The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-12-10

. Her, lnaL you were never 70 pc told. but
could not believe cried Dora that
weak and in trouble, whom you would
not forgive"
Mr. Mannering sat gazing at his child
with his eyes burning in their socket At
these words he covered his face with his
hands. And there was silence, save from
a sob of excitement from Dora excite
ment so long repreSseu that il burst forth
now with all the greater force. The visi-
tor for some time did not say word
Then suddenly he put forth his hand and
touched the elbow which rested like a
sharp point on the table. He said softly
1T was the lady you imagine She is
dead She has led a life of suffering and
trouble. She has neither been well nor
happy. Her one wish was to see her
child before she died. When she was
left free, as happened by death some time
ago. she came to England for that pur-
pose. ! can't tell you how much or how
little the friends knew who helped her
They thought il, believe, family quar-
rel
MIR. Mannering uncovered his CHASTITY
countenance. 1T is better they should
continue to think So"
That is as you please. For my own
part, think the child at least should
know. The request, the PRAYER that was
made on her deathbed in ali humility, was
that Dora should follow her remains to
the grave"
ITO what goodl'' he cried, "to what
good,"
TO no good. Have you forgotten her.
that you ask that? l tod her if she had
asked to see you, to get your forgive
ness
"Silenceg' cried Mr.. Mannerinc. lifting
his thin hand as if with a threat.
But she had not courage. She wanted
only, she said. her own flesh and blood to
stand by her grave"
Mannering made again a gesture with
his hand, but noreply.
SIZE has left everything Of which she
died pOssessed-a considerable, I may say
a large fortune, 10 her only child
Il refuse her fortune.' cried Manner
ing, bringing down his clenched hand on
the table with feVerish force that made
the room ring.
you will not be so pitiless," said the
visitor; you will not pursue an unfor-
tunate woman, who never in her unhappy
life meant any harm"
In her unhappy life-in her pursuit of
happy life at any cost, that is what you
mean"
Il will not argue. She IS dead. Say she
was thoughtless, tickle. 1 can't tell. She
did only what she was justified in doing.
She meant no harm"
L will allow no one" cried Mr.. Man
nering, ito discuss the question with me-
Your client, I understand is dead-it was
proper. perhaps, that I should know-and
has left fortune to my daughter Well
refuse it. There is no occasion for
further parley. l refuse it. Dora, show
this gentleman downstairs
There is only one thing to be said, d"
the visitor, rising, ''you have not the
power to refuse it. 1t is vested in trus-
tees, of whom 1 am one The young lady
herself may take any foolish step-if YOU
will allow me TO say so-when she comes
of age. But you have not the power to do
this. The allowance to be made to her
during her minority and all other particu-
lars will be settled as soon as the arrange
meuts are sufficiently advanced"
Il tell you that refuse it, repeated
Mr.. Manuering.
And l repeat that you have no power
I leave her the directions in respect to
the other event, in which you have full
power. I implore you to use it merci-
fully" the visitor said.
He went away without any further
farewell, Aianneriug. not moving. sitting
at the table with his eyes fixed on the
empty air. Dora, wh5 had followed the
conversation with astonished apprehen-
sion, but with an acute sense of the in
civility with which the stranger had been
treated, hurried to the open door for him.
to offer him her hand, to make what
apologies were possible.
Father has been very Ill, =" she said.
He nearly died. This is the first time
he has been out of his room. don't nm
derstand what it all means, but please do
not think he is uncivil. He is excited,
and still i'll and weak. l never in my
life saw him rude to any one before"
Never mind, said the old gentlemen,
pausing outside the door, Il can make
allowances, You and l may have great
deal to do with each other, Miss Dora. I
hope you will have confidence in me?"
Il don't know what it all means, " Dora
said.
mo, but some day You will: and in the
meantime remember that some one, who
has the best right to do so, has left you a
great deal of money. and that whenever
you want anything or even wish for any
thing, you must come to me-"
"A great deal of money!" Dora said.
She had heard him speak of fortune--a
considerable fortune, but the words had
not struck her as these did. A great deal
OF money! And money was all that was
wanted TO make everything smooth, and
open out vistas of peace and pleasure,
where all had been trouble and care The
sudden lighting up of her countenance
was as if the sun had come out all at once
from among the clouds, The old gentle
man, who. like so many old gentlemen,
entertained cynical views, chuckled to
see that even at this youthful age, and in
Mannering's daughter who had refused
it so firmly, the name of great zeal of
money should light up a girls face.
They are all alike he said to himself
as he went down stairs.
When Dora returned TO the room. she
found her father as she had left him,
staring straight before him, seeing moth
ing, his head supported on his hands, his
hollow eyes fixed. He did not notice her
return, as he had not noticed her absence.
WHAT was she to dor One of these crises
had arrived which are so pretty, yet so
important, when the wisest of woman
are reduced to semi-imbecility by an
emergency not contemplated in any moral
code. 1t was time for him TO take his
beef-tea. Inc doctor had commanded
that under no circumstances was this
duty to be omitted or postponed; but who
could have foreseen such circumstances
as these, in which evidetly matters of
life and death were going through his
mindl After such an agitating inter
view he wanted it more and more. than
nOurishment upon which his recovery
depended. But how suggest it to a man
whose mind was rOup AWAY into troubled