The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-02
CHAPTER XVIL-Cov1ISUED.
a HARD BATTLE.


Then again, and this fact weighed most
Of all with the despai.ing 20 ing lover, Leo
in his will 10 do all for the best, great as
the blow was to Nellie to believe herself de-
eeived, would it not I've even worse for her
TO know that If she suffered so did he. tha
pain thus doublel
1t seemed SO, that by adding this last
straw 70 the already heavy burden Of his
sacrifice the thought of how terribly he
would fall from lis place in her heart IN
seeming false, he could SPARE her at least
one psng which, led away oy viii 60 save
her wheu pyor and trendlss3, he had un-
gittingly laid in store for her.
So to her cry he made no answer, only
when bereft of all sense she fell prone at his
feet ne lifted her up gently, and pressing
one kiss as a last good-ny on her forehead,
prayed God to forgive him that he had
brought about this new and great evil, and
to give him strength to be true to the part
he had taken upon himself.
Such strength was indeed necessary, when
hearing nsr c1y the blind girls nurse came
and bore her away from him-forever.
Realizing then the greatness OF his sacri-
fee, the fierCeness of the battle he had
fought, tue lai felt like one from whose
heart ali power of good has gone out, and
became pray to torrent Of grief and
self-reprosch, which for a while almost
drove him beyond himself.
Twice-thrIce-he spTaDg I'D from his
cTouchiag posture on the couch where be
had flung himself when they had borne her
away, unable even to obey the impulses
which babe him rush out OF the house
awav away, anywhere, where he could
hide from her aud forget her, or try TO steel
himself TO endure this new burden bravely
Twice-thrice he had almost cried out TO
those who had taken her from him TO
bring Der back, never to try to part them
any more.
BUT each time he rejected the impulse
with horror, obedience to it even a new sin,
and SO the fight went on within him.
Each victory over himself did not how
ever, make tue issue more certain on the
side of good, for with each effort his physl-
cal strength failed him more and more.
and he knew full well how often bodily
weakness Will aid in accomplishing what
the mind has hitherto rejected In all Sill
certify.
In this mood, so exactly calculated TO in-
sure the success Of his scheme, were 1t all
possible, the Rat went to him.
There was even in that going proof OF
his love for his child, making him utterly
fearless of danger. For, as has been said,
the Rat never even when alone, for fear of
any uncalculatsd surprise, LAID aside his as
sumed deformities, unless, indeed, as in the
trick with the safe, he laid aside the char
Acter Of the baronet altogether.
ception almost upon entering the room.
Leo was fortunately lying with his face
from the door, and so his visitor was able |
TO lock it securely. 1t was now about IL |
o'clock and the shutters was closely barred |
That the likeness between the dead and |
the living man was very great was evident |
from the new look of terror which flashed |
into Leo's face as he turned his head and saw |
his visitor.
For momsnt a similar terror as before |
seemed as II 1t would seize him, then the |
strange unliksness, which his eyes, which |
knew 80 well every trait OF the face OF the |
man who was dead naturally above all, the |
fact that below that face was body as per-
feet, and limbs as straight as his own the
Rat had taken care even to compress his
hump, by the same means as when playing
his game Of transformation convinced him
that his imagination was somehow at fault.
But the resemblance even was enough to
give the Rat at once great hold upon him,
which his utter WEAKNESS Of body and heart
certainly did not lessen.
No need to detail what occurred. The In
terview must have been as strange a one as
ever passed within four walls, a great strug-
gle between two wills, for Leo, weak as he
was, fought resolutely both against being
party TO q new, though harmless secret,
above all against receiving Nellie as his
wife, even at the hands OF her father.
More than once the ruin OF the whole
scheme seemed imminent, but the Rat had
not reokoned in vain upon the strength of
the weapons he had taken up, and one by
one Leos objections were broken down,
and his first astonished but firm refusal
modulated at last into desire for time to
consider
The Rat was obliged to be contented with
such a half victory, and spent a night of
terrible agitation, dreading what the NOR
row might bring forth. Bnt when it came
he lie taA
shown in the coup by which on going into
Leo's room to gain his decision, he took
with him his greatest plea OF all-little Nell.
Before he had slept he had gone to her
and comforted her with the assurance that
her lover was not false, and did indeed love
her, so that as she appeared before Leo it
was with every charm to add the strongest
and most powerful aid to her fathers en-
treaties Of the night before.
After that interview, fatigued, tired to
death, young Leo had not had strength iu-
deed to think at all. He had stumbled into
the room appointed for him, stretched him.
self on the bed, and fallen asleep in an in
slant.
And when he woke there was no time for
consideration. There he was, in hand
somely furnished room, taste and luxury o
every side, contrasting with his late hiding
place; there, through the open window,
came the sounds of busy life below a stream
OF golden sunshine, and the sweet smell of
flowers; there, above all, was mis- little love.
not gone from him forever, as he had
dreamed, but standing once more with
outstretched hands, asking, LEO won't you
love me litteF'
Who could have refused such an entreatv.
least Of all, With heart that loved not a
little, but to the very uttermost7 That
heart had fought and struggled bravely-
there was no shame in the surrender ut last
For surrender it was.
Leo could not hold back his arms this
time, nor yet the words of love upon mis-
lips. he old not try. lie took hls little
love, who loved him so even t. the Offering
OF her love with maldenly bushes to him,
TO his breast aud vowed vow which she
knew be would not break, never to forego
his love or part from her, as long as he
lived.
nat mattered it then that before his
eyes 70 up again the dead man come TO
NE, ana that with his love he must accept
the no ror Of having that living monument
OF the horrible secret in has life that had so
nearly divided them ever before himI What
matterei II that he had 80 terri lie a secret
SHARED 80 great deception, bound himself
70 Keep from her the double knowledge
aye, What mat,ered all the world beside
that Nellie was his and he hers!
Nueght! Naughtl
The father had received this answer to
Question