The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-04


domination, but his mind worked RAPIDLY,
and the kaleidoscope oranges that followed
with every turn OF his thoughts placed the
sub1ect Of his contamination in some new
asp ct, until his mind grew confused, aud
ne Tell TO thinking whittier Winlfrsd and he
could Nv. and where the happy dream Of
love should be loved.
But the temptation passed as the breath
vanishes from the mirror of the highly pol
ished Steel the strength and the ulselhsh-
ness OF his love, aud the greatness Of his
nature constituted his danger for the tempta-
ton did not appeal to him, as it might have
appealed to man OF lower instincts, as
pointing to path whereby the IeaiZatiun
of his wishes could b. most swiftly reached.
True, he viewed the possibility of Winifred
pa SIG forever out Of his reach with dis
may, and, amid the complexities of his
thoughts, the vision OF a life passed
with her, for his constant COM
panlon grew perilouSly sweet
but he was honestly seeking the best means
of protecting her against the insult and
moleStations to whicn she was exposed by a
worthless husband. TO whom the law gave
paramount rights. He saw no way by which
she should be shielded from annoyance, I'M
less she were delivered over to MIN TO OF otect
by night and by day. He trembled with
excitement as he saw himself occupying thu
position that his imagination coniured up,
and when once his mind conceived the idea
that w nlfred interes and his own were
indentical, and that their joint interests
could be most served by breaking down all
trammels in the sacred name OK love, the
soul within him was shaken as with q
tempest
But if the thought Of Winifred's menaced
happiness gave to the temptation IT'S fierce
power, it was Winifred herself who came
to his rescue. The vision of the woman
whom he loved, dissolving the bonds that
united her to moral leper in order to
escape from the pollution into which she
found herself being dragged as the wife of
Sir Reginald Denison, and her lonely bat
tie with life, willingly encountered as a
regeneratlng fire 10 cleanse her from the
stains of union in which nothing pure
could live, rose before his mind and re-
buked him. How could he invite her who
had judged no cost too great to pay in
order TO escape from him g position IN
which every pure longing was frustrated to
tread path, every step Of which must be
attended to a sensitive soul like hers with
deepest misgivings aud earnest moral ques-
tionings.
In the state of mental confusion into
which the fierceness of temptation had
brought him he felt himself unable finely
to discriminate the right and the wrong in
volved in their mutual positions. He knew
that such unions as he contemplated had
existed before between men and women
whose moral ideas might shame the great
crowd OF their detractors, and excited no
more than a speeches. wonder from oil
except the more garrulous and more i'm
peachable section Of moralists; and he re-
called the names of men and vernon, some
Of them eminent in literature, whose unions
founded only on the immutaole
basis of the soul and entered
upon in defiance of the law of
the church and state, and in contempt of
the conventionalities of society, fulfilled the
highest ends OF marriage more nobly than
most Of toe alliances that the state took
)gnizance of or the church blessed and
society placed its hallmark upon. But he
drew back, appalled, at the risk of jeop lrd-
izing Wiuifred's happiness aad dlverting
her from following out her own IDEAS of life.
From that moment the temptation passed ,
and his mind turned to a new problem.
How was Winifred to be helped to recover
freedom she had enjoyed since she renowned
her husband?
The question bristled with difficulties,
but he faced it with courage, conscious of
new hope that sprang up within him.
Claude Maclean was not fatalist, nor was
he open to the influences of superstitious
feeling. But he felt that his love for Wini-
fred was the very life of his life-an indie
structible passion that had not been born
within him to be forever Knocked. He was
content to leave the future to decide how or
when his great love would meet with its
full reward and satisfaction, but he was
conscious for the first time OF a confidence
at some point of the journey that lay be-
fore him his life would be crowned with the
Joy Of companionshlp with his spirits mate,
and this confidence never subsequently for
sock him.
He was mentally planning deliverance
for Winifred from her present situation
when he heard the street door banged loud
ly, and he strode TO the window in time to see
Sir Reginald Denison pass, wearing his hat
pressed downward over his eyes. Claude's
b. cath came quickly rs he saw the dark
look OF venom Jus passion that convulsed
the handsome face. Clearly, II looks meant
anything they meant that Cir Reginald
though vanquished, was in no mood to put
up with his defeat. There was no time to
lose Claude felt that no must act.
He went to the studio, where he found
Winifred huddled on the couch, her face
covered with her hands, whilst she lay sob
bling as though her heart were breaking.
The tension of her long interview with Sir
Reginald. the dreary hopeleSsness Of her po-
sition, wife, d yet no wife, loving and
she loved by the fatal mistake of her life as
truly as though they were inhabiting differ
ent planets, had proved too much for Wini-
fred, and she bowed her head before the
storm.
"Winifred," said Claude, in a tone Of
mingled sorrow and pleading, speak to
me. You shall tell me nothing, now or
hereafter, but what you choose to tell.
Speak, and say what can do to help you"
Nothing, nothing. You cannot help
me; no one can" she walled forth, raising
her sad and weary eyes dedimmel with
tears TO Claude.
"Are you in any dangerp persisted
Claude. "Will he rsturnP
81 do not know waat to think" Winifred
replied "He has threatened to compel me to
return to him, and, though he has gone, /
am in terror what he will do isxt."
'Would you like to be placed beyond his
reach for little time, until you can form
your plans for the futureP'
"Oh, if could" cried Winifred, catching
at this hope.
leave 1t to me, and will manage every
thing returned Claude; land dry your
eyes, and will send marjorie to you"
Claude left the studio. and having ex-
planned to Marjorie his intention to take
Winifred to Glen Orloch by the evening
mail, to place her under tie care Of his
mother, Lady FalconIidge. he instructed
her to pack up whatever her mistress might
require, and serve her with some refresh
ments, preparatory to the journey Mar
iorie VINO was an old Glen-Orloch servant