The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-30
PART l.
CHAPTER NNL

lo-~ef absence il many out Of the way
rIaces in Europe and Asia-places where
he had been almost completely cut off
from civilization, aui where the face Of an
Enrhshman was seldom seen. Travel and
change had done him good. He was
broader and browner than he had ever been
before. and also better-lookjng, because his
close pointed beard and silky mustache al
most entirely hid the weakness Of his
mouth and gave him a manlier appearance.
In some cases the growth Of beard greatly
alters a man. 1t was not 50 with Eastwood {;
his face was, on the whole, singularly little
changed, save for the BETTER and he soon
found, on his return to MS friends in Eng
land that he was not at all difficult 10
recognize, in spite of his bronze and his
growth of hair.
In some respect, however, he was an
altered man. He had given up all his ar -
tistic ambitions. He had made up his mind
TO settle down at Wychford, as his uncle
had long wished him TO do, aud devote him
self to politics. tie fancied that he had
something to say on the eastern question
which would be worth hearing. He told
himself that love, and art, and happiness,
were dead for him, and that all he could
hope for now was to be of some service to
the world at large. It was not an unworthy
feeling, and it marked a distinct advance
in his career. Hitherto he had cared for
little save his own personal enjoyment.
The one obstacle to his aim lay III his
somewhat uncertain health. He looked
stong and robust, and inieed, OF his muscu-
lar strength there could be no doubt; but
his brain and his nerves were still in an
unstable condition. The blow that
Stephen Eyre had given him and the illness
which had followed 1t seemed to have very
far-reachlng consequences. A curious ex-
citability of brain had resulted, and this
was complicated by the fact of his having.
while in Italy, caught malarious fever,
which returned at intervals, especially If he
were exposed 10 damp and cold or were
over fatigued. A very slight indisposition
sufficei to bring on deiirium at night; but
this weakness remained unknown except to
his confidential servant; for Eastwood had
a peculiar sensitiveneSs on the subject. 1t
seemed to him that people would think him
likely to go mad il they knew that a hot
day, crowded meeting. chill, or long
spell of work, often made him so feverlsn
that for some hours he would be unable to
control the workings of his own mind, or
the utterances Of his tongue. He knew
enough of medicine to be aware that his
case was not unique, and that malarlous
fever often left indelIble traces on a mau's
constitution: but lie had morbid fear Of
his friends opinion, and believed that by a
healthy and regular life in an English eli
mate, he would in time outgroW a sutt-
GENTLY alarming tendency.
OF jess, ne never spoke and seldom
thought. he felt a strange loathing dor her
memory; it was bound up, for hlm, with
all that was worst in himself, with period
~ e. -ir-ff4t oh r.,
now looked with disgust He felt that he
could not bear to dwell upon
It, and that it would be
agony to him TO tell his story even to his
dearest friend. So that when he came
across Francis Heimont and the clergyman
would fain have questioned him about the
past, George begged him earnestly to keep
silence.
There is nothing now TO be DONE" he
said. The woman is worst than dead
We are parted forever, and / trust that l
may never see her face or hear her name
again"
Helmont sighed, but assented. Poor
jess was lost; SO much was certain; ard
George had suffered for his folly. No.
there was nothing to be done.
It was September when George returned
home, and for some weeks he remained at
Nychford, giving great pleasure and salts
faction 10 Col Eastwood by his evident
interest in local and political affairs.
George is completely changed said the
old man exultingly TO his friends. "He has
given up all that nonsense about art and
means to devote himself to practical affairs.
/ don't see why he shouldn't stand for the
county, by and by-gad, l don't see why
not, at all. He would make a capital
member" And, to tell the truth. Georps
was also of that opinion.
Toward the end of November. GEORGE
Eastwood had business in town. 1t was
his uncle's business more than his own, and
he was not very well pleased to be kept in
London for few days at the dull season
of the year. He had taken violent dis
like to the great city, and pined constantly
for the blue distances, the following leaves
the moist, fragrant smell of the brown
earth, with which the thought of his old
home was associated in his mind. Indeed
his love OF the country babe fair TO become
passion with him-it was his most IN
fortunate characteristic that he could moi
do anything by halves, and he loved tn,
country now as he had once loved town
with conviction that it was the one sor-
of life that suited him, and that NOTHING
else was comparable TO it in the whole Wild
world. Probably only man of this fem
permanent would ever have fallen violentl,
IN love with poor jess Armstrong, or (bl
corollary) have hated her as fiercely as nov
George Eastwood did.
He was III at esSe IN London not only be
cause Of his dislike to its atmosphere ant
ugliness, but because, after the first day O
two, he was attacked by a strong desire +,
wander through the streets where he ba,
once wandered with jess, TO revisit tn
places which they had seen together Til
impulse proved irresistible, although h
despised himself for yielding TO it. WHY
he asked himself in scorn, should be care t
look again upon scenes which would for
ever be associated in his memory with
woman's treachery, q woman's sin. II
hated her, and he hated the memory Of hi
old love for her. And yet. while repeatin
this fiercely to himself, he trod the pave
ment that jess used TO tread. be glance
into the windows Of the gaunt houses /
Mil street, he gazed at tho form and fac
Of every passer-5y, with some wild hope a
his heart that he might one day com
across "tne wretcEed woman" as be Gale
her, who had teen the bane Of his exstenc3
What be would do il he dill thus see he
HGan was not very clear To himself. Some
times 10 seemed 90 him as II he would rus
az Aer aud XII her fqr her falsity 10 him
~ other times bee imagined himself lookin
az ler c9ldiy and passing BY: and again
bul enchy IN hl8 dreaWs--he felf himsel
chipping hcr To- n.s arms. Kissing her swee
Hphtl' h1d iorgiv1g her without a wor
81 leF. Tor nli he misery that she ha
ea-.ei Blt whether he thought 81 be-
&rAly ~ ing ~ one fhil g was cePonin-
fUN NNs t.TvHH fIfE z If. mini