The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-16
other with the air of a man who is master

other with the air Of man who is master
of the situation.
George, my dear fellow" said Helmont,
very gently, ''if you do not wish me TO
hear what passes between you and this
man, lead me away. lam MT anxious to
hear; give me your hand aud let me GOV
But George did not move
You had better stay" he said. 81 do
not know what this man has come about,
but there is no reason why you should not
hear what he says, and it is matter Of per-
feet indifference TO me.n
Hslmont recognized touch of bravado
in the tone.
What hear, shall of course hear in
| confidence" said the clergyman. ~ have
no desire to intrude upon your secrets,
George"
"rnere's no secret in the matter that Pm
aware of, said the young man, leaving the
door and going up to h S easel. Say what
you have to say, please, and be done with
| it, he added, ia tone of subduel fury TO
his new visi or
Stephen stroked the cap that he carried in
his hands, AID began TO speak.
There's a girl" he said, ''called Jess
Armstrong"
HelmonL made sudden movement Of at
tention. George stopped short 10 his ar
range nent of the sketch on his easel aud
| listened, but did not turn round. His nand
tremblsd still.
"She was once" continued Stephen,
keeping comply with me- We meant to
be married this year. I'd my eye on a nice
little 'ouse, and | meant to keep her as a
lady. Well, we've done with all that now.
jess says she won't marry me, and there's
an end of it,"
"But, Stephen" said Mr.. belmont,
quickly, 'what is the reason Of this changer
Why won't she marry you now~
There was a little silence. Then Stephen
spoke, in quiet, logged tone.
YOU'D better ask that gentleman over
there, sir. He knows better than me. It's
| his doing.n
GEORGE! This can't be truem
There was ring Of pain in Francis Hell
| mont's voice.
George turned round impulsively.
| us this the message you came to deliverm
he said, facing his accuser.
mo, sir, it amt. [ was only answering
| Mr.. Helmont's question: said the man,
civilly, but with the same logged determi-
natio of manner. my message is from
jess Armstrong to your
Tell it at once, thea"
''She bids me say,n Stephen continued,
shat she Is ill in hospital, and can't keep
the appointment or engagement, or what
ever it was she had with you-you know
| best. SIC was afraid her Granny would
tell you tales as weren't true. That's ALL"
George drew quick breath of relief.
THAT'S all, is it! o, it's all right then.
1 wanted to paint her again. l dare say she
will let me know when she is better-if she
wishes to come to the studio again"
| He spoke with studied clrelessness, but he
kept watchful eve upon Stephens face.
what made her send you with the mes
| sageW said Mr. belmont
II was coming to that, Mr.. Helmont, sir.
It's the grace OF God that's done it, and no
mistake. I've given up all worldly inter
ests. I've given her up and she knows it.
And to show her that forgive her for the
wrong that she's done to me 1 promised to
do her bidding and carry her message to the
fine gentleman here"
"And now you have done it, YOU had bet.
ter go. Pm much obliged to you, of course, ,
said George, with the touch of ant lgonism
| almost of inSOlence-without which it did
not seem possible for him to speak to
Stephen Eyre; land here's hat a crown for
you for your services. Good morning."
The two men fronted each other for a
moment. Eastwood, young, handsome,
| imperlous with the coin in his led
hand, and the look of contemptuous anger
on his face, was a less pleasing object to
contemplate than the working man in his
rough clothes, common-looking, undersiz I'd,
ill-fed, but with a glow of pride in his
deep-set dark eyes, which redeemed his
whole face from insig nificance.
! NO" he said, shortly, II don't take
money for what I've done I came here for
the love Of Jess, and also, if may say so,
for the love of God. Pm trying to do the
thing that's right and fair. I'm only a
common man and you're gentleman, and
yet there's something have to say to you,
although if you were a real gentleman you
wouldn't need a common man like me to tell
you your duty. Hear me out, if you
please; for, by God, will speakl Jess
has given me up, for. your sake.
It's for your sake that she lies
in hospital now; for her grandmother
beat her till her bones were broken because
she'd been neglecting her work in order to
meet you. You have kissed her and fat
tered her until she'd give her very life for
you. Now, sir, what say is this-if you
mean i'll by her, it'll he the worse for you in
this world and the next. If you are leading
that innocent lamb astray-and God knows
she was Innocent not SO very long ago-God
will require her soul at your nds. Ay,
and He chooses his own ilstru ments OF pu Il
ishment. VINO kno 8s-if you hurt nv
poor Jess-whether He won't choose to send
| you your punishment by my hand; and
whether after all | may not have TO send
you out of world which you've lived in
only to blast and to corruptp