The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-15


the walks, and on the trim and well-kept
evergreens, and somehow as Lady Ennis
more hurried on in her way through the
grounds, her thoughts went back to her
dead brother-to Norman Maldeu, who
had been 50 strangely cut of in his early
prime.
She remembered how he had partly
planned this place; how he had planted
some Of these very holly trees on which the
moonlight was falling, and how they had
gown on and on, while his memory had al
most faded,
She gave quick, sharp sigh, as she
thought this. The stiffness and silence of
the place seemed almost to brighten her.
The shadows of the past came near her. and
involuntarily she glanced round, and stood
looking for moment at the great dark hills
behind, where amid the heather they had
found her young brother dead.
In the meanwhile the two who she had
gone out to seek were standing together
hand in hand, thinking only OF the blissful
present They were lovers, but not yet de-
clared lovers, and were in that state of
sweet uncertainty, of happy excitement,
of strange, new joy, which is the prelude
to . bright future. or to great and woful
pain.
"Do not go yet" Francis Roche was say
ing. Everything seems SO dreary when
you leave me-"
"a November evening is not proverbially
bright, you KNOW replied Helen Drum
mond with some archHess, and she would
have drawn her hand away, but the young
man heldit fast.
'Helsn," he said. more earnestly, "do
not really 60 yet. | want to speak to you
| want to tell you-well, 1t seems so stupid
to say it, yet it is the truth-that it is in
your power now to make my future life
happy-or indeed WEAKNESS euoughp
Before the girl could reply to this dis
jointed sentence, while she stood blushing
and trembling a little, and with her eyes
cast down, footstep was heard approach
ing, and Roche suddenly released her
hand.
The next minute Lady Ennismore's tall
figure appeared on the very path on which
the young lovers were standing.
She did not see them at once, for they
were partly beneath the shadow of some
fir trees, but the moonlight fell on her
face, and both Roche and Helen recognized
her.
Here is Lady Ennismore," said Helen,
with some embarrassment.
YES" answered Roche, 80 see."
And though he felt greatly annoyed, he
was OF course obliged to follow Helen,
who moved forward to meet Lady Ennis
more
Lady Eunismore received them both very
quietly.
"Heien, my child, is that YOUR she said
as Helen somewhat deprecatingly and tim
idly laid her hands on Lady Ennismores.
1T is too late for you to be out, DEAR" she
continued, $50 run to the house as fast as
you can, and ask Miss Sinclair, who is in
the drawing room, to give you some tea.n
Helen hesitated for a moment and looked
at Roche
$50 at once. DEAR" said Lady Ennis
more; land, Mr.. Roche, will you stay
and take a turn with met / have head
ache, and think the air will do me good. !"
Helen left them as Lady Ennismore said
these words, and then in her usual sweet
and gentle manner Lady Ennismore ad-
dressed Roche.
81 have sent the child away, Mr.. Roche"
she said. because / want a few WORDS
few confidential words with you"
AZ shall be delighted TO listen, of course, :"
said Roche. thoughtly he certainly did not
feel so.
sit Is about Helen-Helen Drummond,"
proceed Lady EnDismore, and she put her
hand throukh Rochss arm. LET us walk
down the path-yes, l want to talk to you
about the chiid-they. tell me you some
times walk with her-and-well, Mr..
Roche, l am about to ask you to do so no
more"
"Why, Lady Ennismore" said Roche,
with some sharpness
Because you are a good-looking young
man." answered Lady Ennismore, with
rather forced smile, land she is country
girl, unused to the world, unaccustomed to
receive attention, and it will only unsettle
her to be with you-only perhaps make her
unhappy
81 would never willingly do that. am
sure,n said Roche.
II am sure you would not, yet 1t might be
SO if you were constantly with her. Do
not, therefore, see her any more, Mr..
Roche; Helen is nice girl, dear, nice
girl, and 1 would guard her from any
trouble if could"
"But, Lady Eanismore," answered Roche
after mementary hesitation, and with
slight break in her voice, ''you do not surely
trouble to Miss Drummond If could help
its You must know, am sure you must
know, that In seeking her have only one
meaning if were happy enough to
win her regard
"Hush, hush, Mr.. Rocher' interrupted
Lady Ennismore with unmistakable agita-
ton of manner, 'do not speak thus. There
nothing, nothing, put the very idea out of
your mind"
''But why. Lady EnnismoreT again asked
Roche.
Because" answered Lady Ennismore
with a strange culver in her voice, "Helen
is not in a position to think of you-to be
anything to you. You must promise me,
Mr.. Roche, promise me on your word of
honor as a gentleman never to hint anything
of this kind to Helen"
Lady Eunismore said these last words
eagerly and bent forward SO that she might
see the expression on the young mans face,
but with an annoyed air Roche turned
away his head.
81 will make no promises" he said.
"But you must, urged Lady Ennismore.
"Mr. Rocue, listen to meln and she clasped
her hand tightly on his arm. st is for
your good am speaking she continued,
'for your good and for Helen's good. She
can be nothing to you-do you understand,
uothingl If you have thought of anything,
or she has thought of anything, she must
go away-she must return to her relation,
Miss Drummond."
"You surely would not send her away,
Ennismorep
"Yes, would" answered Lady Ennis
more, II will. Anything would be better
than that you"
LADY Ennismore," said Roche very
earnestly, sit is upkind of you to speak
thus-to speak in riddles Why-do answer
newly would it be such a dreadful
thing if l were to ask Miss Drummond to
be my wifeF
Lady Ennismore withdrew her arm
hastily from Roche's, and with a sudden,