The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-14

But there was no need for words The
communion of their souls was enough.
AS if making a desperate effort TO get
back to the old relationship, to dispel the
web which seemed to be claiming TO him
this child, drawing her already shadowed
life into the darker gloom of his own, when
he did speak it was to discuss the ordinary
topics which lay nearest at hand.
'How Is it, he said hastily, almost
sternly, that l find you in such danger,
out on such a night aud alonep
The answer was simple enough. The
girls nurse had gone out and for once for
gotten to lock the door. Her charge had
guessed so much by missing the accustomed
click of the key turning, and had seized the
opportunity to be free, not daring to await
for the arrival Of her friend, but trusting to
providence to meet him and to his further
ing her plan of escape.
She was aware, or thought she was, Of
the dangers which beset her, but she would
not let them turn her from course on
which her heart was 30 dearly set.
why did you run awayp asked Leo, let
ting go the hand he held, and speaking as
cOldly as he could
81 could not stay there any longer with
that woman, when knew might be free. I"
But you said she was kind, and cared
for you" he replied wonderingly
All! it was not that" answered the girl,
meant to be good, she was good. l owe
her much, but the place seemed like prison,
she like gaoler, aud | q prisoner, when all
my hope, all my happiness, is to seek my
father. Ah! but how can find him now2
Bound hand and foot, how can l hope to
find him? Ali it is terrible indeed to be in
this awful night which never ends and
never hope Of daylight. or Of seeing
kindly face. Darkness, darkness all around.
But it Is worse, far worse to know my
fathers love Is LOST to me forever, when |
have lOnged and prayed for it 50 long"
Poor child! Poor childm said Leo,
brokenly, but do not despair! There is no
hope for me. for l am wicked, but you are
SO good, SO like al angel, that there must be
for you"
''Ah, mol there is none. know, feel it,
All think of it. ! have longed to be free,
on sc greatly, that / might search, and
now that | am free-what can l do! AL
ready as have felt my way along, hun
dreds and hundreds Of people have passed
me. II l stood by the wayside day af er
day, thousands would do the same, and who
knows but that my father might be one of
them, aud not tell. He may be close be-
side me, pity even my helplessness, look
into my face, perhaps speak to me, and [
not know it; and be 20 on his way, think
ing his child in safety, when she needs him
so much. All to thIuk of 1t nearly drives
me madl 1t seems as If indeed my heart
will break. Pity me, help mel You are
strong, you are rich, nelp me to find my
father, help me for the love Of heaven"
Scarcely realizing the other love which
had sprung up IL her soul, the poor, stricken
| child chung yet tue more to that which she
knew within her, the agony and beseeching
In her face and tone enough to have touched
a heart of stone And that of her lover
was OF no such cold composition, but hot
and bursting with love.
"Nelhe-your name you say, is Nellie.
and | may call you sol will help you, and
do anything you ask me-" he cried, his
! voice clear and ringing with emotion,
while in both Of his be caught the hand he
had let fall, only to reliuQuish it again as
he realized how vain was his Offering.
| What was his power nowl
"Ah, forgive me,n be said, turning his
| eyes away, that he might not see fade from
her face the LOOK Of great joy which his
words had called up, forgive me- / am
| forgetting what it is you need, what am.
am neither strong nor rich, but weak in
every sort of power to do good and poor g,
ah, more poor oven than you, worse a
thousand times than the most wretched beg.
| gar"
IA begRar You my friend, whom l
! have imagined so far above me, ;" repeated
the girl, clasping her hands to her breast
but speaking in tone of very little dis
may.
| There was a silence again, in which Leo
| his confession made, was trying Co be strong
| to flee away from a temptation which he
[ felt would be the greatest siu of all IL he
! allowed 1t to master him. A moment more
and he might have conquered, but ere that
could be, little white hand had crept out
and rested upon his arm, while the sweet
| pale face, with its blind eyes and frame of
| golden hair, was lifted to his with a sweeter
pleading than any before.
els it unkind9 But am almost glad it
is so-thst you are as you say, not power
| full and rich, for now indeed you seem as If
| you are my friend
The other love had gained the stronger
| hand now, now that the barrier of worldly
| position was broken down, though that for
the unknown father would never be any less
| than it had ever been.
Even then Leo, in his self-accusing mood,
might have torn himself away from such a
| pleader to his heart, but that in a moment
| or 80 the strange sweet glsdness which the
thought of equality had made to shine 10
! the fair face was dimmed by cloud which
came without his bringing.
My friend" repeated the pale lips
| lingeringly, as if dearer name was in Der
! heart. My friend, in all cave one thing
my blindness, the darkness which keeps me
a prisoner for ever"
Blind and prisoner !" repeated Leo in
his turn, deeply moved, and clinging yet
more tiercely to his resolution, because he
| felt how fast is was slipping away from him.
| "Ah, Nellie, even in that there is a tie be.
tween US, tie which Is yet barrier to
! part us. l have my eyes, but over my life
| is greater darkness than even over yours
| l see the light, the flowers, the sunshine, all
the things you love TO see, but they are
nothing to me, nothing, because of the bur-
den of my soul, the poisonous weeds, the
night which no sunshine can chase away.
| All is night for you-for me the darkest
midnight which ever hung over the earth
could not hide or drive away the shadows
which crowd closer and closer every mo-
ment round me. Equal with mel Don't
dream Of it, my child 1t would be
sacrilegel A kindly word, a
few Door flowers, have earned your
| your gratitude"-the other word had al
most escaped him. would you value them,
nay, would you not shrink from me In fear,
in horror, if your eyes were indeed opened,
aud you saw and knew me as L ana Would
| not your innocence read at once the guilt of
BIZ, but mol" And with something like
a moan of terror he caught back his words
again. You must not, shall not know the
secret of my life. You at least shall believe
me good and noble"
II will | will" she said, tightening her
hold upon his arm, as IL TO make double the
! assurance.
| UVas h,r onIv in rar,ap,hrapca u he said