The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-01-03


me as 10 the new actors in the drama.
The name Of the handsome Essu was
Alexander Fitziames Stewart. He was a
patrician of blue blood-indeed, knowing
persons affirmed that he was not remotely
connected with royalty, as bis name indi-
Gated. But he was wild, reckless and un-
tameable He had spent two large fort
unes-one, inherited from his father; the
other belonging to his wife-for he had been
married at she age of five and twenty. But
his wife had survived only four years
worry and modification killed her. Since
her death, Stewards career had not been
easy to follow consecuuvely. He had van
ished every once in Rwhile-once for more
than year together. But when he reap
peared, it was always with the same daunt-
less and prosperous front. IL was a mystery
how he did-where the money came from.
1t was rumored that he had more than once
broken the bank at one or another gambling
resort. And there we're rumors more SIMS
ter, such as that he had extorted money
from his relatives under the threat that if it
we're not forthcoming he would disgrace
them; and even that he had forced ladies Of
high social standing 10 pay him for abstain
ing from annihilatiug their good name by a
word.
Pretty step, that" added Caohepolle,
fixing his eyeglass.
"Why don't society kick him out?' l in
quired.
THE only obstacles are the technical
ones" my friend responded. Nobody
wants to DO the kicking. You see, Stewart
was in the Coldstreams four years; he's
afraid OF nothing, and is dead shot, aud
all that sort of thing. For instance, they
passed the word round at the club here,
some time ago, TO cut him on account Of
some precious bad scrape he'd got into. The
very next morning, II you please, Stewart
turns up at the club, just as all the fellows
were taking their morning peg,
and talking him over. lie was as
Jolly and genial as if he'd just
been appointed master OF ceremonies to the
queen 4 Says he: Some precious
living scoundrel has been round, / hear, say
ing so-and-so about me. Do any of you fel-
lows know who it isp They knew well
enough; they were ali of EN- in IT, but not
one OF EN- peeped. - annoying, isn't
IT. he goes on, not to know whom to aim at Z
To be sure, it must DO some dirty black
guard that fellow couldn't call out; but
I'd like to put my valet on him, with a
horsewhip. IL any of you chaps can identify
him, I'd take 1t as personal favor to give
me the tip. By Jove, Pm quite dry. Gem
tlemen, JON me in drink Well, sir, ICON
tinued Cachepolle, mot one Of EN- had the
nerve to refuse and, of course: that set
tied the freeziug-out business on the spot.
It's reign of terror; but the women are
all on his side"
sis all that yarn true about the Mus
graves, and"
THAT, and good deal more, if reports
are to be trusted. Musgrave is an ass, and
his wife is a fool. But Stewart is after
freeher game now"
"Well, l suppose her father can protect
her." said, after pause.
81 suppose ne couldp said Cachepolle,
with a significant emphasis on the could
"But, as you may have noticed. be dotes on
the aristocracy and believes that the king
can do no wrong. Stewart is not the king,
exactly; but
IF it comes t. that, said l, after another
pause, "why shouldn't the fellow marry
Blanche and settle downg After all, they're
not a bad match, at least from the point of
view of temperament and physique. And
she has money now, you say"
"Yes; but there's no telling how many
girls Stewart may be married TO already
AS he himself once said, They're all one 60
me; how the deuce can you expect me to
keep the run of the separate onesl Pm mar
ried TO every pretty woman l meet"
Il like that yonng fellow Dakyn," l re-
marked as we descended the steps to the
Iheater -platz. If he thought ANYTHING
crooked was going on, he'd knock Stewards
head off. He's dead in love with the girl
himself"
Mr. Hamilton Dakyn is a nice boy, but
he is not competent to tackle a man like
~ iaA all
Stewart has captured him, body and soul.
he is giving him instruction in the mysteries
of the world. Ham Dakyn VIII bold the
basin while Fitzjames Stewart washes his
hands"
mo, you're not more than half right
about Daky a." returned l. His love for
the girl is "a stronger passion than his infatu-
sion for the man. The one thing that
Stewart can't do with lmpunity-in that
boys presence-is to offer an insult to that
girl. Unfortunately. the girl doesn't care
about the boy, the hairy fellow has fasci-
mated her, and she is a queer nature-not
like other girls Still, she can be protected
even against herself, and Dakyn is the man
TO do it."
And what if be could do it, would it be
worth while" asked Cachepolle, taking out
his cigarette case and offering 1t TO me.
'What good would it dol"
what good would it do to save girl
from ruinN
My dear fellow, you use phrases, said
Cachepolle. lighting his cigarette, and re-
placing the case in his pocket. Now, lust
consider the facts. Blanche Luellen is fas.
cinated. as you say. by Stewart. and it's
more than thar-she loves him, by George,
1t may be pity, and all that-unnatura
If you like-but so it is And now you talk
about preventing it. Preventing what
Tue harm has been done. The girl is Stew.
arts heart and soul; you may prevent heI
from giving the rest, but, really what
would that amount tol Would that save
her soul!'
'Of course it would A girl gets over
fancies and impulses; but no one can gel
over material events 1t she is separated
from Stewart she Will get over him, but II
things are allowed TO run on Il 4
why, your arguments would send the whole
world straight to the deviln
mo, didn't mean to generalizen said
Cachepoue. II was thinking of this par.
ticular case. It's my opinion the girl i.
spoiled anyhow, whether she is saved las
you call ~ or not. She is a peculiar girl
as you say, and Stewart is a peculiar man
They may be each others sole salvation
there's DO tellingV He laughed in ar
anliable, cynical way he had; and at THU
juncture we arrived at the door of his hotel
He invited me to dine with him, but de-
clined. and after entering into a partia
agreement to meet him later | walked off.
VI
That saying of Cachepolle's: "They
may be each others sole salyation-theret
no telling m-stuck 10 my mind. Whether
he so meant H. mr. n1f tbara ,xae n H.