The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-15


'She ought TO have lain by her father and
mother in Brackenford churchyard," wept
Elizabeth; but Lady Eanismore expressed
no such wish. She stood by her old friends
grave pale and fearful, and during the drive
TO Ardleigh after the funeral was over she
scarcely spoke.
But before the day was over she had O
long conversation with Helen regarding her
future life. She was obliged to leave Ard
reign early the next morning, as her little
son Pat was ill, and his father was uneasy
about him, fearing that he was sickening
Tor scarlet fever and had made his wife
promise to return to Breckenford at once.
VI should have liked you to go back with
me, Helen" began Lady Eunismore, little
nervously, for she knew that it was but
natural that she should take the friendless
girl home with her; but Brackenford was
too near to Lynwood, where Francis Roche
was stationed. for Lady Ennismore to do
this.
81 could not go, Lady Ennismore," re-
piled Helen, quickly, as Lady Ennismore
paused in her somewhat lukewarm words.
"Well, perhaps for the present, dear, it is
better not, particularly as dear little Pat
is i'll. But | want to speak to you about
your future inoome-and other arrange
ments.n
Helen was silent aud cast her tear-stained
eyes downward.
Your dear aunt's income, which was
paid quarterly, was six hundred a year,
and this shall be continued to you, but
you must, of course, have a suitable lady t.
live with you. think know one that will
be very glad to come, and as you seem to
have nice neighbors here you had better
inst keep on this house as it is, don't you
thinkl"
Il should rather not stay here" SAID
Helen, slowly.
well, dear, that can be settled after
ward. At present the first thing to be seen
after is q chaperone to live with you. Eliza
beth tells me Mrs. Campbell, Of Ardleigh
Lodge, has been very kind, and has asked
you to go and stay with her. What do you
think OF that for a week or so, until | ar
range with lady to come hereP
IL can go nowhere at present" answered
Helen, huskiiy.
But they are such near neighbors, and
her son seems very kind young man also.
Elizabeth says he offered to do anything for
you, and used to come here inEyour dear
eunt's lifetime"
HE is very gocd-natured."
Elizabeth bad also told Lady Ennismore
mot without some PRIDE that "Miss Helen
had only to hold up her little finger to have
the young lairdn
81 have his own word for it, =" added Eliza.
beth, and Lady Ennismore, on hearing this,
lnwardly decided that ArdleiSh was a very
suitable place for Helen to continue to live
in.
"Aunt Margaret left will" said Helen.
presently; ''she had little money-three
hundred pounds, that her father left her.
and she has left this to me she told met is
in the bank at Obau."
Lady Ennismore smiled gently.
My dear, you will have no nesd TO touch
this little sum. ] will give you a check for
present expenses before l go, and your in
come will be paid regularly. And, Helen,
thee is another thing l wish to say; if you
marry, this Inc me will be continued and
settled on you"
lido not want it, )" said Helen, with
auivering lips.
you must not speak foolishly. will
see about nice lady to live with you at
once, and by and by you must come and
stay with US at Brackenford. Let us be
friends, dear Helen, " added Lady Ennismore,
rising and going up to Helen aud kissing
her; "remem Der it was her wish that we
should be-that she knew she was leaving
you in my charge"
Tears rushed into Helen's ewes at these
words, and streancd down her cheeks, but
she did not speak. She parted with Lady
Ennismore the next morning with strong,
though suppressed emotion, and Lady En-
niSmore kissed her again and again very
tenderly as she babe her good-by. But
Francis Roche's name, of whom they both
were thinking, was never spoken. And
after Lady Ennismore was gone Helen sat
still and silent for more then an hour, and
then rose and went to her dead aunt's room,
and opened with her keys two drawers in
her writing table, which Margaret Drum
mond had always kept locked.
In one OF these drawers, beneath packet
of lette 5. addressed in faded ink In a mans
handwriting to Miss Nora Drummond,
Brackenford Vicarage, there lay q fade
Photograph of fair and beautiful girl
Long Helen stood and gazed at the delicate
feature7. and the sweet, pensive smile that
fingered round the rosy lips. Helen knew
very well who it was, and of the bitter
despair and misery which had clouded the
last hours of this young creatures life. But
she did not read the letters which had re-
NAMED untouched through long years, nor
seek TO penetrate further into the tragic
story, whose dark shadow had now fallen
athwart her own path. She placed them
and the photograph il little desk of her
own, and otherwise arranged her dead
aunt's papers. Amongst these there were
some Australian letters, which Helen care
fully destroyed. There was also two hun
dred pounds in notes. which Helen took pos
session of.
But she looked in vain for photograph
OF the quiet, patient woman who had
passed away. Margaret Drummond had
leftno portrait of her girlhood nor middle
age; none OF the home where she had been
born, nor friends, nor lovers. There were a
few faded flowers in an envelope, which
crumbled and turned to dust when Helen
touched them, and these were the only
tokens of youth or love-
At last the melancholy task was done
and as Helen was leaving the room she met
Elizabeth, who told her Mr. Campbell"
had called and was waiting in the parlor
down stairs in the hope of seeing her. AID
to Elizabeth's surprise Helen said Ehe would
go down TO speak 60 him. She went to her
own room first, however, and locked away
the money and the letters that she had taken
from her aunt's writing table.
Then she went to the parlor, and in an
excessive state Of nervousness and agitation
Johnny Campbell rose to receive her.
Helen gravely held out her hand and put
il into his shaking one.
THANK you for the flowers and your kind
ness" she said.
"If there is anything-anything-
gasped Johnny, but here speech failed him.
"Elizabe b told me how kind YOU had
been, went on Helen, with quivering lips;
"and-how you had helped herr
Again Johnny gasped, and then with an
immense effort few words burst from his
lips.
"Did-she tell you anything elseq' he
asked.
"She said you had been very good"
HNa M I don't mean that did uofbfnc1