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

l.
ABOUT her vaguely at Fl st and dazzled by
tue laihpngnt; but presently coming to full
CONSCIOUSNESS, she looked I'D at Robert,
blush. - - A''---'
Are you, then, Robert p she asked. look
ing lnqulringly into the young mans face,
anu "a speaking with pretty, foreign accent.
4, am robert, certainly; but l fear not
Tue rlght one-kobsrt Carmichel is my full
name"
and | am madame, that is Madame
Sarmlchel; Denise my name-surely you
nave heard of Denise!" said the young
woman, holding out her disengaged hand,
the other being clasped round her boy.
GU dld not expect ME, perhaps. Can it
De That my letter did not arrive!n
4, have not received it, Certainly; but is
there not some mistaken
All, you did not think was so young,
perhaps. You expected that your fathers
wife would be some one more aged aud
more dignified than Ir'
Iosay the truth, u replied Robert, whose
lace wore an expression of perplexity and
dlsmay, Il did not know that there was any
you at all"
"Ah, he did not write to you about me
and these little ones," cried Mrs. Carmichael
with an expression of pain on her counten-
ance But 1t was TO you l was told to
come if any misfortune should happen;
and, alas! there have been grave misfor-
tunes"
tioom overspread Roberts face. He saw
what all this meant. This was the response
blllty at which his fathers letter had
hlnted 1t was all so characteristic; the
hght-hearted assumption of such serious
Ties; their equally light-hearted transfer to
another's shoulders. Robert thought him
self the most ill-used man in the world, and
EhnVrnH xuh hot hn I've
Carmichel read its expression clearly
enough, and tears of WEAKNESS and disap-
pointment suffused her eyes.
we are not welcome, monsieur she
said, drawing her children to her with
quiet dignity. You think that we demand
OF your charity. But it is not So You
will please send some one for 'voiture;' we
shall find some furnished hotel. Cecile, my
darling, rouse yourself; we have to go else
where"
A gust of wind and the rattle of summer
rain against the tall windows seemed to
accentuate the position as the little girl
awoke, shlvered, yawned, and then, with
round, wide-opened eyes, looked about her.
"Ah, we are chez nous again, mamma.
And is this the brother Robert you told me
about. But he is tall"
Tall as he was, the child ran up to him
and put up her arms, which reached TO
about the second button of his waistcoat,
and so by gentle gradations pulled him
downward, till she was able to put her
arms round his neck and kiss him. The
pressure of those tiny arms about his neck
and of the velvet lips upon his rough cheek
gave Robert distinct thrill of emotion.
He took the child in his arms and pressed
her cheek to his.
"You will kiss your brother, too, before
we CO." said Mrs. Carmichael timidly, hold
ing the boy toward him.
And Robert performed this ceremony
with some awkwardness, taking the boy on
hisIknee, while Cecile stoodb MS side exam
ming the features of her newly discovered
relative with frank curiosity.
"As for going" said Robert, ''you must
not think of it. Tomorrow will help you
to find an abode My aunt, l am sure, will
want to have you. You see," he added,
alphabetically, 81 was taken by surprise,
and | am vexed, too, that nothing has been
done to make you comfortable; aud where
my servants are really don't know"
1--WE frightened the 'vieille' DAME" said
Cecile, readily. "She let us in and then ran
away, and then we all went to sleep.n
Just then Robert heard latch key turn
in the cutter door, and then the room door
opened and Mrs BAsset's face-her thin,
angular face-appeared in the opening
Robert called to her rather angrily, and
bade her get something ready for his guests
at once.
Mrs. Basset was evidently in bad tenn
per, and regarded the new arrivals with
unconcealed aversion.
~ thought it right my lady should know
what had happened, and l have been to
Highgate to tell ner; and she sends her love-
Mr.. Robert, and will you see her tonight,
please, no matter how late it may be-"
Robert growled at this, but thought 1t
better to obey Lady Jones behests. But he
saw that his guests were duly served with
refreshments, and he had his own bedroom
prepared for their use.
"You do not put me out at ALL" said he
in reply to Mrs. Carmichers expoStulations
"There is always a room ready for me at
Highgate, and / shall sleep there tonight.
So consider the place as your own"
But you will come and see the children
before you go, said Mrs Carmichael. 'rhey
are 50 delighted with the big bed. Come
and see my darlings."
Robert could not refuse; and really the
children looked charming. Toto already
asleep, and Cecile with her arm about her
brothers. neck.
"You will love them little, will you not,
Robert?n said Mrs. Carmichael, laying her
hand in appealing fashion upon his arm.
''You will be little to them the father they
have lostw
Robert stared at the patterns of the car
pet in good deal of perplexity. He had
tried to harden his heart against this for
lorn little family. He told himself that if
he were not resolute at the beginning, he
would be saddled with all the responsibility
of these embarrassing relations. And yet
his heart was melted in spite of his efforts
to remain cold.
"You do not answer me-" cried Mrs Car
michel, her voice tremulous with emotion.
'Robert, you will not give them upF'
mo, l will not give them up" said Rob
ert, after a moments hesitation. II will be
a brother to them."
Mrs. Carmichel threw her arms round
her children impulsively, and believed
their faces with tears that would not now
be denied.
81 think he must be not brother, but
papa" said Cecile, sleepily, "for he has
made mamma cry"
When Robert reached The Willows,
LADY Jones called him into the library and
questioned him narrowly about the new
arrivals. 1t was easy to see that she was
extremely hurt and indignant at the exist
ence of the young widow and her
children. All the sentiment and pathos of
the situation had vanished, as far as she
was concerned.
"Whatever may be arranged" said Lady
Jones, sit is quite impossible that these peo-
pie can remain with you"
Roberts reply was vague. But Lady
Jones determined that there should be no
vagueness on this point. She would herself