The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-16
90 r e S S Y -
BY BRET HARTE.

'MARUJAM," Ere.
copyrighted 1888 bu the Author
CHAPTER VII.-CoNTINUED.
Could it be possible! Was not he mis-
taken! No! the mans voice was Masters
the child's, Octavia's, the woman's, hers.
He remained silent in the shadow The
school room was not far from the trail
where she would have had to pass going
home from the ball. But why had she
come there; had they seen him arrives and
were mischievously watching him? But the
sound of Cressy's voice and the lifting OF
the unprotected window near the door con-
WINGED him to the contrary.
"There, that'n do. Now you two can
stem aside. 'Tave, take him over to yon
fence, and keep him there till get in. Nc
thank you, sir-I can assist myself. I've
done it before. 1t amt the first time I've
been through this window, is it, 'Tave"
Ford's heart stopped beating. There was
a moment of laughing expostulation, the
sound of retreating voices, the sudden
darkening of the window, the billoy sweep
of a skirt, the faint quick fash of little
ankle and Cressy Mctinstry swung herself
into the room and dropped Lightly on the
floor.
She advanced eagerly up the moonlit
massage between the two rows of benches.
Suddenly she stopped; the master rose at
the same moment with outstretched warn-
ing hand to check the cry of terror be felt
sure would rise to her lips. But he did not
know the lazy nerves of the girl before him.
She uttered no cutlery. And even IN the
faint dim light he could SEQ only the same
expression of conscious understanding
come over her face that he had seen in the
ball room, mingled with vague Joy that
parted her breathless lips. As he moved
quickly forward their hands met; she caught
his with quick significant pressure and
darted back to the window.
"Oh, 'TaveH very languidly)
Yes
"You two had better wait for me at the
edgeof the trail yonder, and keep look out
for folks going by. Don't let them see you
hanging round SO near. Do you hear. Pm
alright"
With her hand still meaningly lifted, she
stood gazing at the two figures until they
slowly receded toward the distant trail
Then sho turned as he approached her, the
reflection of the moonlit road striking up
into her shining eyes and eager waiting face
A dozen questions were upon his lips, a
dozen replies were ready upon hers. But
thew were never uttered, for the next mo-
ment her eyes half closed, she leaned for
ward and fell-into a kiss.
She was the first to recover, holding his
face in her hands, turned toward the moon
light. her own in passionate shadow.
Listen, she said, quickly. They think
came here to look for something l left in
my desk. They thought it high fun to come
with me-these two. l did come to look
for something--not in my desk, but yours.
"Was it this!" ne whispered, taking the
myrtle from his breast.
syo1y with a uniting
first to her lips and then to his. Then
clasping his face again between her soft
palms, she turned it to the window and
said:
Look at them and not at me-"
He did so-seeing the two figures slowly
walking in the trail. And holding her
there firmly against his breast, it seemed q
blssphemy to ask the question that had been
upon his lips
That's not al, - she murmured, moving
his face backward and forward to her lips
as if it were something to which she was
giving breath. when we came TO the
woods I felt that you would be here"
"And feeling that, you brought him." said
Ford. drawing back.
"Why not" she replied, indolently. Even
if he had seen you, could have managed to
have you walk home with me-"
But do you think it's quite fairs Would
he like itM
"Would be like it?' she echoed, lazily.
"Cressy," said the young man, earnestly
gazing into her Swallowed face. "Have you
given him any right to object! Do you IN
derstand meW
She stopped as if thinking.
''Do YOU want me 70 call him in.n she
said, quietly, but without the least trace OF
archness or coquetry. Would you rather
he were here-or shall we go out now and
meet him? I'll say you just came as l was
going out"
What should he say9
'Cressy,n he asked, almost CURLY. "doy
love me?'
1t seemed such a ridiculous thing to ask
holding her thus in his arms, il it were
true; it seemed such villainous question If
1t were NOT.
II think 1 loved you when you frs:
came, she said, slowly. 1T must have beer
that that made me engage myself to him, y
sho added, simply. ~ knew loved you
nd bought only of you when l was away.
l ca le back because loved you. l loved
you he day you came to see maw-even
VIII / l thought you came to tell her OF
D.~sGers, and to say that you couldn't take
me back"
But you don't ask me if love youp
"But you do-you couldn't help it now,
she said, confidently.
What could he do but reply as illogically
with closer embrace, albeit slight tremor
as if cold wind had blown across the open
window, passed over him. She may have
felt it too, for she presently said;
kiss me and let me CO."
"But we must have longer talk, darling
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are not waiting"
DO YOU know the far barn near the
boundaryW she asked.
"Yes.n
81 used to take your books there, after
noons to-to--be with YOU" she whispered,
land paw gave orders that no one was to
come nigh it while was there. Come to-
morrow, Just before shutdown"
A long embrace followed, in which all that
they had not said seemed, to them at least,
to become articulate on their tremulous
and clnging lips. Then they separated, he
unlocking the door softly 10 give her egress
that way. She caught up a book from a
desk in passing, and then slipped like rosy
shaft of the coming dawn across the fading
moonlight, and a momont after her slow
voice, without tromor of excitement, was
heard calling to her companions.
CHAPTER Will
The conversation which Johnnie Filgee
had overheard between Uncle Ben and the
gorgeous stranger, although unintelligible