The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-31

/ duObueT long DI6dLus anu uIOppOu DoCh
upen the sofa where she was sitting. 1t
was not her way; the lights had been
dazzling and confused her ever since they
blazed upon her by the opening of the
two doors. and the overwhelming horror,
and blessed but tremendous revulslon. OF
feeling, which had passed in succession
| over her, had been more than her strength,
already undermined by excitement, could
bear. Her breath, her consciousness,
her life, seemed to ebb away in a moment,
leaving only a pale shadow of her fallen
back upon the cushions.
Once more Harry was the master OF
the situation. He had seen a woman
faint before, which was almost more
| than Gilchrist with all her experience
had done, and he had the usual remedies
at his fingers ends. But this was not
| like the usual easy faints, over in a min
/ ute, to which young Gordon had been &C
/ customed, and DIR. Roland had to be sum-
/ moned from below, and thrill of alarm
| had run through the house, Mrs. Simcox
| herself coming up from the kitchen, with
strong salts and feathers to burn, before
/ Miss Bethune came to herself.
The house was frightened, and so at
last was the experienced Harry; but DR..
Roland's interes and excitement may be
said 10 have been pleasurable. 81 have
always thought this was what was likely.
I've been prepared for it, he said to him
! self, as he lowered round the sofa. 1t
would be wrong to suppose that he
heightened, or at least did nothing to
shorten this faint for his own base pur
poses, that he might the better make out
certain signs which he thought he had
recognized. But the fact was, that not
only Dora had come from above stairs,
but even Mr.. Mannering had dragged
himself down, on the alarm that Miss
Bethune was dead or dying, and that the
-tR,1n hnA \ - he
room, or on the landing outside, while
she lay in completely Tor not) with the
doctor in that long continued swoon
which the spectators afterwards said
lasted an hour or two, or even three
hours according to their temperaments.
When she came to herself at last, the
scene upon which she opened her eyes was
one which helped her recovery greatly by
filling her with wrath and Indignation.
She lay in the middle of her room, in
strong draught, the night air blowing
from window to window across her, the
lamp even under its shade, much more
the candles on the mantelpiece, blown
about, and throwing a wavering glare
upon the agitated group, Gilchrist in the
foreground with her apron at her eyes,
and behind her Dora, red with restrained
emotions, and jamie and Molly crying
freely, while Mrs. Simcox brandished a
bunch of tuning feathers, and Mr.. Man
nering peered over the landlady's head
with his ''pincenez" insecurity balanced
on his nose, and his legs trembling under
him in a harmony of unsteadiness, but
anxiety.
Miss Bethune's wrist was in the grasp
of the doctor, and Harry stood behind
with a fan, which, in the strong wind
blowing across her from window to win
dow, struck the patient as ludicrously un-
necessary. "What is all this fuss about2"
she cried, trying to raise herself up.
There's no fuss, my dear lady," said
the doctor; "but you must keep perfectly
quiet"
'Oh, you're there, Dr. Rolands Then
there's one sane person. But for good
ness sake make Mr.. Mannering sit down,
and send all these idiots away. What's
the matter with me, that I've to get my
death of cold, and be murdered with that
awful smell, and even Harry Gordon be-
having like fool, making an air with
fan, when there's a gale blowingl Go
away, go away" .''.
"You see that our friend has come to
herself" said the doctor. Shut the
window, somebody, the other will be
enough; and, my dear woman, for the
sake of all that's good, take those horrid
feathers away"
Il am murdered with the smell !"
cried Miss Bethune, placing her hands
over her face. But make Mr.. Manner
ing sit down, he's not fit to stand after
his illness; and Harry, boy, sit down too,
and don't drive me out of my senses. Go
away, go all away!"
The last to be got rid Of was DIR. Roland,
who assured everybody that the patient
was now quite well, but languid. ''You
want TO get rid of me too, know !" he
said, 'and Pm going; but l should like to
see you in bed first"
"You shall not see me in bed, nor no
other man" said Miss Bethune. II will
go to bed when l am disposed, doctor. I'm
not your patient, mind, at all events
now"
"You were half an hour since, but I'm
not going to pretend to any authority"
| said the doctor. ~ hope know better
Don't agitate yourself any more If you'll
be guided by me. You have been screw
ing up that heart Of yours far too tight"
"How do you KNOW" she said, shat
| have got heart at all?"
probably not from the sentimental
! point of view" he replied, with little
fling of sarcasm; but l know you
couldn't live without the physical organ,
and its over-strained. Goodnight since
l see you want to get rid of me. But I'll
be handy downstairs, and mind you come
for me, Gilchrist, on the moment, II she
should show any signs again"
This was said to Gilchrist in an under
tone as the doctor went away.
Miss Bethune sat up on her sofa, still
very pale, still with singing in her ears,
and the glitter of fever IN her eyes. "You
are not to go away, Harry" she said. 81
have something to tell you before you 20. ~
ooh, men," cried GilchT4st, flor my
sake, not tonight"
go away, and bide away till I send for
you," cried the mistress. Sand, Harry,
sit you down here by me. l am going to
tell you story. This night has taught
me many things. might die, or might
be murdered for the sake of few gew-
gaws that are nothing to me, and go down
to my grave with burden on my heart.
l want to speak before die"
mot tonight" he cried! "You are in
no danger. I'll sleep here on the sofa by
way of guard, and tomorrow you will
send them to your bankers. Don't tire
yourself any more tonight"
"You are like all the rest, and under.
stand nothing about it." she cried i'm.
patiently. 1T is just precisely now that
l will speak, and no other time Harry, ]
am going to tell you story. 1t is like
most woman's stories-about a young
creature that was beguiled and loved a
man. He was a man that had fine out
side, and looked as good as he was bonnie,
or at least this misfortunate thing thought
so. He had nothing, and she had nothing.
But she was the last of her family, and
would come into a good fortune il she