The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-04
CHI APTER XXXII.
FIVE MINUTES TOO LATE.

FIVE MINUTES TOO LATE.
Alice went on, almost without pause.
''She fretted dreadfully at first, but she
grew quiet and spiritless-like when we told
her that she couldn't get away. Stephen
had made inquiries, and he said there was
no doubt about it-she want his wife; Mr..
Eastwood had deceived her, and would have
tired Of her very soon, il he hadn't tired
! already. But don't know. For she told
me lots of things afterward that didn't look
as if he was tired a bit He used to have a
governess for her, to teach her how to
speak and play the piano and all that; and
although he had her called Miss Strong
while she lived at MAZDA Vale, and he came
near her only now and then, believe he
| meant TO marry her soon If he hadn't mar
ried her already. And Jess thought for
long time that she was his wife, and when
the baay came sue wouldn't have her called
ANYTHING but Georgina-after Mr.. East
wood, you know-because she said the baby
should have it's fathers name. And that
didn't loo4 as if she had any cause for being
ashamed. did it, doctorp
mo; perhaps not" said the doctor.
swell, after the baby's birth, she gave
in. She promised not TO look out for MIR.
Eastwood nor go back to him, and TO be a
out-frst with me or Stephen, or
Dick and then by herself. Aud she
seemed a changed girl-so wrapped up
10 her baby, and anxious to learn about
good things So that Stephen thought that
she might take 30 mission work, and he
took her with him one night when he was
going to preach in Mill street, and made
her give her experience"
poor soul!n
ssShe did it very sweetly," said Alice.
| "and thought she would be burning and
| shining light amongst us; but then-iust
when she had finisAed-up comes George
| Eastwood, and calls out some words to her
that made her faint away. and then she
would never consent to speak another word
in public"
"What did he call outl Some terms of
reproach?" -.
tingly 81 couldn't say. 1 didn't hear the
words but saw him look as if he could
have killed her, he was SO angry. And
then he went away, and never saw him
again. But fancy she did"
"And Stephea-what did he do"
"He looked all white and black together,
somehow cau't tell how. | know he
asked her to marry him and DO kept from
Eastwood's clutches; but she refused"
"Stephen was very much in love with
herS'
"Yes. o, yes"
'And his love made him cruel"
"He didn't think himself cruel,n said
Alice, simply. "He thought he was kind.
Even when he cut off her hair-which she
thought cruel. you know-he meant to be
kind.n
"Cut Off her hair! Had she fine hairg'
"Lovely. 1t came down to her knees and
more. And it was the color of gold-sEin-
ing as bright as gold. He cut it short
shorter than a child's-almost like luna
tic,s-closa to the head.n
DR.. Price thought of certain shining
head which he had seen of late; of a fair,
pale face, with an aureole of curing golden
| locks, and a peculiar sweetness III the large
gray eyes. Was that the woman of whom
Alice spoke9 Was it that woman's hair
which had fallen beneath the fanatics
ruthless shearesE
"rhe man must have been NAL" he said,
thinking aloud.
Alice sighed.
"His father died mad" she answered in
a low voice. "And several of his rela-
tons"
Had you any reason to believe that East
wood really loved the girl, and was tryin &
to fad her again"
done moro if be hadn't been taken ill. Dick
| Eyre told me that he nearly went out of his
miad with grief"
"And you took upon yourself to separate
the two-when they had lived together and
had chiidP'
Alice WINGED.
1--WE thought it better that jess should do
right, than Continue an evil life" she said,
| patiently.
but you hadn't any evidence that it was
| an evil life that | can seel Vol, of all
INSCRIPTIONS schemes! So the girl quieted
down at last and agreed to live with you?'
Eyes; and we thought she was safe" said
Alice, with tears in her eyes. "She seemed
quiet and gentle enough. The last few
| days she was with me, l thought she looked
| rather thoughtful aud troubled, but that
was all. L never dre4mt that she was GO
| ing back to him"
@And you think she did go back to him. -
sBlack Sal told Stephen on the Weines-
day that no would find her aud her man
meaning Eastwood, suppose-in that
empty house in Mill street. And they say
that Stephen went there that evening to
find them"
"Who says 500"
so, people in the street," said Alice,
rather vaguely.
And why did not all this come out at
| the inquestp
'sThere was nobody to tell it, sir-except
me and Black Sal--for nobody could say
anything of their own knowledge except
us. And l didn't see any good in telling it,
and Sal hates to come before gentle folks
lest she should get sent to prison. Mr.. Hell
mont must have known something, but he
seems to have held his tongue too"
''rhat's suspicious. Wasn't he a great
| friend of Eastwood's."
Eyes, sir. But believe he's real good
man." said Alice, rather hastily.
THAT may be. Did you go to himP'
| 'Dick Eyre went to him. He declared,
then and afterwards, that Mr.. Eastwood