The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-02

shall remain, trust, until the last days of
our life"
She held out her hand with frank and
queenly gesture. George took it and
pressed it 10 his lips
| All, that is not the way brothers treat
their sisters Diana said, with "a light
laugh; but she turned away from him to
hide That her eyes were full of tears.
Ihey walked TO the house together, almost
IN silence. They were close to the door,
when George said at last, in low tone.
II am deeply grateful to you, DIANA
For refusing you" she said.
You know that don't mean that. In
helping me-giving me your friendship
your sympathy. Ineed it. I wish-I wish
that | could tell you all.
Tell me all and let me help you more"
she said, softly.
He shook his head
Il don't know how things will turn out.
cannot tell YOU. or any one, just yet"
70, Georgep said the girl, impulsively,
Il hope she is worthy of you; | hope she
will make you good wife,
he flushed, deep, swarthy red-to the
| very roots of his soft, dark hair, and looked
decidedly miserable. Diana saw in a mo-
nent that there was something wrong, but
| she did not like to question him. though if
| she had persevered he might perhaps have
told her all Sac hesitated, he kept silence,
| Lord Hexham met them at the door. aud
| looked suspiciously from one to the other,
much as Co. Eastwood had done. His ex-
4 preston was sullen. He had not seen his
| host since the colonel had interrupted tue
/ young peoples conversation in the garden,
| and he had good reason to believe that
| George had made Miss belmont an offer of
marriage and been accepted. His face,
| therefore, was overcast with gloom
| Are Won OOinp ord HaYhaDl ~ ia
Diana, in some surprise. II thought you
would stay and dine with u.s."
mo, thanks. Have to catch a train
an appointment" muttered the surly peer.
Il will walk down the avenue with you
said Diana, graciously. George, will you
find my mother and tell her where l have
| gone! How lovely the lights are, now that
the sun is sinkingw
IL is curious to see how completely a
woman can mystify a man. George East
| wood and Lord Hexham were both COM
pletely swayed by Diana's tone and man
| ner. She had hitherto treated Lord Hex
ham with GOODNESS, and had not in any way
encouraged him TO pay his addresses to her.
| And now she smiled upon him and spoke in
a warm and friendly way which was not
| usual with her.
George wondered what this change of
front portended, and Lord Hexham did not
know whether TO be more surprised or de-
lighted
George went, dutifully enough, to give
Diana's message to her mother; and he
found Mrs Helmont in state of remarka-
bic nervousness and dismay.
"Gone down the avenue with Lord Hex
hamlh repeated the mother, in a puzzled
tone. But what does it all meau?n
What does it all meanr' asked George,
trying, not very successfully, to laugh.
''All this mystery and nonsense. have
no patience with it," said Mrs. Helmont,
Indignantly. ''Your uncle talked to Lord
| Hexham for little time and then he went
off to find you and Diana-he seemed 80
tfldgetty about you that we were obliged to
let him go-and then he came back from
the garden looking very angry, and had
gone straight to his room and shut himself
up there; and | did not know what to do
| with Lord Hexham CT all. And now Diana
is walking down the avenue with him, you
say? Why are you not with them"
why should l be with themp queried
George.
Looking at the little dark-eyed woman,
he perceived that she was in a state of
great excitement. Her features worked with
agitation, and her eyes were filing with
tears. She was sitting on a sofa in pretty
little morning-rooni, generally appropriated
to her use, with some needlework in her
hands; but her hands shook so much that
she could hardly put the needle into the
stuff. She was quite alone, for the Blake
neys had gone home.
HDear auntie," said George, sitting down
beside her, and speaking with the gentle,
carressing manner natural to him in his in
tercourse with women, II do not under
stand now what you mean. What ought
we to have done or left undone this after
noon? Everyone seems little out Of tune.
sit is not for me to say, George" said
Mrs Helmont, prlmiy.
'Then 1t is for Diana and me to speak, l
Mrs. Helmoat dropped her work and
looked at him.
us it true? Is it truce" she cried, almost
wildly. 80, George, have you done what
your uncle wished. o, thank Godw
"But-Diana won't have me, aunt" said
George. feeling that there was something
sueaking and unworthy in this manner Of
putting the case, and yet not knowing what
else to say.
George
''She says she Will not marry me" sald
George, looking down.
Mrs. neImonb's face might at thas mo-
mont have served painter as a study IN
emotion of various kinds. Astonlslment,
incredulity. anger, dismay, passed over it IN
turn She could not speak for some mo-
ments, and, when she found voice, 1t was
only to exclain, in agitated tones:
1
She loves you too we'll. 1t is impossible"
She loves me as a sister," George an
swered. "But she says that nothing would
induce her to marry me"
you must have offended her in some
wav. She does not mean what she says,
retf,rned Mrs. Helmont tremblingly. "Y on
do rot know her as / do, George. Leavs
her to me-"
ssYou wish for such a marriage, do you,
auntp said George, wonderingly. "Y on
naver mentioned it to me BEFORE
s.Hoy could l? How could l speak be-
fore knew whether it would please your
rnclee [ have wished for it all my life.
Not for my own sake-O, no; but for hers.
IF vour marriage came about knew that
Diana would never have to suffer as had
done"
hand. - - ~a-
81 did not know. you nad 70 suner'
auntie.n he said, pityingly.
Something Like pang OF remorse was
shooting through his mind.
80. YES, my dear. had a good deal &c
hear while / was younger. You are toC
vonnr to remember-you were q boy al
sschool when | first came here. am only
voI1r uncle's cousin, you know-nof hrs
cousin. either; some people would say hard
| " q relation at alI / married AaJ Hst