The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-16
PART l.
CHAPTER IX.-STEPHEN EYRE's WARN
ING

ING.
George Eastwood was working in his
studio, but in no very blissful mood There
was a pale, set look upon his face. a frown
upon his brow. Even the choice cigar that
he held between his lips, seemei to afford
him little satisfaction. He drew rapidly
but care essly, and now and then obliterated
all that he had done as if in fl of despair.
By aud by, he threw his implements away
from him, and began walking up and down
the room, with very distinct deepening of
the lines upon his brow. Itwas evident that
something was causing him acute distress
of mind.
A knock at the door aroused him from
his reverie. He called out, 'Come in, and
waited impatiently for the appearance of
the visitor A rather uncertain tread en-
iehtened MIN as to the personality OF that
visitor; and he suddenly sprang to the door
and held it open.
"Helmont-Francis, dear old fellow!
did not know that it was you"
IT thought would drop in for minute
or two" said the parson, cheerfully, las
had not seen you for some time" He had
never lost the habit of speaking as if he
could still "see" his friends. ''lve left my
man outside; he can wait in your other
room, / suppose? And how are you, old
felloWW
90, pretty well; little out of sorts. I
must get away from town as soon as /
can.
belmont had settled himself in East3
woods great leathern armchair, where Jess
had so often sat with her lover at her feet;
and George watched him for a moment
with a rather troubled look. There was
some relief, he thought, in talking to man
who, at any rate, could not see how you
looked.
you'll go down to WEXFORD, shall you
notq"
"No, think not. want to go to Nor
way"
'iDiana's marriage takes place in July"
II can't help it. Pm very sorry to be
absent, but think it would be better for
me to get away"
Helmont was silent for moment
GEORGE he said at last. with the soft
ened infection of voice, which told OF some
inner stirring of emotion, lis 1t true that,
as Col. Eastwood says, you are grieving over
Diana's refusalW
''No, it's not true"
"You are surem
Perfectly sure. Look here, Frank, III
make clean breast of the whole matter to
you, and then l shall perhaps feel more
comfortable about it.n And he threw him
self down on the lounge. and proceeded to
Diana few days previously. Its the
greatest bore in the world to me" he con-
tinued, gloomily, "because l hate Diana to
be worried by Uncle Henry; yet am
afraid that she is suffering good deal at
his hands"
Diana is not the girl to suffer much at
anybody's hands,"
"No, that is true; she is too brave and
strong for that. But my uncle was very
angry when l left Wychford last week"
II don't think that his anger has lasted, "
said Helmont, with a little smile. "If il
were not what he considers your di appoint
ment, think that he would be well salts
fed. Diana is making rather brilliant
match"
what she can see in that fellow Hex
ham"
"Well, according to your own showing, il
Is a good thing she does see something ir
him. If she had expected you to make love
TO her and you had refused you would hav'
been in tho wrong box with the colonel, ole
manp
YES, l suppose it's a good thing. Blu
cont you see, Frank. that | can't act th'
part OF the despairing loverl The c1lone
would find me out in a minute if l wen
down TO the wedding-not that | am par
ucnlarly jolly just now"
No" said Hemont, who had fine ear
ana had been struck more than orcs sine
MS entrance into tue room by some indefn