The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-24
BOB MARTINS LITTLE GIRL,
By DAVID CHRISTIE MURRAY.
Author of "osEPHs CoAI RACHEL" GOLD"
[AIL RIGHTs RESERVED,

arm. He led her up flight of stairs, into a
room where a couple of chsttering clerks
froze into instant silence at the sight OF
him, through another room where a grave
| sponsible-lookingm man sat at a knee table,
| heaped with papers, and into a third room,
| furnished with official luxury, where he
placed a seat for her.
He sat his hat upon the table and drew off
his gloves, thoughtfully pausing once, and
| once only, 20 stare across his shoulder with
that startled look which was already grow
ing familiar to Mrs. Redwood. Then he
moved to the door by which he had entered
and half opening it, addressed the response
! be-looking man in the next apartment.
You understand, Jessamerl l am on no
! account--on no account TO be disturbed I'M
til ring" He closed the door and turned
! Now, Mrs Redwood, | am altogether at
your disposal" He seated himself at
some little distance from her, and with a
natural tremor she began to unfold the purs
pose Of her visit
81 don't think you have seen much of
your daughter for some years past"
NO" he answered" l have not. You
mustn't think me altogether insensible, but
| have very little in common with a mere
child like her, and could do nothing but
cloud her life if 1 brought her closer to me.
| am gloomy man, Ellice. l have never
| had real purpose which has not been de-
| featei. While / have seemed to succeed
have made my bitterest failure, and the
things in which | have really succeeded are
the things l never cared for. Money" he
| cried, with a bitter abruptness, money 1!
| What is money? What is money to man
who broke the main spring OF his life so
| many years ago2 What is money to the
man who finds the one desire Of his life de.
MED hing
She Guessed at no hidden meaning in the
words.
81 am sorry you are not happy" she re-
turned.
Happy he interjected in a tone so
anguished and despairing that it half
frightened her. "Go on" he added Take
no notice OF my whims and moods. Tell
me what l can do for you"
"Your daughter" she proceeded, lis
growing into a woman. She is a dear,
good girl, John. No one in the world
knows her 80 well, or half so well, as l do,
and love her as If she were my own.n
"Yes, yes, " he answered, half impatiently.
"She writes me So Halt her letters are in
praise of you. Can l guess, wonder, what
you are going to tell me"
"She and George" pursued the widow,
have been brought up together from the
time when she was years of age. They
have been like brother and sister. Perhaps
ought 20 have kept them more apart
"No." he said, II hoped this, and more
than half expected it,"
"You hoped for it, John,n she cried, ris-
ing and moving a single step towards him.
You know that they have learned to love
each other"
~ guessed they would" he answered,
"and l hoped they would
George should not have spoken, per-
haps," she hurried on, without waiting for
your permission, in fact, / know that he
should not. But he is very young and ar
dent and if he acted indiscreetly he meant
no wrong. ! am sure he will try to make
her happy. have spoken to both of them
and they love each other dearly"
He sat before her with bent head. and
with his hands olasped together between his
knees.
"Who guarantees my happiness" he
cried, sardonically, and then suddenly ris-
ing he confronted her. "Do you remember.
Elice how many years Jacob worked and
waited for Laban's daughter. Fourteen,
was 1t? I've more than doubled that. /
shall be so in nine months from now. and
I've loved you all my life. Do you care
about that boy OF poursP She made no an
swer but stood half frightened at the under
lying vehemence of his manner. He was
quiet enough on the outside, but his ewes
b!azei and his hands shook with suppressed
excitement. "Come now, you care about
him. He's like the apple OF your eye TO
you.h
II love him better than my life" she an
swered.
And you wish his happlnessi"
with all my heart"
"And you think his only way to be happy
lies in this match?'
II know his heart is set upon itn
Very WELL" he said, you shall have
your way on one condition. Consider me a
little, Ellice. l have waited all my life.
You have been free again this sixteen
years. l haven't pestered you with be-
seedlings. | have only written now and
again to ask if you could find no relentinR
for me. No woman ever had a truer ser.
want. No man ever waited more patiently
No man ever waited longer or suffered
more. You don't guess what I've suffered,
or what l shall suffer till the day die"
Save for that underlying vehemence
which made his speech almost terrible to
her, his manner was calm and self-con-
trolled. The words sounded exaggerated
and even wild. But after all they might be
true, and even a half belief in their truth
made the mans case seem pitiful
Think what you ask me for, !" she urged
him. What heart have l to offer any
body We are both getting old, John"
"Well," he answered, Il put no con-
straint upon you. l have wondered if
this day would come, and have hoped for it
this half-dozen years. 1t gives me the only
hold l ever had upon you. Say yes to me,
EIlCe, ana give my consent. Say no, and
| withhold it. Don't speak yet. Don't try
to answer me at all to-day. Go home and
think about it, If you consent, everything
shall go to the boy and girl when am gone.
If not, shall found a hospital"
| She had resumed her seat and sat there
| pale and trembling
Let me give you a glass of wine," he
said, land then | will lead YOU to the car
riage. 1t is at your disposal for the day"
Scarcely knowing what she did she slipped
the wine he proffered her and rose TO 90.
"You will let me have an answer in a
! week." he inquired.
"Yes," she answered, ~ will write within
! a week.
| He escorted her into the street, placed her
in the carriage, and gave the coacnmau in
structons to obey her orders. She drove
straight to the railway station, and there
having dismissed the coachman dispatched
a telegraphic message to her son:
| He accepts"
In those two words she expressed her own
| sacrifice.
CHAPTER XXI.
All through the time of waiting for the
train, and during the three hours occupied
| by the journey, Mrs. Redwoods mind was
was filled by resolute pretense that she
did not regret the decision so hastily ar