The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-09
CHAPTER XIV.
POLLY CHANGES HER MIND.

| r.
is very doubtful as to coming being the doc
tors vocation, he would not as yet say posi-
lively that it was not so, but he certainly
did not much believe that he was engaged
in that AS for the lady Of the roses, she
seemed at present to almost live upon the
railway between Manchester aud London.
She was more capricioIs as to the color OF
the roses in her bonnet than ever, but she
was still constant to that mode of decora~
| ton. So faithful was she to her walks i'll
the direction of the doctors house that they
soon attracted the attention or Miss
Phybbs She recognized the lady in an in
slant, and noticed the perpetual change of
color in the rose in her head-gear, nearly as
quickly as the detective had done. As for
Cons. able Tarrant unless he had seen the
lady come out of the side door it would
never have occurred TO him that it was odd
her walking so continually in that direc-
ton. In short, Police Constable Tarrant
was by this heartily sick OF the whole
thing and would long since have given up
keeping his eye on the doctor but for the
commands Of his superiors There was very
little perseverance about Richard Tarrant,
and advantage must accrue speedily to in
duce him to stick to any pursuit. At present
his watch was OF a very perfunctory nature
and so far had only been rewarded bv his
seeing some two or three men go In and out
Of the side door, about whose status it
would have been rather difficult to decide
! The doctor indeed had fairly baffled his in
quisitois and though weeks. even months
had elapsed since Tarrant first decided that
an eye must be kept upon him, he and
! Phyb bs had learnt but very little
Sergt. Evans, albeit skilled detective,
had learnt little more, and though still pur-
suing the inquiry, was doing 1t now with
! no expectation OF discovering crime, but
more because the calculation of the problem
piqued him. To the sergeant a mystery he
G uid not penetrate had all the fascination
That stiff double acrostic has for some
people.
One morning about the end of September,
when Miss Snerdon came down to break
fast, sue was surprised to notice signs of
agitation in her usually calm, self-possessed
young hostess, which she at once concluded
| were caused by news from the Crimea. She
timidly centured to express as much, for
| Frances lived in dread that all this stern
repression must end in a frightful burst of
feeling whenever the cruel news did come.
OF Hugh Flenings fate there were no
tidings No letter came from Byng; the
papers regretted ever and anon than no in
telligence had come to hand regarding the
missing officer, and spoke In a hopeless
fashion of his ever being heard of again
! alive.
Miss Smerdon herself had little doubt
that if ever Hugh Fleming was discovered
1T would be amongst the ruins and debris of
the captured town, and, alas probably only
to be recognized by his uniform. However
Miss Lynden assured her that it was moth
ing Of the kind still there was a slight en-
barrassment perceptible in Nell's manner
which caused Frances to wonder what had
disturbed her equanimity. DR.. Lynden,
not an unusual thing with him, was absent
at breakfast. Although Miss Lynden said,
II hope you won't think me very rude and
, inhosptable, Frances, il | ask you to &c
home at very short notice. The truth is,
my father has just received news thai
obiiges him to leave this at once, aud he
wishes to take me with HIM"
Frances was not little surprised, but al
once replied:
"Of course | will, I'll 90 to-day If l can
pvspaid you an unoons 'ionable visit, it has
been very good of you indeed to bear with
me for the last three months"
mo, no, 1t isn't that" said Miss Lynden.
~ don't want you to go to-day, and above
all | must ask you to say nothing about
your going till tomorrow morning. You
got no letters to-day remember, to morrow
| will take care you receive one. 1t will bC
o ycur excuse for SO suddenly returning
! home. am awfully sorry, Frances, and
, know am seeming very unkind, but
a can't help it, Papa says we must go, aud
know no more about It.
Not another word. Nell. I'm sorry Il
/ leave, very sorry, to leave you in your sor
I y
r You say but little. still, can see how yol
suffer, one don't speak of such things. YoI
know my secret, well, never said anything
l more to YOU about it, aud am not going {
- now. All is over betwean US, but thank God
he is safe All, if We could only near tn
same of Hugh Fleming"
D Miss Lynden's stoical composure somewha
0 gave way and 1t was in unsteady tones tina
t she replied
!. I'VE must both wait and hope, Frances
for | have firm conviction that your low
/ affair will all come right in the end"
Il Miss Smerdon shook her head, though
t thrill of exultation shot through her breas
d at the suggestion.
LAS for mo-" continued the girl, 81 mus
r, still hope. though Judging from what So
: here, and she pointed TO the paper, II an
q hoping against hope"
L l. was rather melancholy day that last
It 1t was not likely that conversation between
a theswo friends could be anything but of thu
- most sombre description. Each felt that il
leaving Manchester they were cutting them
n selves Off from all direct intelligence from
q the Crimea, and would have TO depend TO
% their news on the daily papers. Miss Lyn
y den. 1t is true. might write to Maj. Byng
r but she had now no address to give him
1 When she inquired of her father as to wher
r letters were to be forwarded TO them he re-
); plled sharply:
4 I'VE shall have no address for the present
i on have not very many correspondents
9 and you had better let them know that sucl
g is the case. Anything that arrives her
n will have 70 remain till our return, which i
% q very indefinite period l shall be busy al
g day in he labratory; remem er we start to
d morrow morning early"
7 Although the two girls strictly conformet
TO the doctors injunctions and made no al
n fusion TO their approaching departure be-
a fore Phyllis, Yet they naturally commenced
;, Preparations for their different journeys i
- was not u be supposed that these escaped
the observation of the lynx-eyed Polly, whC
was sorely exercised in her mind as to what
/ 1t beloved her to do upon this occasion
Y They're all going away without saying
& word TO any one, she felt quite certain DicA
i would look on as suspicious, She could not
j but admit it was. herself, she did not believe
B. that the doctor was engaged in coming, OF
e in any nefsrlous transactions but then the
% police did, or else why hal they told Dick tc
z keep an eve upon him. And Constable Tar.
T rant had taken care, with a good deal OF
. sTagger aud conceit to inform her that that
o was the case. he forgot to mention that
2 / with Wow Of showIug his OWE intelligence