The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-17
ow FIRST PUBLIsHEp.l
CHAPTER /

Sill rejected IN lle Ie4lltDt - lAdb tLl cu< II
the over-arching boughs Of the lofty hedge
rows. and the trees studded about them,
their fell q radiance which, though soft and
ghost-like, still gave light enoeZh for the
man and maid TO read each others faces.
The male, as was natural, took ardent ad-
vantage Of his opportunity, and walking
with dropping head and sde-long face. kept
his eyes fixed upon the girls half,averted
features. She, for her part, stole only an
occasional glance at him, each time swiftly
withdraw.
She was not pre-eminently pretty, except
to a lovers eyes, but her face was full Of a
vivacious tenderness and at every fugitive
glance she gave him her companions heart
yearned over her.
"You are quite sure you love meF said
the young man, putting the question for the
twentieth time that evening.
The girls shy glance met his for q mo-
ment and dropped again. She gave him no
further response, but for awhile, at least, he
seemed satisfied, and they walked on slowly
in the gathering dusk. until at a corner of
the lane he put his arm about her waist, and
drawing her gently to him, arrested her
footsteps.
She laid her head upon his breast with no
pretense OF coyness as be stood with his
arms folded about her shoulders. They
we're as happy as love and youth could make
them, and utterly oblivious of the world
about them, as lovers have right to be.
But whilst they stood thus in silence, the
noise Of a figure crashing through the
hedge row startled them apart, and an in
truder landed in the roadway almost at the
lovers feet.
or the three the new conner seemed the
most disturbed. He peered through the
gloom first at one and then at the other of
the pair, upon whose solitude he had un-
willingly broken, and once or twice his
Iips moved as if he would IN
willingly have framed some sort Of apology,
but never word he spake. With each
second that went by the silence babe fair to
be more EN- barrassing, but the girl recover
ing her equauimity somewhat, tardily broke
the awkward spell.
"Good evening, Mr.. Hetherridge.n
The intruder made shift to pluck off his
hat and to stammer response, Of which no
word was aud BILE. Win that he moved
away leaving the lovers alone, in a consid-
cradle momentary embarrassment. They
had scarce recovered themselves when the
intruder was back again, and even in the
deepening dusk 1t was plainly TO be seen
that he had contrived, short as the interval
had been, to throw aside his confusion. he
carried his shoulders in decidedly truculent
fashion and grasped his walking stick by the
middle with the air of a man who means
business.
81 don't want TO interrupt you Just now,
Mr.. Redwood he began, and there paused
TO moisten his lips with his tongue. but if
it's convenient TO you I should like word
with you before the nights out"
"Very good returned the lover, catching
q shade of the intruder's manner.
shame your time, said the intruder.
evil 10 o'clock suit youF'
Perfectly, PHI call on you at that time. "
With that he swung upon his heel and
marched rapidly away, his footsteps sound
ing on the sun-baked road whilst he walked
a hundred yards or so and then falling sud
denly into silence as Re vaulted stile aud
took his way through the deep grass of
hay meadow.
George" said the girl, laying an implor
ing hand on her companions arm. "Xou
won't quarrel, will your
my darling" George responded, passing
an arm about her waist, I've nothing to
quarrel about, so far as l know and don't
think either that I'm of a quarrelsome turn
of mind.
Ou nhNO uObbALE ludA dOOubt luG
girl answered, but he has, or at least he
thinks he has,
"Oh,n George answered, laughing, that's
an old story and l should think by this time
he's had the sense to forget all about it,
We fought about il in our school days, but
we're grown men now, the pair of US, and
it would be pity il q pair Of sensible peo-
BILE should fan to loggerheads over dead
and buried old yarn like that"
atTt isn't daaH and b,1riad for TOb,,
eridge,n the girl responded. ale believes it
TO this day. He was speaking TO Sir Eustace
about it only this morning. He was speak
ing angrly and noisily as he does some
times, and the gardener overheard them.
Aunt Mary told me at tea time this even
ing. She was afraid that there would al
ways be black blood between them"
"Well, my dear" the young man an
swered, easily, 1T takes two to make a
quarrel. My father used to sag that anger
was as catcning as the measles, but I've
never found 1t so. If Jack Hetheridge
likes tn be q fool he must take his way sim
ely. promise you he shan't tempt me to
keep him company"
They began to walk on slowly once more,
the yonng man fondling his companions
ungloved band, and now and then STOPPING
TO kiss 1t. 1t was almost dark by this time
and each saw the others face only as pale
feAtureless blot on the background of the
gloom.
The girl paused suddenly in her walk ard
throwing both arms about her lover chung
TO him tightly, and he raising his hand &c
her face found it was wet with tears.
why, Ellice darling" he demanded
tenderly, whats the matter2 You don't
use being like this. There's no danger in
the world. Pm not afraid Of Jack Heth-
eridge of all men in the world. and you
shan't be. if can help it. Now don't
worry, my darling Dry your eyes and
think no more about it."
There's something else, George" the girl
Whispered, still clinging to him.
At this George started with a sudden
divination.
"Oh, that's it. is it?" he asked with a Ger.
tain dryness in his tone He's had tbs
cheek to have it out at last, has hel"
"You knew about it" Ellice asked him
in whisper which barely reached his ears
why, my dear" George answered, "it
stands to reason thai l knew about it
When man loves a girl as much as l Dc
you" He paused there to emphasize hi,
speech by a hug and a kiss. when q mar
loves girl as much as do you, it make:
him pretty keen to see when anybody else i;
hanging about after her. l could Away
be sure that you never liked the fellow, anC
that if went single it wouldn't be for hi
sake. When did you send him about his
business, darlingW
He spoke to me yesterday" she an
swered, in a shame-srricken whisper, as Il
she had been confessing a guilty secret.
so late as thatN said George. II car
understand his being bit rusty lighting OF
us in that sudden WaV while AGO. if I'C