The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26

NJ
denser In some places than in others, and
that the gate gave a solitary click when the
denser shadow seemed TO drop from it.
| Sam moved forward with the utmost eau
ton, and then, creeping step by step across
the road, he peered into the garden, an d
there for an instant made out quite clearly
the outline OF a mans head and shoulders.
silhouetted against the sky.
a. this he wormed himself over the gate
| with secrecy equaling that Of the suSpi-
cious stranger who had preceded him, but
his foot, heavily shod grated on the harsh
gravel Of the drive He saw the head and
| shoulders turn and then the man was lost
Come )" said Sam in a low tone, anxious
not to disturb the inmates Of the house,
Lets have look at YOU
The stranger made no reply to this invi-
tation, but slight rustic betrayed the fnct
that he had taken refuge behind a clump Of
bushes on the lawn. Sam dashed forward
but only to trip himself on the handle of a
| garden roller and to measure his length
pom the turf. Before he had fairly reoov-
cred himself he heard stealthy footsteps on
the drive behind him, then OF a man hastily
climbing the gate, aud next light footsteps
on the road. He CROPPED his way back to
tho path and ran. He could hear the foot
steps still before him when he had scaled
the gate, but they were 100 yards away by
J this time. and though he set out staunchly
in pursuit, he had little hope Of overtaking
him.. He ran himself to a standstlll in the
| first half-mile, for tn was a form Of exer-
else TO which he had not been accustomed
for many years, and when he paused to
listen, except for his own laboring breath
| aud wildly beating heart the night seemed
dumb Even when his pulses ceased their
riot and he could once more hold his breath
| to listen, not sound broke the absolute
| stiffness Of the night. He retraced his steps,
hopping his forehead as he went and exer-
cising his imagination vainly to find rea-
son for these nightly visits. On two pre-
vious occasions he had suspected the pres
ence Of an intruder, and that nights advent
ure had confirmed his doubts.
His way led him past the house OF Mons.
| Dom, and seeing light in his window, he
| must needs enter and relate his news. The
| little Frenchman received HIM cordially,
and listened with great interest to his mar
! rative,
~ am going to be on the lookout to-mor-
row." he concluded, and Pn startle that
| chap if find him there. you bet. shant
| give him a chance to put his maulers up.
shall land him oner on the nut, like that
old Hetheridge did me-"
| perhaps. my good friend" returned
| Dom, you had better not Perhaps, my
| good Potter, you had best find out who 1t is
| first"
Whats that got to do with mel" Sam
rotor ted. Whoever he is, he's got no right
there providing round at night time"
II am not SO sure that he may not have"
| Dom ans wered.
II can't make you out at all, said Potter,
staring 10 answer to the old mans melan-
| choly smile. There were tears in Dom's
| light eyes.
my friend" he said. laying hand upon
I the others arm. Il am au old bachelor
and when l was very young | was a young
bachelor with love affair. 1t never came
| to anything, and that is why l am some
times sentimental. To marry is to bury
sentiment, my good friend. To remain
single is to be able to understand 1t in old
| age"
do you mean to sayF' cried Sam. He
failed to achieve his sentence and sat with
rounded eyes and open mouth.
Yes Dom answered, nodding his head
| emphatically. II mean TO say that 1t Is
very likely"
| The emphatic nod caused the tears that
stood in his bright eyes to brim over. and
| one glittering drop ran down either russell
| pippin cheek and lost itself in the corner of
| his great gray mustache.
Then. why the -" Sam began.
"Exactly, exactly. exactly" Dom inter-
| rupted Why the - 1t is q very seusi-
BILE question. will tell you why the -
| my excellent Potter. The poor young
man." he lowered his voice almost to a
| WhisPCtN bhO pun JOuhk AboA 1OfCc hSA
| with all his heart and soul. But-you shall
not ask me why-there is gulf between
| him and the girl. She is whitening like a
cut flower, ard ne is breaking his heart, but
they can never come together"
But why not. in the name of wonderF'
| Sam demanded.
An" said Dom, "that is what l must
not tell you. That is what cannot tell
| you. The daughter of John Hetheridge
and the son of George Redwood can never
marry. Can never be anything to each
other. You must not ask me more. l had
| no right to tell you this, but you are a good
fellow, my good Potter, and you will say
nothing about it. Promise me thisl"
"Wait Bit" said Sam. A mere reflex
| Of the old vecuous air of years ago was
back upon him. "Just tell me this: Is it
being George Redwood's son--"
And her John Hetheridge's daughter,
Dom Interrupted, still speaking in whisper,
Eyes, that is it."
And is that all there is betwixt 'emF
| Sam demanded, rising. why, can see
that right, She's no more Hetheridge's child
than am. She's my old mate, Bob Martins
little gell. she is. Why. God bless your SOU
alive. I've had her on my knees, and fed her
with her feeding bottle afore she was weeks
| old. I've carried her hundreds and hun
| dreds Of miles before she could walk. So ha,
'Tilda. Used to wheel her about in per.
| dU1DulhUOr. ", L Know VINO 6n6 Is TlRQl
enough. Poor Bob Martin. He was speared
in his own house by black fellow. Heth.
eridge found the kid and took her away
with him. The only bit o. good he ever
done in his life 80 far as / can learn"
Dom had risen to face him, aud as Sam
roared all this in that great voice of his, the
little Frenchman held the table TO prevent
himself from falling.
Can you bring any proof OF thisi' be
asked
Proof" Sam shouted. ''My word,
can. There's 'Tilda knows it. 1 know it.
There's the Rev Jordan Farrell knows it.
Both me and 'Tilda told him eighteen years
ago"
But why did you keep silent all this
timer
'Tt was like this" Sam answered, 81
should never have had much for her,
though was her natural guardian. mind
you. Bob Martha bein' my mate. and him
aud me havin' stuck together, man and
boy, for fifteen years-and Hetheridge was
rich. We thought she'd have his money
and We put our heads together. 'Tilda and
me, and the Rev. Jordan Farrell, and we
agreed to hold our jaw, the three of US
Hetheridge knew as knew, all along, and
he knew as 'Tilda knew"
Potter, who was more excited than be
was quite aware Of. though he was far from
guessing in what way his disclosure bore
upon his favorite's happiness, was brought
to an abrupt conclusion In the noisy torrent
sNF hta 49, - Il. - IL