The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-22

mau In the world who could have ennght-
ened him as TO the girls real parentage
| stood at his elbow, aud a word 10 him would
have dlspelled forever the cloud which
then, and for so long after ward. rested upon
| his spirit. But the word was not fated to
be spoken.
Potter. seeing how distressed he was kept
a sympathetic silence, and George occupied
| himself with his own thoughts. There was
no fight between duty and inclination in
his mind. His mother must, il possible, be
spared the knowledge of the loathsome
! fate to which he had been invited by the
! stricken villain, under whose roof he sat,
and it was obviously impossible TO denounce
the father of the girl he loved. That was
as impossible as any hope of union between
| them. Dom's speech. which had sounded so
crazy to his ears at the time Of his utter
ance was no more now than the sober ex-
/ preston OF a fact Loving her as be did,
| he would rather have put his hand into the
! fire than have asked her again to marry
him. He would rather have seen her with
own her hand in the fire than again have
| taken her to his arms. The fathers sin had
set up an insurmountable barrier. he knew
it beyond question. and the knowledge
| broke his heart.
| Hetheridge had been CARRIED into the
room overhead, and they could hear the
| footsteps Of the Doctor and the servant
who had placed herself at his command
huu COulQ bOulcJAh6S CdLCu q OL
| their voices In the space OF half an hour
the doctor descended aud entered the room
in which they awaited his verdict. George
asked his news at once.
The case is grave" the doctor answered.
Every grave"
"Will he recover"
THAT" returned the medical man, "is
impossible to say. l believe Mr.. Hether~
idge is quite alone in the world. There is no
one to appeal to-"
YES said George. "He has daughter,
who lives at Wellsted in Essex
She should be communicated with at
once"
II will see to that" George an
swered. Il will wire tonight to my mother,
who is her near neighbor, aud ask her to
break the news"
II gather" said the doctor, drawing on
his gloves, II gather from the man who
| came to call me that you were present at
the seizure. Was that 500 Can you tell me
anything of it's naturem
George was on his guard.
"a gust OF wind had blown open the
windows as entered the room. The lamp
was extinguished. Mr.. Hetheridge closed
the windows and relit the lamp. He was
at that time apparently we'll and self-pos-
| sessed, but at the moment at which be
! turned up the light, he fell forward on his
face"
"And nothing occurred to shock or startle
hims'
THAT" said George, 81 cannot tell you !"
1T was like this, matey," Sam inter
posed. "He turned the lamp up, he stared
at Master George here for half a second,
! and then he dropped like a pole-axed bul-
lock-
Excuse me-" said the doctor, ''but is it
possible that your appearance here could in
any way have startled or excited HING
THAT cannot tell. George responded.
George, in spite of his field attire, looked
like a gentleman from head to heel,
and the doctor cross-examiued him some
what reluctantly, but he felt it his duty to
his patient to know what he could about
the case.
You can tell me at least if the nature of
the business which brought you here could
in any way have been exciting to himG"
why, bless your SOUL" cried Potter,
"he'd no time to know what the business
was. He dropped as II he'd been shot,"
IA very slight predisposing cause will
sometimes act in these cases" said the doc
tor. You can tell me, l suppose if your
relations with MIR. Hetheridge were AMIGA
ble?"
II was engaged" George returned,
| speaking with an evident effort, though no.
body but himself could guess how much
| that effort cost him, Il was engaged, with
| his consent, to be married TO his daughter. "
II understand your distress, sir" said the
| doctor, little knowing how far his under
standing was from the fact. There had
| been no disagreement, no withdrawal of
consent, for instancep
None" George answered. I'VE had not
even met since was mere boy"
He was bound to hide the truth. He felt
he could be guilty Of no blacker crime than
TO reveal it.
1.-THE case" the doctor unused half to him
self. ''is very curious indeed. You will IN
dertake to communicate" he asked aloud,
with Miss Hetheridge, Mr.. -"
my name is Redwood" George re-
sponded, filing up the doctors pause.
"Gbank you.@
al will communicate with Miss Hether-
idge by wire tonight. pll do so through
my mother, who will break the news to her
gently"
at won't want much gentle breaking, ~
Sam declared. Hes never took the least
bit of interest in the child. He's found her
money in plenty, to be sure, but nothing
else. She'd have had million times the
love with me and 'Tilda."
Neither of his hearers was within meas.
urable distance OF the true reading of this
| speech.
George, though he thought he understood,
was as far away as the stranger.
"Well, =" said the doctor, 81 shall make il
| my business TO call in Sir William Keppell.
| Mr.. Hetheridge is a man Of great wealth,
and l suppose it is my duty to do my abso'
Lutte best for him."
"Most certainly" George answered, find,
| ing himself appealed to. Most assur-
| eddy"
Then will wire at once" said the doc
tor. The storm is over. may I show you
to the telegraphio Office, or perhaps you
know the way?"
mo" George responded, 81 am a stranger
here"
At this point a ser want entered and an
nounced the arrival of Mr. Jessamer.
'And who is Mr.. Jessamer~ asked the
doctor.
The gentleman IN question presented him.
self at the door.
II am Mr.. Hetheridge's managing clerk. y
he announced advancing into the room,
and looking with some surprise at its occu-
pants. II am here by appointment"
II am sorry to tell you" said the doctor,
that Mr.. Hetheridge is seriously and even
dangerously ill"
But not, trust, unable TO attend to bust
ness" cried Mr.. Jessamer.
Absolutely unable" returned the doctor.
"He is suffering from what is commonly
called paralytic stroke"
Great heaven" calculated Mr.. Jessa.
mer. "How suddenl How appalling! /
left him this afternoon in full possession of
his health and faculties. How long will il
be before he is in q position to be con-
sulted"
| at il impossible to saw at rresent ~ the