The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-15
A FATAL PAST.
BY DORA RUSSELL.
FOOTPRINTS Snow SEAL THE TRACK on
STORM" "a BITTER BrRTHRIsHrp Ere ETC
LALL RIGHTS RESERVED

tommy, and their old servant told me her
grleI Is just dreadful. But did all could:
asked her to come and stay with us at
once, and l am going TO get Margaret Mac
Neil 10 write to that Lady EnniSmors that
helen used to stay with 81 often, TO tall her
OF poor Miss Drummond's death. for Helen
should not be left alone with SO mu b
trouble; she's too young, poor thing
Couid do anything for herr asked
Johnny, blushing scarlet
you might take her a few flowers: but
get the gardener to cut them for YOU.
Johnny dear. as he knows the ones that will
go OF soonest, and they are best cut first.
and don't like to see the conservatory look
too baren '0O'N
"What matter is the conseryatoryln an~
swered Johnny, abruptly; "but dye think
motherp ''
Poor Miss Drummond always seemed to
have plenty, dear, and Margaret MacNeil
Tells me she gave deal away among the
poor cotters when they had sickness
amongst them, though am sure l wonder
now sne dare go near, for fevers are so
catching; yet when Duncans children had
scarlet fever they say Miss Drummond used
to go aud take them beef tea and 1ellies.
and things Of that sort. though it mavn't
be true, for one hears so many stories that
aren't"
Johnny said nothing more during the rest
OF the drive home, but when they reached
the Lodge he proceeded at once to the con-
serVatory, armed with a pair of garden
scissors, and began to cut the choicest
blooms, to the CONSERVATION of the gar
dener, who was Scotch, and frugal with his
flowers.
"Eh!' Mr.. John, Mr.. joint" at last he
cried IN dismay, with uplifted hands, "Ye're
just cutten them a. to bits"
"You shut up" answered Johnny, re-
CARELESS OF his sufferings on seeing his ia
vorites so ruthlessiy treated; and the gar
dener dare not say anything further to the
young laird" but ii looks could have
stayed his hand, Johnny's posie for Helen
Drummond would not have been SO large
nor SO beautiful
be tied his flowers together with white
ribbon which he begged from his half
cousin, Miss MacNell, who was q spinster.
lean Of form, and somewhat harsh Of feat
ures, but who still had some womanly SYM
pathy in her chilled heart for the young
lover, for it was we'll known at the Lodge
where Johnny's heart was fixed.
Then Johnny carried his posey to Ard
leigh House, and had a somewhat length
ened interview with Elizabeth, though not
many words were spoken on his part, but
what he did say was to the point.
II want you to tell her, )" he said, after he
had given Elizabeth the flowers for Helen.
while bushes dyed his freckled face, that
if there is anything I can do for her-mind.
anything, you just send me word"
Elizabeth made her best curtsy, and
thanked him.
Anything about business, you know, or
money" continued Johnny, "don'b you
bother her with come to me, Elizabeth, and
I'll af1oP it--an6 fall bar Tir,1
sorry about her loss-swfully.
at was SO sudden, wept Elizabeth, wip-
ing her tears away with the end Of her
apron. IF we'd only had bit of warning
it would have been easier to bear. but the
poor dear mistress seemed just in her usual :;
and then to go in and find her gone"
"Awfulr' said Johnny, laconically.
81 don't know what's to become Of Miss
Helen, I'm sure. unless Lady Ennismore
takes herr
This speech of Elizabeth's seemed to have
a most serious effect on Johnny. He gasped;
he twisted himself about; but no words
came forth, though finally he did mutter
something which Elizabeth could not make
out.
"She's very nice lady. and was great
friend Of the dear mistress, but still she's
daughters of her own, aud so NAV not
Offer Miss Helen home" continued Eliza
beth.
Then Johnny spoke out like man.
Miss Helen needn't go far for home,n
he said, husklly; and having thus spoken his
mind seem relieved, for he added moment
later. you can tell her So"
eyed best tell her yersel Mr.. Campbell"
replied Elizabeth, discreetly; but johnny
repeated, "Yo on can tell her what I've said"
and q few minutes later left Ardleigh
House, and Elizabeth looked after him not
unkindly.
"She might do worse" she was thinking;
and then she carried the young laird's flow
ers up to Helen.
Mr.. Campbell brought them himself,
Miss Helen" she said "Gnd he bid me tell
you that if there was anything in the
world he could do for ye, We had only to
name it"
"He is very kind" answered Helen.
YEARLY; thank him for the flowers, Eliza
beth, was wishing for some for her,"
Then Elizabeth was forced to speak to
Helen of the saddest of all the sad things in
life. For surely the carrying away from
our midst of familiar presence is so. But
with a sudden cry OF anguish Helen stopped
her.
"Ohi don't. DON'T Elizabeth" she cried.
81 cannot listen-ask Mrs. Campbell ask
any one. but don't come to me-"
So Elizabeth was forced to act on her own
and sent the gardener up to
Ardleigh Lodge to ask the favor of visit
from young Mr.. Campbell regarding the
details of her late mistress burial. And
johnny came, we may be sure, in hot haste,
and brought advice and experience from
his mother and his half-cousin, Miss Mac
Neil. The spinster lady indeed came down
herself to confer with Elizabeth, and ex-
pressed wish to look on the placid feat
ures of the dead. So Helen was spared all
the drear arrangements, but the knowledge
that they were taking place; the sound Of
the strange footsteps on the etars gave her
&C ltest pain.
And when on the morning of Miss Drum
mond's funeral Lady Ennismore arrived,
HELEN fairly b. oke down, and fell sobbing in
bitter grief by the black-draped coffin.
Lady Ennismore was also deeply affected,
and shed many tears, thinking of the
burdened life that was gone.
why did you not write to me at once,
HelenT she asked of the weeping girl
81 was too miserable" answered Helen,
and Lady Ennismore stopped down and
kissed her tenderly, and raised her to her
feet.
"Hush, hush, my dear, - she said. "Think
how much it would pain her gentle heart to
know you were Ia such sorrow.n
And these two folio wed Margaret Drum.
mond to her quiet grave among the High
land hills. IL began TO snow as they stood
round the open earth, and the white fakes
fell on the white flowers that covered tae