The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-16
IcorYAleHT, 1892, BY TILLorsoN & soS.I

| gu KNOW lneg' interrupted Leo, before
| there was time for the utterance OF MS real
name TO be completed, and speaking IN a
! voice OF new agitation, adding in a hurried
whisper which only imperfectly reached
Nelhe's ears. "WhOever you are, be silent,
| for heavens sake, or at least call me For
/ roster" "He does no5 know me. He has
! forgotten that day at the station. How
careless OF me to 50 nearly betray myself
! FORESTER He gives himself different
name then. All, and he is one of those
whom Ralph fears, on whom l was TO play
the spy. And this must be the girl Why,
it's sho to whom l gave Mr. Ferret's money
I the day came to London. Aud she is
blind now, poor child. she has forgotten
me. This makes Ralph's duty even more
terrible"
Yes. it was Madge, poorly clad, evidently
sorely broken in health-for the erect grace
ful carriage had given place to nervous.
slow step aud dropping Of the well-shaped
head-and yet, despite the almost CHASTITY
pailor OF the features, the quenchiug of the
bright, brave light which once shone in the
eyes, the dark circles beneath, the lines of
pain about the finely curved mouth, beauti-
ful still, the beauty which neither mental
nor physical pain could entirely destroy.
The reason why she had delayed so long
| obsying her husbands orders to keep him
informed of the doings of his late partner
after the final split between them will be
| seen PRESENTLY. That she now made any eff
| fort in such service was not a sign that
| after the last and most terrible ordeal Of sill,
to which her husband had submitted her
the full knowledge OF his villainy-she had
| at last fallen from the nights to which she
had hitherto chung so firmly, and to which
| she had hoped to raise him by patience and
| perseverance,. On the contrary, now that
| she knew the worst, horrible az the kuOwl-
| edge WAS to her, Madge buoyed herself up
" lxy aV,H
Only once had her courage failed her. IL
was when she suffered a new and most
| poignant Rrief-this time not through her
| husband. Then indeed, she had felt as If
the attic was too fierce for her 20 go on
! with-her burden too great for her TO bear
any longer. But her grief was too sincere
| not to bring frs own comfort later, and
after much sorro wing she had become once
! more calm and resigned, and, if possible.
| more set In her purpose OF retaining her
| husband to herself than ever. To this end
| she had determined still IN no way to op-
| pose bis will, short of anything against
! which her conscience rehelled. Thus, as he
| had told her, II was for his safety that she
| should let him have word of Sir Lawrence
| HuutnEfdrd, bis dau Ehter, and young For
Fester Qu no way did his betray the Rats de-
ceptloI CT his true connection with Leo,) as
soon as her strength would permit, she had
come to the Hall, as seen, TO make what iu-
Qulcies she could. She felt as we'll that, did
Ralph mean to turn to evil account the
fac she communicated, she should be bet
ter able 10 warn any one who might, per-
hlps, be his Intended victim. She was sur
priGed to recognize Leo, to whom, IL will be
RENE inferred, che had been introduced bv
ROYAL upon the day of her flight from
home, at London Bridge station, and still
more at his change of name. This intro
duction Leo had forgotten, or at any rate
failed " recognize, in the evidently poor,
elckly woman before him, the handsome
well-dressed girl he had then seen, a fact,
however, Of little consequences either way
since Royal had taken care to introduce her
by her Christian name only, and give her
no chance to advise him Leo of their future
| relations.
During their short interview Nellie had
made step forward, repeating her question
! with not a little surprise and wonder
"Who is it, Leon Then, as occupied
with trying to recall where ne had seer
this woman, and in what way she could
possibly have obtained the clew to his idea.
tity, which the Rat had assured him was
quite safe, her lover made no answer, she
went on half fearfully, "lf any one else i,
here will you tell me what is amissN
DO not be alarmed" replied Ma lge,
! hastily. THE gentleman think have lao
right here, and 1t is true. But am poor
and came t. ask If there is any one here IL
this big house who will help me TO earn &
little money. | can do needlewCrk we'll, and
l thought that perhaps might get some, il
only from tie servants"
So did this proud girl humble herself for
her husbands sake. The excuse at least q
true one, for Royal In revenge for what he
supposed her willful disobedience to mis- or
derS, had not augmented the small supply
OF money he had left with her when be
went away, and though MadKe cared little
| enough how she EnAW she live md
had chosen this way TO accomplish her
double object.
She waltei moment for Nellie's reply
but this little blind girl was Ike Leo now,
searching her memory TO find out where
before she had heard the singulurly musical
voice which was speaking to her
II FEAR am intrudlng," went on Madge
with touch OF quiet dignity that con-
trasted strangely with her words of the mo-
ment before, II thought this gate would
take me TO the servants entrance, l will &c
away again"
But calling herself from her wonder, Mel
lies tender heart made her say hastily, put.
ting out her hand, "No, no, don't 40 please
You are not lntruding at all. This IS not &
house from which any one who is poor anC
in trouble as you seem to be, is sent awav
empty handed Win you tell me who you
are. lam blind, and cannot see you"
Sweet, If snd, was the smile with which
the rich little lady made her offer Of
bounty.
Mad e shrank from this first question
because she kaew she dare II answer 4
truly.
While she hesitated, Leo laid his haur
upon Nellie's arm, saying hastily: "Nell
dear, think | will go into the house for t
little while.n
What! leave me again so soon?' she
asked, turning toward HIM. II thought
you had finished all the letters, at least fol
this afternoon. Nay do stay and help me
to aid this poor girl, you know l am slmos
helpless myself"
AT any other time Leo would have re.
sponded gladly to such an appeal, but now
he rejected it hastily though still gently
not wishing TO brighten her atresh
You will do best alone, dear. She will
tell you her tale better, II am not here.
Will come back soon, only let me 60 now. y
For as il, half divining something was
really smiss. she would have chung to him
and tried still further to make him stay.
| But at his tone which, despite his at
tempt TO make IL natural, BETRAYED his great
| desire TO do as he had said, she set him free
saying quickly in way which plainly told
that she did so unwillingly, LAS you wish
! Leo; as you think best"
Without another word, but with a look
at Madge entreating silence the young man
crossed the lawn toward the library. once
more prey to a violent inward tumult.
This time 1t was OF two-fold nature the
horror of hearing of his fathers coming so
soon-Derhaps that night would take place