The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-04

her arms anew round his neck and pressing
her face TO his, for, father, there is another
Secret In my life-but not q sad one. When
/ / was a prisoner, as | told you, | was not
quite frfendless or alone. There was one
who cared for me. l thought be was fine
rich gentleman, for be bought me flowers,
though / had to hide them for fear my
nurse should be angry with me for letting
him comfort me when l was so sad, and his
voice was so soft and kind, but tonight,
when he had saved me from q cruel man.
who had insulted me. he told me be was so
| poor he could not help me with money to
! fad you-was so poor he scarcely dared to
tell me he-he loved me-"
The sweet face was quite hidden now in
the newly found fathers breast, so that the
girl might almost have felt the new leap Of
| pain his heart gave to think that after all
be could not claim entirely the love which
was so precious to him.
Bus in fathers heart there is no selfish
ness, least of all in that Of this man, who
I knew how sadly at any moment, were his
| Crickery discovered, his child might need a
protector.
So he bravely hid his pain. and asked
! gently and tenderly, very, very teudsr!y:
| itP'
YES II almost seemed as If he could
| not help it, because he understood how
| great was my trouble. So although we
| were so poor, and he an outcast, for, like
| US, father he too has a secret IN his life, so
terrible that he could not even tell me, in
deed was afraid of that far more than his
! poverty, and l. helpless and blind, we were
| to face the world together My ring was
to make us man and wife. Al, father" as
a sudden fear filed her mind, you will not
part usIn
'You love him, Nelliep asked Sir Law
| renee, too overcome at this turn of affairs
to seek to analyze the matter
Heart and soul, fatherm was the eager
| cry. Then as If compromising his thoughts,
| hitting her face to kiss it passionately as he
| bent over her, lyon have each an equal
| share in my hearth
The father was oontent-nay, in his great
unseldshnsss rejoicsd heartily in his child's
Joy. There was no time, however, to say
more upon the subject, for again there was
a knock at the door. and the servant en-
tered.
beg pardon, Sir Lawrence, but Mr..
Haviland says he should be very glad if you
could see him now, as he may lose his last
train home"
Tell him I will be with him at once in
the library"
In a few hasty words the baronet ex-
planned to Nellie that, his business with
this gentleman concluded, he had other
which would take him from home for the
night.
IL have sent for your nurse to stay with
you until you have grown accustomed to
your new home," he said, as he saw she was
rather nervous at being left alone amid
strange surroundings.
This entirely treasured her, and with a
loving embrace, which told at once the love
between them had been OF no mushroom
growth, they parted for the night.
A moment later, Sir Lawrence was In the
library, spacious, handsomely furnished
room on the ground floor at the back OF the
house opening into the hall, DO which a pas
sage led to the private door in the narrow
court in which Nellie Huntingford and Leo
had told their love story. and of which door
Sir Lawrence kept the key.
As the baronet greeted his guest his
thoughts were some what singular.
"Seven o'clock He's true to his tinel
Now IL Gillet is but true to his the tricks
doueI"
Outwardly his words were courteous and
friendly.
my dear Mar. Haviland. must apollo
gize for having kept you waiting so long.
Poor cripple that am, l sm almost an
tirely dependent upon my servants scarcely
capable of even reaching the bell TO give
my orders"
perhaps l am early" replied Mr.. Havi-
land, fussy, important old gentleman
who kept tight hold of a small black bag
he carried, In way which TO any practioed
eye In the art Of thievlng plainly announced
buat ~ COuLdlueu NhluhDleH IN IdOb, 10 all
appearance the very man to be humhugged
as his host intended he should be. "But the
truth is | have been reading lately of SO
many accidents to property and money, 80
many pranks played by that clever rascal,
the Rat, that scarcely like thu response
bility OF having 30 much money in my
| possession We regretted your enforced abb
sence not little, Sir Lawrence, but your
donation led up to a most splendid SUBJ
| scription, close upon 270Um
The Hat cleverl" repeated Sir Law
renee, ignoring the latter part Of the speech,
and speaking with twinkle In his eye such
! as he could never reprsss when called up to
| speak Of his second self. Clever you call
himl Perhaps he is but the greatest sooun-
| drel that ever went unhangedl He'll do the
trick once too often one Of these days. with
| such splendid staff of detectives as we
have ct Scotland Yard. Mr.. Ferret, 10y
the by, was one of my best friends on my
| coming to England"
"Ahl but the Rat, as they call him on
Mr.. Ferret's account, is something, believe,
more than human"
while in appearance am something
less" replied the baronet, with a half-sad
half-oynical smile.
"What would not the demon or whoever
he Is give for your figure, said Mr.. Havi-
land. He could then screw himself into O
space impossible to hIm now.n
And what would not I give for his
straight back and limbs!n sighed Sir Law
renee, turning away lest his suppressed
laughter should get the better Of him 1T
is only such poor deformed creatures as l
who can really wonder at the misuse to
which he puts health and strength for
which would give all my wealth." Then,
afraid any longer to pursue the subject,
| though, man Of many troubles as he was,
be could still enjoy the joke, he added,
Most Of the money is in notes, OF coursei'
Yes. 1t was safest to bring it straight
here"
"You will come tomorrow, and we will
ourselves carry the swag' The was obliged
to make an excuse to laugh ito the bank
as 1t Is too late now. Do not come too
early, or you may not find me returned"
"Returnedw repeated Mr.. Haviland, fall
ing back a step or two, and still grasping
the bag containing the precious trust money,
Are you then leaving the house to-niRhtP'
| YES" replied the Rat, carelessly, 1.-THE
| business which kept me from the dinner,
! indeed, almost made me miss mine to the
deputation OF which l was the head"-
skilltully bringing out the fact of his own
| Importance, 10 such details, indeed, evincing
his perfect mastery OF his trade-''is not
! finished, and find must be in S--to-
night. Can do anything for you thereq