The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-02

seem. From idiotic fancy have passed
through drlveiing youth into asinine
manhood, ami there 1 stick. What a mud
die I've made of life, or rather what
middle life is. The more happiness
enc stores, tine quicker 1t suOIls. And yet,
when returuel from College and father
t-os me into b 3 ness. and sophia smiled,
as she always had smiled since We we're very
little cbil1ren gcteer. and even that old
vixen dtdu't chow her teeth except TO grin,
why, earth seemed 81 Edeu."
Meanwhile the faithful Hugh was meii
tating after his nature, as he proceeded on
his mission. people that play with fire
are apt 20 jump and suck their fingers" he
unused. rMatrimOuiRl quarrels are SO rO-
mantic on the stage aud so easily settled;
but in real life, with a rod-faced ranger to
fan EN- the prairie flowers are quickly
sweep away aud nothing left but black,
baked soil Well, let them 90 It,"
Hugh turned into u side street and stopped
before mean looking SHOP, whose windows
bore the proud insignia of Lombardy and
displayed motley collection of diamonds,
harmonicas, revolveTs watches, flutes and
rezoTs. When he came out a few minutes
later his derby hat had been replaced by a
broad brim and his demure black frock
coat by velveteen shooting Jacket. he
gave his dropping mustache an upward
twist and grinDed namely, aud looked far
/ more like German tenor out of a JOB than
the confidential clerk OF a reputable for
wardiug house.
1t wOs fall day, sunshiny, brilliant,
with Zest Co the air like the tingle Of wine.
/ Hugh. took q car to the PARK aud then
| strolled across toward Sammis street, in
which the Tracey mansion was situated.
| There were but few pedestrians abroad,
here Gnd there maid trundltng her charge
or Watching its play from one of the
benches; but hugh saw no tuttering CLEAN
OF little Mary's golden curls. lie reached
| cluInp of evergreens from which he could
espy the grove, and beyond this terrace,
! at the foot Of which ran the street through
which he had arrived.
On the upper and lower side OK the grove
were broad fields, on which the school
children were permitted to play croquet
| and tennis. But now these were deserted.
Indeed, if the park was lonely mornings,
this was It's loneliest part; hardly a sound.
hardlya motion, save the cackle Of falling
! twig or the lazy curl Of smoke from grea
piles of burning leaves
Hugh found an obscure seat, and drawing
his hat over his eyes, thrust his hands into
his breeches pockets. outstretched his long
legs, and, seeming to sleep, narrowly
| watched.
| Presently a fiaxen-hsired, robust maid
| was busted with the ice at the Traceys
basement entry, and then Hugh awoke.
What more natural than that a poor Ger
man exile should dare approach and accost
! a woman OF his races W nat more natural
| than that blue-eyed madchen should chat
ter at the joyful sound of her mother
! tonguel
| o, yes, she was more than busy. She
| could not linger with the much-toNbe- COM
miserated respectable stranger. Her mis-
tress was a housewife with eyes Of the lynx,
and her mistress daughter had arrived to
visit and was quite ILL., and she must attend
| hn OF Fl hnqt6pa
duties OF the ordinary day. A pleasant
hour for stroll with the child3 Indeed it
was, and more the pity. Her mistress
| would not let her graudchild out of her
| sight; did she fear that she might harm one
30 innocent? And the madchen shrugged
her plump shoulders and hurried into the
house as the whistle resounded and a shrill
voice strained the tube.
| So Hugh, by circuitous route, returned
| to his eyrie and waited, feeling rather dis
! couraged. But by and by the door OF the
! Tracey mansion opened and slammed, and
a short, stout, red-faced woman, who looked
angry with herself since there was no other
suitable antagonist present, came down the
steps, tightly grasping child by the hand,
a dainty little girl, with long golden hair
| and happy eyes, and feet that danced impR-
tent TO the restraint Of her graudmother's
stride. She marched up the street as If to a
| bastion She wheeled at the corner and
which Hugh lay in ambush, and little Mary
skipped bithelya by siAerr side likes cupid at
tending one of the fates.
deuce take it." muttered Hugh. 81
never shall have better chance. There's
not soul in sight But what can l do 2
l can't loosen those breadhooks short of
garrotiug"
He withdrew the closer among the ever
greens as the pair approached, and looked
about him in desperation. The lazy curl of
the smoke caught his eye and suggested a
wicked design. But there was success in
it, for saint or shrew, victim or vixen,
would surely be affected alike by such
peril He deity wove a wisp Of leaves,
twigs and grass. He lighted IL. He crept
behind the matron and dropped it on her
trailing wooden skirt. In an instant he was
by her side with hands appraised and alarm
protruding eyes.
beg pardon" ma'am," he shouted, but
your dress Is all a6laze"
Now if there was one thiug-persons were
out of the running-that the Widow Tracey
feared it was fire. There was q dIrectness
| about it which she could appreciate. Her
| lecture on lamps which she delivered when
ever new servant was engaged, and conse-
quently very often, would have been
potsnt advertising medium for an electric
light company. And so, as she locked be-
hind her aud saw the smudge, she lost her
head and found her feet aI the same mo
ment. Without thought of the child,
she sped across the lawn toward her
home, surprising the air with singular
| screams
Hugh stamped on the wisp, which he had
adroitly kicked from the SKIRT, and then,
raising the terrified little girl lightly i'll his
arms, disappeared through the windings of
the grove. A moment later they were
seated in Il downtown car, little Mary con-
teutedly munching her orange and Hugh
holding her hand as carefully, if not as ag
gressively, as her grandmother had.
You are glad to go and see your papa"
said he.
Yes, and my mamma, too"
And you love your papa"
80, yes. and my dear mamma"
Hugh thought for a moment. 1t was
touching to hear this child speak so con-
| tidiDgly of parents who had separated.
Their chickering's had not affected her in
stinct at least; perhaps its purity might
bind what they had loosed.
That's right little one, T." he said, always
| speak of your father and mother as If they
were united in all things as they are in your
love"
Little Mary looked at him inquiringly as
II she but half comprehended.
" love my papa and my mamma, bofe Of
| dem together she stOutlV reiterated