The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-23

! his bFows contracted as if the words gave
him pain-"she is not with Stephen Eyrem
| have no reason to suppose sou
quiredr
II have done everything that could
think of. She has left no trace
1T is possible that she has been spirited
away-compelled against her will
MY dear George, we don't live in the
Middle Ages. Remember she took bag
away as If she meant to go; and she sent
message-and her ring.n
| George turned his head away and groaned :;
the remembrance of that message was very
bitter to him yet
1T would be better" continued Mr.. Hell
mont, slowly, 'if you tried to forget that
sad and unfortunate episode of your life.
| George. do not mean forget IT. in the
sense of wiping it clean out of your MEM
Dry; that, to begin with, would be inpossi-
bic, and, in the next place, would be wrong
| You must remember it all your life-and
| | bellve, with sorrow and with shame.
But"
You may spare me your sermon,
Frank" said George, with a wan smile, 81
don't need it now"
well, perhaps not" said his cousin, af-
fectionately. 81 don't want to bother YOU.
old maa; but l do hone that your infatua-
toni can't call it anything else-for this
| girl being now at an end, you will try to
turn your mind to worthier things / have
some cause to reproach you, George. be-
cause | took you into my fold and you stole
away one of my weakest lam bs--'
Quite wolf in sleeps clothing, eh ~
said Eastwood. Look here. Frank, I'm
not strong enough for this sort of thing
just yet. Pll argue it all out with you
when I've got little more flesh on my
bones. AT present do, for Gods sake, leave
me alone.n
belmont sat silent, with a rather panied
look upon his sightless face.
II beg your pardon, my dear fellow" he
said at last, in very gentle tone; but it
was plain that he was disappointed.
George laid one hand on his arm
II didn't mean to veK you, old chap.
Preach to me as mnch as you like when Pm
able to get about again. promise you I'll
listen. But it makes my head split to talk
about it now. Do you think | don't feel T?
That don't know what I've done! If
could forget it for a moment, l should be a
happy man."
Helrnont, quickly. II understand IL you
want any help that can ever give you, you
will come to me, will you not"
81 promise you that 1 will. And, in the
meantlme-you will do your best to find
hern
From the hesitation with which he spoke.
and the peculiar emphasis laid upon the
pronoun, Helmont was sadly convinced
that the 'infatuation" of which he had
spoken had not yet died OUT.
81 will do my best"
"And if you fiud her-of course you will
let me knowm
"About that" said belmont, gently. 81
think 1 must be left to my own discretion,
George. She may be in circumstances
which would distress you. | may bs able to
help her only on condition of not telling
you. You must leave that to mel will
tell you if | can"
AS George had said, he was in no condi-
ton to argue the point. He murlnured
something which Frank did not catch very
distinctly, and then lay back on his cushions
and closed his eyes.
''Are you cold or tired? Would YOU
like to go in? There's touch of east in the
wind"
is there! don't feel it. The doctor
says | had b tier be out of doors as much as
possible. Did you come straight down from
London, Franks"
mo, am staying for day or two at
Diana's."
"Ahl WHY did she not come over with
you? l should like to see her again"
"She is not very we'll. She sent her love,
and hoped that you we're better"
Helmont was not clever at concealment.
Some subtle infection of his voice con-
veyed the truth to George-tha5 Diana had
either been advised not to come, or had re-
fused to come, until her brother ascertained
the state of his cousins feelings on the sub
feet of jess Armstrong; Disappearance.
There was an implication in this which
offended Eastwood. A look of real anger
crossed his face"
"You did not think me good enough for
visit from her, suppose" he said, with the
petulance of a sick man.
Nonsense, George"
ST is not nonsense. l see my own posi-
| ton. and her views of it perfectly well ]
may have been less to blame than she
thinks-but it is quite useless to try to justi-
fv oneself to people who condemn without
hearing the case"
Helmont was very sorry for the irrita
ton which he distinguished in his cousins
voice.
~ assure you" he began, rather awk-
| wardly, "that Diana never"
But he did not complete his sentence. A
slight childish figure had been creeping up
behind him, and pair of hands was sud
denly thrown around his neck with the
| cry.
''Guess who it is?
at can be nobody but Sybil," said Hell
mont, smiling, and putting up his hand to
| hers. Come round and speak 10 Mr.
] EdSbnOOA DiOp-lANs CubS ANNJ ohCuAIs
| Where is your brother"
30, he is just coming ont with Mrs Hell
mont. He wants to see Mr.. Eastwood, too.
How are you, Mr.. Eastwoods l hope you
/ are better"
eyes, thanks, said George, accepting the
slim fingers which she offered TO him, and
looking nj the child with a momentary feel
ing of pleasure, quickly lost, however, in
the former mood Of irritation. Hadn't
YOU batter warn her Off" he SAID to Mr..
Helmont, in quick undertone. ~ wolf in
sheep's clothing like nc"
ibid you say your brother was coming,
J SybilY said lielmoat, drowning the growl
| in his deep, clear voice. ''Ah, that's right.
| Now hell take mo round 10 tho stables,
where / want 10 90. & q berth there for
a London lad few months ago, and wan,
10 ask after his welfare"
lie stood up as be hoard footsteps and
voices coning near. His mother aud Lord
| Hexham approached, aud after a little des-
ultory conversation the two men Weat on
together 10 fhe stables, and Mrs. Helmont
declared that she must return 70 The house
10 look after Col. Eastwood. byDll sas left
10 take Gaze II the invalid
gybll Lorlmer, LDrz HeNh1Bls bali sis
teg, vas certainly very pretty ntiis 9Th