The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26

sponded the other, with fiippant ease.
lu has been written that difference of
tastes In jokes strains friendship; 50 does
difference in pathetics. The colonel suffered
natural chagriO. He restrained his foot
steps and said with grave dignity:
God knows l have no wish to force a re-
newal OF our friendship. Is it to be good
by"
Harold turned upon him fiercely,
TO, and pll curse you'll Do you want
me to Irvine about you like a woman? Would
you have me slobber like a chlldi Is it lost.
then, that intuition with which you used to
fit your mood to minel If it be, then
the sooner you take yourself off, the bet
terw
These coarse words appeared to comfort
the colonel exceedingly, for he slipped his
arm through his friends and drew him for
word; and If he pressed that arm almost
with a woman's fondness, neither you know
it, nor |.
They soon reached that unsavory pre-
cinct Of old Soho known as Happing court:
ana before one Of its hopeless tenements
Harold Vlance stopped. By glowering per-
severingly into the dark beyond OF the door
way, one could family perceive the murk
outlines Of apparently endless stairs.
Brother, trust thy feet are shod with
the preparation Of the gospel of peace. -
warned Harold Vlance, as telling fragments
of a brRwl tioated downward to their ears.
he then commenced to ascend with the grim
quotation of, "Hoc opus, hic labor est"
After three flights had been climbed and
the disturbance left behind. Vlance struck
out boldly through the darkness, and ar
rived at door from beneath which stole a
feeble grin of light.
Here we are" he announced, opening his
portal with q strong kick, less an excess of
animal spirits than a necessity since the
door lacked its handle.
little girl who sat at wooden table,
binding herself with book, glanced up at
her visitors, then gravely measured the
candle, and remarked positively:
Harold, you are earIy.n
and have all your lessons in department
been for naughts Don't you know your
duty toward your neighbor yet, Cheviot?n
The child quickly slipped from her chair
and put her fingers into the astonished
coloneps.
"a friend of Harold's. 1 hope? Friends
are scarce but welcome" She sighed and
looked at her father with the request. I'm
troduce us,"
This gentleman is Col. Hams" pro-
ceeded harold politely. MAY he never
want a bottle, nor friend to give it, toe.
Colonel, my daughter, Cheviot-so called be-
cause she was born among those ancient
hills, and because her mother wished her to
De called sOm6EnlOG else.
Cheviot withdrew her hand and crept
back to her book, and Hams sat down and
stared blankly about him, while Vlance
poised himself on the tables edge and
smiled satirically.
1t is seldom that one is ashamed Of being
we'll dressed; but at the mOmen6 the colonel
would have cheerfully forfeited a months
pay TO exchange his faultless evening suit
aud his light overcoat for articles OF ap-
parel that would have held up his friends
attire in less embarrassing and cruel con-
trast. His shining hat insulted the wooden
table, his FURNISHED boots shed scorn over
the uncarpeed boards. OF the two the
colonel was the man abashed.
The man of poverty quoted dryly:
"'Poor and content is rich and rich
enough"
Hugh barely repressed a groan, and asked
almost enRTily, How did you come to it,
You promised brighter things in those old
days. You never gambled, never drank"
mo, never was oeastly drunk in my life.
Not an irremediable disgrace, though.
Might attempt something in that line yet "
Hams made an impatient gesture.
1--WE are not back on the old footing and
the fault, Harold, is yours, not mine. There
used to be confidence between us; now we
are speaking across chasm."
Meaning, l suppose, that l do not rattle
the past twelve years, with philosophical
analysis of the main causes which haVe LED
to these very palpable results. Can't do it.
Hugh. A man never acknowledges he il
falling until he strikes bottom with @
thump. Expect no more from me than the
admission that l am in perfect condition tic
point q mortal or GdOrn a tale"
He flashed a suggestive glance over his
bare surroundings, and again smiled at his
friends perturbation.
Preparation, OPP
Cheviot msrrsd the silence by turning a
page.
"How old is shel" asked the colonel.
NEARLY 49,"
Impossible you"
Exactly, l was married before took
my degree"
but no one knew of it,"
Naturally enough. 1t was nothing of
which to be proud. In fact. it was an acE OF
reparation."
Eyes. l followed the noble impulse of
the soul that old Rugge used to preach to
us fellows, and the result was as disastrous
and almost as prompt as if had blown out
my brains; there's a bitch in ethics for
you"
His voice was melody itself, but his
eyes burned with a free light as
they looked back over wasted. embittered
HIBs I1uu LEo COlOuCA o6oA bu6J uOL dlQ
hunted look be would have withheld, l
know, his next words.
you seem to forget" be began slowly.
''that had no wrong been done in the begin
Mug"
Don't you suppose" insinuated Harold
"that my wife used frequently to present to
me that view of the matterF
In the voice was go dangerous a smooth
ness that the colonel looked at the speaker
and was surprised - see on his young face
a look OF such utter agony, that he rose i'm
pulsively and sat beside him upon tho little
table, putting his arm around his neck and
laying q hand upon his shoulder, recalling
to both those far-oR but well remember ed
days in which they had so often read and
talked together In just that familiar atti-,
tude.
You have suffered, Harold-how much
how long, l will not ask. since you have no
wish to tell; but l am in position. thank
God, to help you. If you will let me.
On your side there must not be hesitation.
You know the claim you have upon
me. You seemed to think that,
after you had succeeded in drag
ginR me out of the water and ring
ing me up again into blessed sunshine each
mention of it from me was personal af-
front. You oTbade the topic; but the fact
remains that my life beongs to you. You
save it in the face Of fearful dangers, at
your own lifes risk"
"Do you forget that you gave me your
ote for the amount Of the debtP
II remember nothing but the friendship
OF those old days." quickly interposed the
colonel, speaking with an intensity of emo
--IS,~ er-gF. T. 4