The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-08
CHAPTER XIII.
"oNLY A CHILD

But have still another thing to ask of
you," said Diana, with some emphasis.
''You have let the world think too long that
you were not married, George. Don't you
think it is time that we put an end to this
silence and secrecyT'
He turned round upon her angrily.
"Would you blazon my shame abroadg'
he asked.
81 would blazon nothing" said Diana,
with her customary steadiness. "But l
want your authority to do as | see fit as re-
CARDS speaking or keeping silence. There
are some few people TO whom ought to be
able to say George Eastwood is a married
man. 1 shall not go into details"
"You mean--is it possible that you
mean"
He stopped short rather suddenly, and
changed color. But his eyes fell at that
moment on a slim gray glove that lay on a
table beside him-fell and fingered there,
as if something charmed him in the sight of
SYPHILIS glove
said Lady Hexham with decided GOODNESS.
"You are thinking of Miss Lorimer, l I'M
derstand-"
"Only as one of the most charming girls
| ever met" interrupted George rather
hotly; land infinitely superior to myself"
Lady Hexham smiled little.
'It would have been out of the question
in any case, you know" she said, without
particularizing what she meant. "Sybil is
practically engaged to Tom Lorimer, and
you, of course have a wife already"
"Tom Lorimer That lout"
mot so much of a lout as he seems; and
good and honest and true enough to make
husband worthy even of Sybil.n
George sighed and looked dreamily out of
the window. Diana said to herself that she
had spoken none too soon. Too late, per-
haps, so far as Georges peace of mind was
concerned; she could only hope that she
was not too late to save Sybil from SINH
lar fate.
She did not try to detain her cousin, now
that all had been said that needed saying;
and not ten minutes after his departure Tom
entered the room in a curious and eager
frame of mind. She was sorry to see him
quite so soon; little rest and reflection
would have been, she thought, of use to her
Just then. But Diana never wanted for
promptness of Judgment, and her Judgment
was generally sound.
"W ella" said the young fellow, quickly.
"What did he sayp
"Mr. Eastwooda 1t is as thought; his
wife is living"
"Where is she. thenm asked Tom, star
ing.
1--WE do not know. She has disappeared
-and--n
Diana hesitated, scarcely able to decide
how much or how little of Georges story
to divulge.
"Why," said Tom, sharply, she can get
a-a-divorce, ] suppose, if she has left
him.
''You are very harsh, Tom. No, she
has not--as far as we know-left him in
that way. He is seeking for her every
wheren
Seeking for her." said Tom, refiectively.
Eyes, it looks like 1t, doesn't it? Until the
last few days he has been riding with Sybil,
driving, walking, botanizing, sketching
with Sybil all day long, It looks like
searching everywhere-for wife-does it
notr
II have been rather needless chaperon,
fear,n said Diana, remorsefully. II
thought Of Sybil as such a onild-and a
child belonging to another generation.
Still, ] don't believe any harm has been
done, Tom"
"And is he going on with this kind of
searchp
my dear boy, don't be sarcastic; it does
not suit you. A man does not roam about
the world searching with his own eyes and
hands. The proper people for such search
are now engaged In it."
Detectives, you mean II had a wife,
and cared for her." said Tom. emphatically,
~ would-frst, not lose her; and, secondly,
would find her for myself"
Diana laughed-a little against her viii.
'It is no use saying what you would do.
You are never likely to be in similar cir
cumstances."
MAY ask what circumstances"
mo, dear boy; that is exactly what /
cannot quite well tell you. / want to ask
you not even to mention what have said
to any one, and to ask me nothing more.n
"Whati Not 90 Sybilg"
sx.1 ,.r,f fr. h,1 II hall Al
early opp ortunity of telling Sybil myself
that Mr.. Eastwood is married. My dear
Tom, you don't suppose that she will
care!n
Tom shrugged his shoulders, and men,
tally accused his aunt Of some insincerity in
this remark. Possibly his silence seemed
significant to her, for she spoke again in
very earnest tones.
Indeed, Tom, do not think that she