The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-17
oW FIRST Punished
CHAPTER NX.


themselves about the only child Of an ex-
ceptionaly wealthy man. Sam Potter and
Tilda were the only people who could have
disputed HetheridRe's claim TO paternity,
and at this time Of day their story, bad
they chosen to tell it, would have carried
very little weight indeed. Like sensible
people they kept there own counsel, aud the
child grew up into womanhOod without in
the least suspecting that there was anything
unusual in her antecedents. She was afraid
of her father, who, in their rare interviews
with each other, was invariably cold and
gloomy, and she knew that be was not In
the least like the fathers Of other girls. no
had at least occasional caresses for their chill
dren and who really did seem to care little
TO have their homes sweetened and bright
ened by daughters presence. As she grew
older she was supplied with money IN an al
most absurd profusiJn. She was never sent
to school, but the Rev. Jordan Farrell was
instructed by his pa.ron to find the best
masters for her, aad sinca, in little place
like Welsted the best masters were not
procurable close at hand, the costliness of
Miss Hetheriiges education became COM
mon theme of gossip in the town.
With a thousand influences about her
which all tended more or less to spoil her,
she remained unspoiled, and grew up with a
singularly, free, buoyant, unaffected and
friendly nature. The Rev. Jordan Farrell
with an added pomposi'y of manner, did
1;otolC before her. His wife and the whole
household followed suit, aud the town mag
mates and tradesfolk treated her as if she
were a princess at the least. The Wey-
bridges, WAC were the native rulers OF the
place, and had been for more generations
than anybody not q Weybridge cared to
count received her on terms Of equality,
and were honestly fond of her; as, indeed,
was everybody who knew her. But the
girls one favorite was Mrs. Redwood,
who returned her affection Ill full measure,
pressed down and running over. The TWO
were like mother and daughter.
Whilst the daughter Of the bard-handed.
undistingulshed, ill-starred Bob Martin,
stricken down in the Australian wilds by
black fellows spear so long ago, grew in
graces and accomplishment, and began by
virtue of beauty and money to turn the
heads of half the gilded youth of the
county, young George Redwood was strid.
ing rapidly on toward manhood. The two
young people saw a great deal of each other,
and quarreled and made friends again in
quite brotherly and sisterly fashion until
Ellice was 10 and George II or whereabouts
Then they began to fight shy of each other,
and after Georges absences at school, and
later on at college, would meet with an
amazing cold dignity, the frost OF which
was only occasionally dispelled.
Ever since her recovery from the first
shock of her husbands tragic and mysteri-
Gus death, Mrs Redwood had devoted her,
self with such an entirety of sslf-sacrifce
as only good mothers know to the welfare
of her boy. With view to his education
and subsequent well'being she had saved
and managed and contrived for years, so
that by the time at which he was sent to
Cambridge she had quite nice little sum
laid by for him, and was in no dread OF the
expenses OF education. The value OF the
" orcestershire property had from various
causes considerably increased, so that now
she was in receipt of yearly income
amounting to very nearly e900 Georges
expenses not counted, she lived on about a
third of this, and the young fellow himself
though Of a generous and free-hi nded dis
position, had good sense in plenty, and
never caused her q moments uneasiness by
extravaganza.
He passed creditably il not brilliantly
through his college course, and came out at
the close of it with the degree of bachelor
of arts. His choice Of a profession had
been made long since. be was resolved to
become a civil engineer, and he had directed
the major part Of his studies TO that end.
His mother had received news of his success )
by letter, and George, once assured Of his
degree, had gone straight from Cambridge
70 London to arrange for term of study
with an eminent firm of engineers.
Mrs. Redwood sat alone in the early dusk
of the summer evening. expecting her sons
return. The French windows of tho room
were opened on the trim little lawn and the
sceu ted ar stole in softly. The time and
the place spoke peace, and her heart was in
unison vita them. The tragedy which had
shaken her life 80 many years ago was never
90 be forgotten. but time is merciful 20 the
suffering, and the flow of the hours and
days, and years had dulled the keen edge of
remembrance. The inscription of grief
was still engraven ON her heart, but it had
lost its old keenness of outline. Her own
maternal love had atoned for much and the
affection her son gave her 10 return for it
brought into her life tranquil content
ment for which she had never even dared to
hope in the earlier years of widowhood.
Sne sat musing in the quiet of the deepen.
ing twilight, with her sons last letter in her
hands. 1t tJld her that George had COM
pleted his arrangements in town, end was
coming to spend final month with her be-
fore entering on the serious business of his
lifetime TIE train was due in half ar
hour, and all the preparations for the recep
ton Of the most welcome and honored
guest the house could hold were completed.
u
pride in her boy, and in her thoughts Of hin
his father lived again.
MAY l come in3' said a pleasant voict
from the lawn, and the widow startel
from her reverie.
lis that you, Ellicel Yes dear come il
by all means. Let me ring for tbs lamp?
mo, DEAR said the newcomer, inter
cepting her when her hand was already Oh
the bell rope; don't ring. like this twi-
light. Sit down again and | will take of
my hat. have come up for good. Ions
satisfying talk
She kissed Mrs Redwood impetuouslv
drew her hack to the chair she Lad vacated
and pushing an ottoman to the side OF i
with the point of her foot, sat down anC
drew Mrs Redwood's arm about her neck
There, mamma" she said, that's coy
isn't itF'
The pretty young face looked rather
ghostly in the twilight, though it wore
very pleasant smile.
Eyes, DEAR Mrs Redwood answered
''it's very comfortable. And now what ar
we going to talk aoouta Let me open M,
budget Of news first. George has taken hi
degreeP'
81 know that" said the girl 81 saw
ia the newspapers. Mr.. Farrell showed
to me four days ago"
He is coming home tonight He'll b
here in half an hour
''Then," said Miss Hetheridge, with a.
affectaion Of discomfort. my talk j