The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-26

| the power Of her beauty as he came within
the little circle over which she reigned as
queen.
Standing bv her side was a broad
shouldered, ruddy-faced giant Of a man,
whose eyes were fixed adorIngly upon her
face. He was goodlooking in a Common
place and rather heavy sort of way. He
| had magnificent thews and sinews, and his
| blue eyes, yellow hair, and fair complex
ion, gave him the look of some Norwegian
hero of ancient times. But in drawing
room or in ladies' society he was undeniably
clumsy; and as Diana Helmont's eyes strayed
from him to the slighter figure and refined
face of George Eastwood, she may be par
| doned for making some comparisons that
were not favorable to the young Titan, al
| though he was a baronet with at least ten
thousand year. Raymond, Lord Hexham,
was generally considered most desirable
| young man; ne was steady, good-tempered,
and only a little stupid; he had houses and
lands galore, and all these virtues and all
this wealth did he long to lay at the feet Of
Miss Diana belmont, who would have moth
| ing to say to him at all.
Two other members of the party remain
to be described. Miss Harriet Blakeney,
the half sister and devoted admirer of the
Rev. Herbert Blakeney, vicar Of the parish,
was a woman Of nearly o0-hard, angular,
| grizzled, with peering, inquisitive eyes, and
| imagined it to be always poking itself into
everyone's affairs. And nose of this kind
is not a bad index to a PERSONS character
after ALL Her half brother, twenty years
her junior, was far better-looRing than she
had ever been, but he had the same pointed,
rather pinched features, and the same fur
| tive expression of the eyes. In his case,
however, the bad impression sometimes pro-
duced by his appearance generally di ed
| away upon further knowledge, for Herber t
| BlakeneY had the habit of making himself
| very agreeable to the people whom he met,
while his sister did not make herself agreea-
| BILE to anybody.
The Blakeneys were distant connections
of Mrs. Helmont's late husband, and for her
sake Col. Eastwood tolerated their pres
ence, although he had no great liking for
either of them.
"Well, George he said, his fine, pale face
| lighting up with q look of undisguised
pleasure, $50 you have come at last Miss
Blakeney and the vicar are here, you see
Diana, give George some tea; he looks hot
| and tagged"
us hot tea a remedy for heatg" said
| George, as he greeted the various members
of the party, and then sank with a sigh,
half real and half assumed, into a low
wicker chair.
"Was it very hot in LondonP asked
Mrs. Helmont.
"Yes, very.n
"Poor Frankl" said Diana.
'Do you mean your brother Francisg'
asked Miss Blakeney. 80, my dear, you
may depend upon it that he makes himself
| comfortable. | knew a clergyman once in
the east Of London, and everybody thought
| that he was living most sanity life; but
a friend of mine called upon him one day
and he was eating salmon outlets and drink
| ing iced champagne. When people make
such fuss about their good works, you
may be sure that there's something behind
it all.n
"Do you mean that there is something
behind Franks splendid charity to the
| poorp exclaimed Diana, her dark eyes fash
ing fire.
81 don't think Francis ever made fuss
about his good works." said Mrs. Helmont
II am sure he does not, )" said the colonel :
and then they all fixed their eyes on the un-
fortunate Harriet, and mentally crushed
her. But Harriet refused to be crushed.
81 was not saying anything against Mr..
Francis Helmont," she said, in her rasping
| voice. II do not know anything against
him. l was speaking generally. Mr.. Hell
| mont is as good or as bad as most other
clergymen, suppose | have not known
| many whom l should dare to praisen And
her eyes rested aRectionately upon the Rev.
Herbert.
81 don't know much about tho generality
of parsons" said George, in his cool, slow
way. He was leaning in his chair, a cup of
tea in one hand-a picture of lazy ease and
contentment. "But do know that Francis
Helmont is living as few other men of his
abilities would care to live-giving no
everything for the sake of some miserable
starving wretches in the fouIest slums Of
London, and l honor him for the work he
is doing.n
THAT'S right, George" said the colonel
heartily. Diana said nothing, but she
stood beside Georges chair, aud her hand
strayed involuntarily to his shoulder with
caressing touch. The young man colored
as he felt it, and bent his brow. There was
a look OF decided annoyance upon his face
"a look which did not pass away for some
minutes after Diana's withdrawal of her
hand.
A little silence followed upon this short
colloquy-not very comfortable silence
The colonel expressed wish at last TO 90
into the house, and before he went he said to
Diana:
''Show George the new forcing houses.
Diana. He has not seen them yet. Raw
| mond"-to Lord Hexham-"will you come
up to the house with mes Don't move
Marian he continued hastily to Mrs. Hell
| mont, miss Blakeney will perhaps take
ANOTHER cup of tea. Don't let me disturb
| any one"
This was the colonel's fashion Of arrang.
ing matters for his guests.
Lord Hexham accompanied his host to
the house with decidedly sullen expression
Of countenance. He did not believe in be-
ing forcibly divided from his beloved
Diana. Mrs. Helmont, perfectly under
standing her kinsman's wiles. had to whis-
per in a peremptory manner to Miss Blake
ney before that lady would resume the seat
from which she had risen. The Rev. Her
bert BlakeneY stood and stared.
well, upon my word p said the vivacious
Harriet. "We might all be negro slaves
when the colonel is near. We are none of
us allowed to have wills of our own-that
is very clear"
"WIl you come to see the forcing
houses, Georgep said Diana, flushing
darkly, and looking the young man straight
in the face. las Uncle Henry wishes it,
perhaps we ought to 60"
II suppose we ought" said George, dryly;
and then the two young people set off In a
| somewhat ungracious manner, each inclin-
| ing away from the other as they walked,
with the air Of people who wished to sepa-
rate on the earliest opportunity.
"Uncle Henry has taken great deal of
trouble about these new houses Diana said
| presently, with an evident effort. "He
| thought you would like them.n
sit is very kind Of him." said George,
with curious sort of edge In his voice;
| "buD ! wish he would not trouble himself
anita On pnurh ahouf Fftu aop0arnc