The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-05
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY. PAGES

joined. "He said last night, after you and
! Cordelia retired, that his first idea on leav-
ing the university was to travel for some
time. But he had changed his mind on
coming here. He even went so far as TO ask
me if / didn't think it would be better to re-
main with us until he had attained to his
fortune
"And you said. of course, that you
thought it wouldF'
Most assuredly did"
And quite right, too" / quite expected
him to stay with Us. OF course you under
stand why Paul elects TO remain"
II suppose it must De on account Of Corr
della"
Certainly. That girls beauty has fasci-
mated him. and l think we need have no
fear now in references to her."
"Well, am pleased it is so. Cordelia
might seek much further and fare very
much worse. like Paul very much, add |
do not know another man to whom l would
give ter 80 willingly. What do you say,
AdeiaideN
The same-but look There are Cor
della and Paul togetherw
The baronet walked to the window, and
outside on the lawn he sa W his daughter and
his ward walking side by side, chatting and
laughing with al the fraukness Of youth,
aud occasionally looking into each others
face In the manner common to those who
Leaving CarslRnd and his wife let us fol-
low Paul Meredith and Cordelia. hey had
met by accident beside the house. each bent
on a walk, and divininR this Paul had said
in his frank brotherly way:
Hello, Cordelia. off for walk? So an
Suppose we go as far as the villagen
Il am going there, Paul" she said Isn't
1t a beautiful morniugF
Splendid; come along. I'm awfully
glad I've dropped across YOU
So they set out for the village. Paul had
always been very fond OF Cordelia and the
change that had taken place in her since be
last saw her eighteen months before was
likely to increase his admiration. She was
then a tall, thin, fair faced girl with flow
ing fiaxen hair and light blue eyes; now she
had suddenly developed into a wonderfully
beautiful woman. He hair had darkened
into gold, her eyes had deepened into azure
her thin form had filled out and was nodded
now on t1owing-almost voluptuous lines,
aud her complexion was of the fairest.
What beauty Cordelia isl" was Pauls
unspoken comment as he swung along at
her side. II wonder how the deuce it is that
| never noticed it before"
This thought was in bis mind still when
he remarked, as he opened the gate for the
girl to pass through:
"On my word, Cordelia, should scarcely
have known you if l had met you any
where save at home"
why. Paull" she asked.
because you have changed so much -
~ am just the same to you, hope"
"Of course. l meant that you had
jumped up into a woman all at once.
wonder if you know, Cordelia, how beauti-
ful you are now. :" be cried warmly.
"Nonsense, Paul." she whispered with a
burning face. Il wish you would not talk
like that again"
But it's true, and 1 could not help says
ing what | felt. You are ever 80 lovely |
assure you, and, daresay, have any mum
Der Of follows dangling after you"
mot one, Paul, y she answered, smilingly,
Have you forgotten that we have only
just got back homep
"Ot course-I had forgotten for the
moment. But for all that there is one fell
low after you, know"
She looked upon him with q surprised
gaze, and he added:
81 meant myself, of course There! |
didn't mean to be so abrupt, but it's true
enough, Cordelia. Well, If you don't want
me to speak now, l won't" The color had
, fled from her face and frightened him. 81
suppose | ought to speak to your father
first. Therel I'll let it drop altogether. !
must be a brute for alarming you. But
you'll forgive me, Cordelia."
There is nothing to forgive, Paul" she
salu, recovering ner RayeJy. ~ on did moi
alarm me, as you know. was only sur
| prised.n
~ am going to kiss you, dear" he ex
claimed.
| You must not, Paul-don't you see those
men in the fed there2"
He dropped the hands he had lifted to en-.
circle her fair and slender neck In order tc
kiss the tempting lips. The farm laborers
in the field hard by saved Cordelia from his
embraces and caresses-saved him also from
! taking step he might have bitterly re-
GREETED afterward.
He was lowering on dangerous ground
that morning. His admiration for Cor
della had been mistaken by him for love,
and in the heat of the moment he would
have declared his affection, and probably
have made'the oamsel an offer of his hand
and heart. But the coyness of the shy
maiden saved him from the plunge
| Still, from that moment it was tacitly
understood between them that they were
lovers and half engaged to each other.
Before the day was done Lady Carslaud
knew how matters stood. She had easily
extracted from Cordelia an account of what
took place during that morning walk, and
she commended the girl for declining to
listen to Paul's avowal on that occasion.
1t would be time enough, she added to
give an ear to Meredith's avowals when she
Cordelia-understood herself and her
lover better.