The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-08

slowly descended the staircase.
For a moment there was a CLEAN Of
triumph in the eyes of Denise She had
routed the enemy, she had still her
children. But then came Revision of
feeling.
II have kept you, my children. bu: it is
only FOR your misery" aud she burst into
tears, while the little ones, amazed at such
a turn of affairs, strove IN vain 10 comfort
her.
Robert, who had followed his aunt to her
carriage, now returned, and Denise dried
her eyes and addressed him:
al will not remain her to embroil YOU
with your relatives. l will go hack. |
have friends in Paris who will help me 10
earn bread enough for these little ones. l
viii return"
Robert said:
mo"
He was now the head of the family, aud
it was for him to say what should be done.
For the present they should remain with
him. There were two spare rooms, and
servants who hal nothing to do; it would
really be charity to him If Denise would
look after his affairs. and put his household
in order.
"Ah, if | can be useful" said Denise.
"then l would stay for awhile. But your
tiancee, what will she say to the arrange
mentp
Robert laughed.
81 have not gone so far yet; but the
young lady whom my aunt designs for me
is coming to see you herself-at the first
opportunity
Denise consented to stay for a week: at
the end of the week she agreed to re-
main for another fortnight; when the fort
night had elapsed a month hence was
spoken of as the time of departure, date
which Crradnallu haOa me still
and distant.
Robert, indeed, found his life so much
more bright and pleasant for the presence
of those newly found relatives, that he
dreaded the losing them. Hitherto, his life,
apart from a hundred chance acquaintance
ships, had been, in reality, solitary and self
contained. And now, unexpectedly coming
down from the skies, as it were, behold
family ties, hearts which were his own by
the very fact of kindred. tender, human
sympathy which belonged to him of right,
without any effort of his own to secure it.
He began even to feel jealous of attempts
to alter the existing state of affairs,
and especially Of those of his friends who
suggested themselves as admirers of De-
Mise.
And Mr.. Nesbet, Clara's father, had al
most come to pose in this character.
The two girls. Clara and Denise, had
come to be enthusiastic friends. Clara
would hardly let day pass without seeing
Denise and her children. Young Lsvison.
too, was generally in close attendance upon
Clara, jovial, good-natured little fellow,
who was always devisings chemes of amuse
ment, and whom the little ones positively
adored.
But Mr.. Nesbet was growing quite senti-
mental and melancholy. Certainly Denise
was always cordial and sympathetic with
him; she admired his strong potential
figure, which suggested patriarchal kind
Of authority. But when she became con-
scious that his feelings in her regard were
not altogether paternal, she recoled little
from his attentions. Already she had mar
ried once to order, and one for whom she
had entertained no warmer feelings than a
doubtful kind of respect. Was it to be her
fate never to know the emotions Of a real
passion9 But the advantages were undeni-
able. Nesbet was rich; her children would
be well provided for; as to that she could
make her conditions.
at is such a pity" said Clara TO her
friend one day She was spending the
afternoon in Bloomsbury, and dinner
party was in prospect, where Nesbet and
several others were expected. at is such q
pity that you should be his stepmother
You would have suited Robert so admira-
bly, as his wife. When see you together,
| always think you the most charming
couple"
ma cherel" cried Denise, blushing to the
| roots of her hair How can you suggest
such dreadful thingsN
mot dreadful at ALL" continued Clara
boldly. "It is only our narrow way of see
ing them. There are some races, the Mon
gols. l fancy, where the son, when the
father dies, takes over his wives as matter
of course"
Denise put her hand over Clara's mouth,
and put a stop to her remarks. But they
mad produced certain effect quite different
from what the speaker intended. They
opened Denise's eyes. She felt that she was
growing too fond of Robert; their sympa-
thies, their affections, were growing to-
gether; and, in fact, the position was
one that could not be indefinitely con-
tinued.
II must escape" said Denise to herself,
land If Mr.. NesbeJ shows me the way of
escape. l must accept it,"
Meantime Denise, putting aside her anxi-
GUS mood, was busy and perplexed over the
preparations for the dinner party. Robert
had hoped that it would have been festi-
val of Cancellation, for Lady Jones had
been ENTHUSIASTICALLY invited by Joint
letter from Denise and Robert. But Lady
Jones replied, and not ill-naturedly, that
she had not sufficiently recovered her tenn
per to see either of them with any pleasure
just yet. Then Mrs. Basset had been very
troublesome. She had fought hard against
the new condition of things, but Denise
had managed to establish her authority
The dinner was provided from outside, but
Basset was to organize the waiting-and
Basset had disappeared. According to his
wife. he had been summoned to the dying
bed of an aunt; but even Mrs. Basset
seemed not to be inspired with strong con-
viction as to the aunt. And Basset had
taken with him the key Of the plate-chest-
the chest being an iron safe which was de-
signed TO set burglars at defiance, and
which was now equally lmpervious to its
lawful possessors.
Happily young Lev1son was at hand and
was dispatched to Highgate to bring all
available and necessary plato from The
Elms. And there was nothing lacking at
the dinner table to an ordinary observer,
although Robert noticed at once the alb
sence OF his own familiar belongings.
"The Bassets must clear out" SAID Rob-
ert, when Denise explained to him the state
of affairs.
"Do not part with the Bassets," said
Denise. ''They know your ways, and
when / am gone they will be better be-
haved."
"But you are not going!' said Robert.
"Alas, l must go" SAID Denise, sadly.
"You have been very good to be, Robert.
and we have been very happy, but it must
come to an end. / shall take the Nesbet
plate to my own room, Robert, If you will
carry it for me. for ii is heavy"