The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-12
CHAPTER XIII.
SALOME'S HISTORY.

lies between the village Of Marsh Green and
Thorrell Moor Paul Meredith aud Salome
Birmingham were slowly walking one even
ing, several days after the occurrence of the
Incidents related in the last chapter. The
air Was clear and frosty, and the soft radi
snce of full moon which sailed low In the
southern heavens flooded the lane and fields
and the quiet countryside. During the
afternoon there had been a heavy snowfall
and all about the wandering lovers was
stretched an apparently unending wilder
ness of spotless white.
The sweethearts paid no heed to the sharp
ness Of the night air, for their love filled
them with a generous, health-giving, pleas
urable heat Paul was wrapped up in
heavy great coat and muffier, while SaIome
was not less warmly clad in a big coat of
sealskin presented TO her by her rich wooer
that very morning. And so, comfortably
CARRIED and happy, they sauntered along the
almost deserted highroad, their feet sinking
with crisp sound into the frozen snow. and
their low voices rising and falling on the
hitting. light filed air. Paul was speaking,
and any one who might have overheard him
could have told that his breast was Hooded
with the gladness of a satisfied and con-
quering lover. said he:
you will leave your present home, Sa-
lone, dear one, at the end of this week, ana
live for the future with Mr.. Madison and
his sister at the vioarage. l have made Gil
the necessary arrangements for the change,
and the vicar will call on you Tomorrow TO
tell Won all about what he and Miss Madison
propose. to do for you while | am away"
You mean to go away then, Paul" Sa-
lone asked, her gloved hand tightening on
her lovers arm, and her sweet, pure white
face upturned TO his for moment.
eyes, dear. 1t will be better for me 70
go away, think. II were TO stay mere,
near you, should be Fostering you every
day TO marry NE. promised the vicar to
go away for a year or 50, and leave you ems
tirelv in his care-I promised the same thing
to Sir Sydney and Lady Carsland-and L
will do So"
81 am glad you have quite ma1e up your
mind, Paul" she said, lowly. mos GLAD
because am losing sight OF you, out De-
cause want TO test your love thoroughly.
shouId never forgive myself could not
be really and truly happy X thought' or
could make myself think that you had nur-
ried me, in haste, dear, only 20 repent at
your leisure, afterwaTd."
''Nonsensen he cried. "You know thas
would be impossible in our case. Hove
last as long as live just as | never loved
any woman before [ knew you, so feel
that l shall never care for another. Still,
for all that, don't mean to try and evade
my promise. AS soon as you are settled
comfortably with the Darson, shall go
away from here for a year or more"
"Have you made up your mind where
you are going, Paul'" she inquired. with
little culver in her tones. Il dare say you
will not go far away to place where we
cannot write to each other"
II shall go to South America, Salome,"
he replied "Some of my friends are get
ting up a sort of shooting party, and have
been asked to go with them, and have &C
oepted the invitation. We should start In
a fortnight"
South America is very wild and
dangerous, country, isn't it dear| she
asked with tremulous voice. II do hope,
Paul, that you will not run into any dan
ger"
20, we shall be all right dear never fear,
and when return in about ten months or
year think Of the rapture of seeing you once
more. And when | come back shall bring
with me heap of all sorts of curiosities in
the shane Of skins and horns, and snch like,
with which you will be able to odorn our
future home"
"Still, wish"
"I've made up my mind, Salome. and
there stopping her sweet mouth with
tender, long-oliuging Kiss, don't say any
more.n
She was silent at his wish, and for some
moments they paced along the snow~cov-
cred foospath in silence. Presently he spoke.
DO you know, dear" he said, tenderly,
that feel very curious as TO your past.
Very rarely indeed does one lind, am sure,
such a face as yours among the working
classes of this country. When l first set
eyes on you, honestly thought you were
foreign girl Of some kind"
Il am half a Foreigner she replied, with
laugh, for my mother was a pure
Spauiard.n
"Indeedn he cried, his interest evident
from his manner and altered tone. "Ihen
understand where you got those glorious
black eyes Of yours, and that un English
look one perceives in your face occasionally.
But do tell me all about yourself aud your
dead parents. | have often wondered as 20
what your history might be, and, If you
have no objection, would like you ~ tell me
Of it now. What do you say, derlingE
VI shall be very pleased TO tell yen every
thing know about myself and my parents,
RAUL, the girl answered readily and frankly.
u have thought Of telling you many time,
but ! made myself believe that you would
not care to be bothered with lot Of talk
about people whom you had neither seen
nor known
81 should have taken the deepest interest
10 everything affecting you, dear" he
whispered, as his arm stole round her waist.
NO detail Of your past would have proved,
or viii now prove, uninteTesting 10 me. Go
On, dear, and tell me everything"
Wen, Paul" she began, II hardly know
now or where TO commence. Ny earliest
recollections carry me back about fifteen or
sixteen years ago, when / end my mother
we're living in a small farm house in a
Yorkshire village, called Marlcombe. Ny
mother was at chat time working q farm
ana we were lodging with some friends"
How was it that your mother was work
nRi What Of your fatherl Surely your
mother was not a widow thenp he queried.
That is the strangess part Of the story,
aaui," she replied, IN a falling voice. MY
tIlother's history is much more remarkable
ruan my own-in facG mine is plain and
Prosaic enough
e., Iell me your mothers story then first,
"aiome," he exclaimed.
VIII tell 1t TO you IN as few words as l
spl u, will tell you as she told me when
SIs Jay dying over ten years ago. To make
- understand 1t thoroughly / shall have
say aomething Of my mothers parents
NJ ~ gr1ndfather and grandmother on my
b, h., s. side we're pure 5panturds, who bad