The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-03

Francis Roche's heart was beating very
fast as he as-euded Mrs. SOuthwelPs stair
case, and his face became very blank when
/ he entered her drawing room and found
| Helen Drummond was not there. HIS uncle
noticed this. and presently inquired Of Mrs.
Southweli where her handsome young frieId
was.
"She will be down directly" answered
Mrs. Southwell, glancing at Francis, land
50 will the general"
In the meanwhile Helen was standing be-
fore the glass in her wardrobe, looking not
withou pleasure at the slender, stately form
robed in black TX reflected there. A hand
! some girl this, with her round, white arms,
and fair neck and throat. aud fine features,
| though the expression of her face was
| greatly changed She looked a woman now
| a woman who had known sJrrow, and
| borne it in silence. She was thinking of
Francis Roche; thinking that she was about
| to see him, and toinklng, too, of the dark
| shadow that had parted their lives.
1T is hard, hard, she murmured half
aloud, lit was no fault of ours-none Of
mine uor his-and yet had no choice And
we could have been so happy-it was so
cruel of Lady Ennismore, she might have
| left us in peace"
But the gong sounded, and Helen was
forced to descend to the drawing room,
where she blushingly gave her hand to
Francis. who was eagerly watching for her.
onel and Francis, military people also, and
| the gray-haired general gave his arm TO
| Mrs Maitland, who was the wife of the old
| companion IN arms, while Col. Roche
escorted Mrs. SOnthwell to dinner, and to
his great delight Francis was told s. lingly
| by the hostess to take down Miss Dalton.
II have been looking forward all day to
seeing you tonight" he said, as he pressed
| her hand a little closer to his side; lever
since was here before indeed"
What terrible thing it is about Lord
Ennismore," answered Helen.
Yes, terrible; but l hope he'll pull
| through
Have you written to Lady Ennismore
| since it happenedp
"No, Helen"
Then, when they were all seated at table
| Helen began to talk of Lord EnnIsmore
again.
Il know the place so we'll where it must
have happened, :" she said in a low tone
Judy and used to go into those words to
Frank, oh, SO strange now to remember
these things"
Life is often very strange, Helen, but
you will never forget Brackenford, will
your
mo, never"
"Do you remember the first time we met
at the station, and your ride over the hills?n
Eyes, indeed"
81 suppose" said Francis, sinking his
voice almost into a whisper, and paying no
regard to his soup, THAT we must not talk
of those times here, Helen but we must not
talk of those times here. Helen; but we must
talk Of them some day."
Helen shook her head"
mo, we must forget them, she said
THAT is nQnsense-impossibe Oh,
Helen, I've got 50 much to tell you.n
The two young heads were very close to-
gether when this stupid conversation was
going on, and with grim smile Col. Roche
glanced across the dinner table.
"When people are making love they GER
tainly look very foolish" he said to Mrs.
Southwell.
"And yet they are very happy, :" ans wered
the fair white-haired lady, thinking of her
own youth, and also remembering the DAYS
when Walter Roche would fain have whis-
pered folly in her ears.
~ suppose So" he answered, more grimly
still, and his thoughts also Travelled back
to the time when he had admired his com
manding officers wife great deal more
than was good for his peace of mind.
Frank is terribly hard htt,n he said,
moment or two later; ''he admitted so the
| other evening whom we were here, but he
| said the young lady had refused him twice;
doesn't look as if she would a third time,
does she. ehg"
80 pleased if that dear girl marries hap
PLY; after all a married life is the happiest.
you know, and yet you have never mar
ried"
IF you marry a woman you really care
for, and to continue to care for, no doubt it
is the happiest; but | was not so fortunate"
How was thatg
A sigh issued from the colonel's substan-
tial breast, and he pulled his gristled mus
tache.
II was unlucky enough to care for
woman l could not win, nor even attempt
to win. l suppose that was the reason" he
said
Mrs. southwell also gave tremulous little
sigh.
life is so difficult" she said, land its
| undercurrents are so strong that it every
day becomes palmer to me that we have no
right to sit in Judgment on our fellow-crea-
lures. We cannot regulate our own feel
iugs by clockwork, yet we condemn those
whose feelings may be stronger than our
own; but you will wonder why am talking
| thus" she added, with a smile.
IF every one we're like YOU" began the
colonel, and then he paused somewhat
abruptly.
II assure you l am not at all out of the
| common said Mrs. Southw well, still smiling
perhaps it IS the knowledge of my own
| weaknesses which make me pitiful to the
weaknesses of others. | have led q sheltered
life; what if had been exposed to life Of
! temptatlonN
"You would have passed through it stain
| less, of that am certain" answered the
colonel. with energy.
Mrs. Southwell gave pretty little bow.
81 can only pray so,, she said more seri-
ously moment later. II believe none Of
us can tell what we should do until we are
| tried; it amazes me when | hear some
women speak SO bitterly of their fallen sis
ters-women, too-but l shall be getting
! scandalous."
For the first time then; l never heard a
hard word cross your lips"
You pay me nothing but compliments,
Col. Roche"
II am speaking the truth; but about this
young woman Frank seems to be going in
for-is she really nice girl dye thinkY'
II think she is more than nice. l recog-
nize something noble in her character
something above the common level of nice
girls. But think some great sorrow has
fallen on her young life
That's odd. l wonder if Frank knows1n
1--WE cannot tell. She looks very hand
some tonight, does she notp
"She's undoubtedly a fine-looking girl
wonder what made her refuse Frankg'
Perhaps this very sorrow"
"Humph," said the colonel obviously.
He was not so large minded as his friend,