
t outline of the curtain, while apale fac
{ was upturned to the cold moonlight
with sleepless eyes that seemed hal
closed in prayer.
A prayer that good old St. Valentin
heard, if it went no higher or farther
A For the morrow was st. Valentine
day, and already was the spell of hi
t enchantment abroad in the world.
" III,
They don't ring midnight bells in tn
0 metropolis of Maine to honor the ad
e vent of any saints day, but the clerI
: on duty at his principal hotel Nigh
Q have been pardoned for thinking tina
@ Prof. Widdows-who in 1876 mad
n himself noisily known to Centennia
u visitors-or some other artist i
chimes, had suddenly materialized, b.
|, the perturbed condition of the an
> nunciator. The performer certainl
/ succeeded in making music for all con
d cerned by his impartial and bewildel
d ing persistency, as he scandalized tn
). hour and the proprieties by ringing a
1t the changes on the nine "electri
l. calls" In rapid succession he CAV
k 20 times for towels" ~ times for he
is water" 80 times for BATH and &"
l. times for fire." then he displayed a
e ardent fancy for "three of kind b
y demanding the contemporaneous al
it pearance of the ''press l time" be
II boy, 'press 5 times" chambermaiC
e and "press times porter; withol
pause he conveyed with resonant Iii
n tinctness peremptory wish for :
c times ice water and moment later
o reiteration of previous hint by pres
it ing a times" that more fire was e
r sential to his comfort.
Of Whereupon at this stage of the pr
h gramme the bald-headed night cler
D armed with the remains of half-eate
4 sandwich and righteous indignato
S rushed angrily to No AZ parlor tlo'
l. to see if by his personal presence
r. might happily quell the riot, which
e. this time involved in common ruin
IL awkward adjectives, elaborate and Q
1, nate expletives-and notice that thu
y; would throw up their job in the NOR
Ks ing-every last. employe who had bee
- on duty since ten O'Clock.
he When the clerk, holding his wrath
r check as best he could, sought to e
e, postulate with the incendiary occupa
: of the department for ordering anot
Ill err fire for his CRATE, which was alrea'
e, glowing in way to discourage we
lis bred salamander, Mr.. Browne, or {
We bibulous wreck of Mr.. Browne, rush
ia madly into the hall yelling at the top
"; his voice:
to Fire? I'll see if patron of yo