The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-16
CHAPTER XXI.
PAUL HEARS THE NEWS.

1t was beautiful morning in midsum-
mer about an hour before noon. In the
fields about Thorrell Moor the villagers
were hard at work getting in the nav
through the green leafy depths of Gale
Wood the sun shot long beams of warm
yellow light; among the outrageous tim
Der, Towering bushes and rank grasses,
birds fitted and piped; In the hamlet the
bare-armed women were Rossiping on the
shady side OF the street, near the grocery
stores; while the great chimneys at the
Carsisnd oollieries were shooting forth great
pillars OF smoke, which rose in straight
line skyward, for there was not breath of
breeze abroad.
Along the highroad which leads from the
small station to the village a man came
walking. He was brown-faced and hand
some, and he swung along the dusty road at
an easy pace, as If he were enjoying the
dust and glare and felt at peace with all the
world.
As he sauntered past the group of village
DANES he threw them smile and cherry
good morning, ladies' and when he was a
dozen yards away one of the women cried
suddenly, as IL she had made discovery:
"Ah'n tell yo' wot, wimmen, that theer
y'ung chap is i'm wOt used to live at tn Ha'
wi Sir Sydney, All can tell him in spite o.
his whiskers"
"Dost meeun that theer rich fellay as was
"Ay, i'm an nobuddy else. He went
away yo' a. know, an ah'll bet shillin' he
heered nuthin' abeawt wot the Rench did,
an that hoo hes run away"
That's it, Peggy, sure enough for sithee
he's tekkin' through the vicarage gaten
The women watched Paul Meredith's
| figure until it vanished from their view,
and then they entered with new zest upon
the fresh topic Of gossip which the young
fellows unexpected re-appearance in the
| village had supplied them with. Some of
the women were of the opinion that Sir
| Sydney's ward would now 20 back to his
old fancy and finish up by marrying Cor
derlia Carsland; but there were others of q
| more romantic nature who vowed that
| Paul would follow the White Gipsy, dis
cover her, bring her back, prove her inno-
| cent of everything that had been said
against her, and wind up the romance by
making her his wife.
| Quite unconscious Of the deep interest the
| gossips were taking in his affairs, aud ut
! terly oblivious of the startling intelligence
| in store for himself at the hands OF the par
son, and the reverend gentlemans sister,
Paul Meredith sauntered along the avenue
casting his eyes hither and tbither, as if he
were either renewing his acquaintance with
| the spot, or was on the outlook for some one
The young fellows heart was throbbinR
with a gladness be had never experienced
I
! he had loved her then his affection had not
passed into the state of alteration, which
| marked it at this moment. A few months
! absence from her side had intensified and
strengthened his love for the lovely lass
and as he swung along the red drive which
was barred at every stride by rays of sun
light and patches OF shadow, he cut at the
grass with his stick, tugged at his light
beard with his left hand, but thought of
| scarcely anything save the holy pleasure Of
meeting his sweetheart once more.
Presently, as Paul went toward the house,
his keen eyes caught sight Of the vicar, who
! was seated on a big rustic seat under the
wlde-spreading elm on the edge of the
lawn. Mr.. Madison was busy with the
morning paper and he never noticed
Meredith's approach until Paul cried
pleasantly
"Good morning, Mr.. Madison. How are
you! A magnificent morning, isn't it,"
God bless me. is it your the vicar ex-
claimed, as he dropped the newspaper and
stared at the other through his glasses.
"When did you come back"
This morning only" Paul said, laugh
ingly, as he held out his hand. The other
took it quietly, and the young man added
| 81 thought l would not write, but would
give you all pleasant surprise. OF course
l wrote TO Sir Sydney. Surely you are
glad TO see me, MIR. Mallisongn Paul Ques-
toned, for he thought the wears attitude
toward him little singular. 81 know |
have turned up before the stipulated time,
but, under the circumstances, am justified,
as think you will admit, when you hear
ALL"
'You will pardon me, Mr.. Meredith, )" the
clergyman said, apologetioally, IF my
manner seemed strange. But l was not
thinking OF that at all. Have you seen the
Carslands"