The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-15
A LOVE STORY.
By MABEL COLLINS,
[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

went up TO Harcourt, and put his hand on
his shoulder
Maurice, old chap, don't 90 too far. It's
an awful shame to make love in earnest to
girl of that sort ard then simply throw
her over"
"I shan't do thati" said Maurice Har-
court, slowly and confidently. As he spoke
he too rose. and stretched himself and
yawned
Promise me you won't do any mischief, ~
said Sir Reginald. very earnestly.
20, hang it all, dear boy. you fiatter me, +"
said Harcout with a rather morose laugh.
I'm not SO fatal as all that. Why not at
tend to your own little matters OF conscience
flrstg'
With which delicate reminder of his re-
cent sheer that had been 50 severe a stab he
yawned again with an air of great indiffer-
ence and went away to his room.
Sir Reginald sat down alone aud fell into
deep fit of thought, or brooding, which
brought heavy cloud of dependency over
his dark, handsome face. There was. in-
deed, a cload OF melancholy always about
him, which seldom lifted
This was considered very fascinating nv
the many VINO admired him. He was a
most popular man, q favorite with both
sexes and all ages, and many a wound had
been left by his dark, sad eyes on impress
sionable hearts. But he had never singled
out a woman yet from the crowd of society
beauties with whom he gossiped, and
danced. and rode, to pay special attention
to. Those who had cared for him
had cared for him unasked. He
had inspired strangely romantic attach
ments, but for his own part had apparently
remained heart whole. He was a man
whom any woman conld reckon as a friend
for the Moncktons were chivalrous race.
but he had never acknowledged himself to
be any womanb lover Yet. And he had
proposed to himself hitherto that he never
would. But human nature is falible, and
he recognized that on this evening a new
experience had come to him, and his
strength would he tried TO the utmost in
combating it The sweet smLe on Kate
HetheriDgtons delicate face, once seen,
seemed TO him joy one could not live
without 1t was a wonderful smile, with a
lingering softnesS about it, that made him
think of the scent of the tea roses she had
worn on her dress. Indeed, all the pent.up
romance Of his nature came out with an
unexpected passionateness in his thoughts
of her.
Fancy Travellian and Adela Hetherine-
ton were the only two ladies at the hunt
breakfast, and brilliantly beautiful they
both looked. To a shrewd observer a whole
tragedy, or comedy, which ever one choss to
call it, was to be read in the glances that
crossed the table between three persons as
they came to 1t in the grey morning sun
light. 1t was a very pretty table, dressed
with horse shoes made of scarlet geraniums,
and Fanny Trevellian, sitting behind the
silver urn in her perfectly fitting habit
looked an ideal hostess. There was a rose
pink on her cheeks-natural or no, none
could tell-and her beautiful mouth, shaped
like cupid's bow, was scarlet as the flow
ers on the table. Maurice Harcourt took
the chair close to her, and looked with close.
keen scrutiny into her face as he said
GOOD morning" Her answering look
yelled instantly-told volumes. The man
was after her own heart and she was deter
mined to win him If she could. A second
later Adela entered the room with the glori-
Gus flush Of perfect health and absolute
youth on her beautiful face; she, too, was
habited to admiration, yet with a differ
ence. Her waist was not SO tiny as Miss
Trevelliau's, but how lissome her shape was
how easy and exquisite were her move
mentsl HarcourtIs eyes fastened on her
face keenly, as they had done on Fanny
Travellians; and then softened and wan
dered over her appreciatively, lingering and
returning to the bright, proud face.
Fanny Trevellian saw it, and bit her
crimson under lip. The table was soon a
buzz OF gay chatter, as the professional
riders-to-hounds quickly gathered round it;
and no one noticed these tell-tale chances
save those concerned in the tragedy. And
these all understood the situation thor
oqghly. The two women perfectly recoo-
nized that they were rivals, and rivals In
earnest.
As for Harcout. ne felt himself to be Just
III his element, and life was very pleasant TO
him on that winters morning. Hs was con
scious Of power-perhaps the most satisfao-
tory feeling possible to either man or
woman. He had his choice-which should
IL be9 There was no kind of doubt about
which In his own mind. for he delighted in
freshness and youth. in the sense Of novelty
and undiscovered country. He knew Fanny
Trevellian very well, and understood every
expression on her proud face and In her
large, pale gray eyes, with their dark pu-
pits, that dilated so curiously when she was
excited. He saw them dilate now, and it
pleased him. he knew she wanted him
herself, that her mind was set on MARI wing
him, and that she hated Adela for coming,
as she thought, between them. IL was all
very simplel-and ii added keen zesb to
his appetite for breakfast.
Sir Reginald did not appear; and that
afternoon found him calling at the Hether-
ington's house. 1t was rather quick work
this; but he was of a very honest nature,
and after thinking through the small hours
of the morning he determined to cast his
die at once: to stake all, or to lose all. There
were no half measures possible TO him. He
loved, for the first time and the last An
overpowering passion or infatuation-call it
what you Withheld him. and drew him.
Was it possible that he might find a sweet
companion who, knowing all, would risk
alla Well, at all events, he determined he
would be no imposter. He troubled little
TO talk about himself or his secrets where
his heart was not engaged-but now IL was
different
Hetherington House was not far of.
standing among some woods across a
breezy common. In the early afternoon
Sir Reginald escaped unnoticed from the
court, and walked to the gates of the
picturesque red house. A short avenue led
to 1t, and on each side stretched a we'll
tended garden. which even now showed the
gardeners care and repaid it by blooms:
for Kate and her father were both garden-
ers OF the oId-fashion sort, who will have
flowers blooming in the beds in every month
in the year. They had never yielded to the
modern bedding out'' craze which leaves
the beds barren all the winter. Monckton
Hall seemed a barrack, rs its master
thought OF II. splendid though It's PARK and
its archtectures were, by contrast with this
gloritied farm house. No love had been spent
on 1t In his day; he had been educated on
the continent, like his father before him.
and had passed very little time at home In
deed, the word home hardly existed for him,
while here all looked SO homeike.
Lettering about the grass near the house
with an old soft hat on his head, pipe in
his mouth, and a favori,e setter at his
AanI l. IJoAA