The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-26
CHAPTER XXXIV.


and bis death brought no tightening Of the
cloud which rested on innocent lives.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
1t was bitter winter weather IN aud about
| Wellsted. A black frost had settled over
the eastern counties in the Christmas week
| and had continued without a break, into
mid February. There had been six weeks
uninterrupted skating on the fens OF Linz
colnshire, the earth rang like iron to the
tread, Day after day the sun shone
brightly, seeming to have abdicated from
one half It's power and to ditfuse radiance
without warmth. At night the stars
| so that the armament was glorious TO be-
hold. Old age sat crouching by the fire but
youth and sturdy manhood rejoioed in the
bracng air and biting wind.
II wonder, SAM said 'Tilda, to her hus-
band, as they sat on either side the trim and
| well-kept hearth at home, THAT you amt
afraid to put that cold stuff on your stomach
| in such weather.
Sam had a great pot of his unfailing bev-
ersge before him and applied himself to it
| from time to time with evident relish as he
| pulled at his pipe
use is second nature, 'Tilda," he re-
! sponded. "Cold teas been my best COM
| fort this thirty year and more. It's the
| best tipple uuder the sun, It's blowin'
pretty hard outside. eiu't itT'
II never saw such weather." said 'Tilda,
| "a body would think the world was locked
| up In frost forever"
"God bless your soul, my DEAR" Sam re-
| sponded there's an end to everything I'M
| pleasant, just as. there's an end TO every
thing pleasant. When the frost does break
we snail have spring here in the twinklin'
of bed post. The harder the frost the
| brighter the spring, that's my experience"
! With this he arose and, walking into the
| hall, returned with short pilot cloth over
| coat.
"You don't mean to say ."'Tilda demanded,
that you're going out at this time O. night
and in this weatherp
That's exactly what do mean to say"
| Sam responded. "I'm going to throw an
| eye round Mrs Redwood's house. I've seen
that chap skulkin' about there three nights
runnin', and l don't like the looks o things.
| 1t looks like mischief. II Master George
was at home it would be another matter
! should feel safer then"
IA pretty lot o. good he'd be anywhere,
| your Master George" Tilda retorted, with
| her nose in the air. II wouldu't trust feven
dog with that young man."
why, '1ilda," answered Sam, with a
wounded start, whats the matter with
your
matter with meT cried 'Tilda, holly.
whats the matter with youi You go
on believing in that good-for-naught.
| Thinkin' kindly of him and spendin' hours
on wriJin' letters to him. l wouldn't demean
| myself by shakin' a stick at him.
| wouldn't be seen In the same street with
him. He's heartless good for nothin'
| wretch"
why, 'Tilda," Sam answered strickenly,
"What's come to your
"O,n returned 'Tilda, I've KEEP quiet long
| enough and I've got a right TO speak at last.
! Mr. (lAnrcra n ad urOod GA - xrrifa m and
soft and lnournful as he chooses but know
| why he left ii ISIS Elice. l give her a piece
| of my mi ID the other day, ald told her she
ought to know better than wear the green
willow for a scamp like that. She's got no
proper pridA."
| You know why he left herF' Sam an
swered, "pd give el00 il did"
Very well, :" 'Tilda returned, "you can
have the news for nothing. It's been under
| everybody's nose for months past, and we
were all too blind TO see it. You are all SO
taken ~ with this young man that I've no
patience with any one Of you"
"Well, come now" said Sam. "What is
| the reesonW
It's as plain as the nose on your face, ~
declared 'TIlda. The reason is that he
knew her father was going bankrupt before
any of us and be dropped out in time. He
cared for her as long as she had money, but
when he found OUT that she wasn't going TO
be the catch he thought she might be, be
drew out OF it. You are blind if you cant
see that, wnen it sticks out before you in
plain daylight"
"'Tilda," said Sam with a solemnity un.
usual in him, you're mistaken. You never
were more mistaken in your life. l know
Master George better than you do, and G
truer man never breathed in this wide
world. There's more behind things than We
know about"
A'Aud suppose" said 'Tilda. scornfully
that youth go on believing in him"
"If that's the only thing you've got ager
him. Sam retorted, there is no manner oil
a doubt shall I've known him ever sine,
he was no higher than my elbow, and there
isn't a squarer fellow breathing"
IAN right" returned 'Tilda. "That'i
like you men. You can't see what's updel
your own noses
'rilda had always been one too many fol
Sam In the matter of argument, and in re
spect to ordinary questions he bowed To be-
opinions with ON unquestioning reverence
Since the death of 'Tilda's maiden aunt
Miss Thoms, she had a fortune which
equaled Sans own. and from the hour o
her Inheritance she had grown more anC
more confident of rule, until her husband
lived in a state of spiritual bondage equa
TO that Of devotee in the middle ages IL
the presence OF her confessor.
swell, 'Tilda, Sam admitted TO pacit,
her; II may be fool. Perhaps am, Du
you see, my dear, its like this-I can't help
it If thought, as you do, about Master
George, l shouldn't care about any thing ir
the world. 1t would take the relish out o
everything. And can tell you there is NJ
danger OF my doing it. And should tax
1t as a favor, Tilda.n he added this with ex
treme humility, "if you'd let this subjec
drop between US. shall never believe a
you do and don't expect to persuade yol
to my way of thinking, and so we'd bette
drop it, hadn't weep
} 'Tilda deigning no reply than was con
, veyed by q scornful toss Of the head, anC
an indeflnable squaring OF the shoulders. a
preparing them TO bear the weight Sam
imbecility imposed upon her. the husband
struggled meekly into his overcoat. threw
} black felt wide-awake on TO his grlzzet
} head, and after an uncertain glance or two
advanced and stopped down to kiss her
She becked sour salute at him and settled
} in her chair.
"You and your George Redwood
Sam knew by experience that his sol
chance lay in surrender, and so made of
, without reply.
1t was after 10 o'clock, late hour 70
= Wellsted. There was no moon aud the star
3 bright as they were, left the lower worl,
/ in almost complete darkness. As Sam drew
r near Mrs. Redwood's house, he saw, o
A thought he saw, figure standing near tn
gate, which at that time OF night was inva
. rtably locked. Sam, to conceal his own ap
? | proach had chosen to walk along the stri