The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-01


gave us both until the coveted degrees
and honors were taken. and, above all,
her pride in our well-carned victories,
which, until now, had alone seemed worth
all the heroic struggle.
That was but yesterday. A lifetime Of
bitterness seemed 10 have come between.
Why. as ] sat there huddlcd in the com
partment corner, the agony OF the utter
change in all my life-horizon. indeed in
all its complete blotting out, until prison
walls of hOpelessncSs. black as
the night against my carriage window,
choked and stined me until / cried out
above the roaring Of the train.
1t had all come too. in an instant. How
could human being so change in a day, or
an hour
We We're sitting in the library dis
GUESSING our future plans. Both Lord
Neville and myself had ambition for
literary achievement. He had the
ability, the prestige the wealth. to win
almost instant attention and appreciation.
] had no doubt of him; and loved to spur
on his ambition with. Neville, you have
Byron's genius. Be as great poet and
safer man. ~
AS for myself, the old long road through
labor for support and eventual preferment
on the London dailies, the weekles, the
reviews and magazines, was to be mine
was satisfied to toll and wait. and al
ready had good connections with a lead
ing London Journal | had been telling
him how soon | hoped to be able to repay
him at least in part for his munifcent
generosities.
Il shall be offended if the matter is ever
again referred to- he answered in his
bright, decisive way
We were at opposite sides of the library
table. His splendid head rested in one
hand, and the disengaged hand had APP
parently unconsciOusly touched my own,
as if TO emphasize the protest of his
words. My gratitude was so overfowing
and tender that l iuvoluntarily raised his
hand to my lips. He withdrew it quickly
and said
Newton, there is another matter we
may not be able 10 settle so easily"
Why, what can that be, Nevilleo" I
asked with concern.
"Robena."
"Robena2"
Yes"
The tone of his voice, the strange ex-
panslon and contraction of his eyes and
the sudden paleness of his face, instantly
revealed TO me the gulf of worse than hate
which must now lay between US forever.
We can scarcely disagree about Ro-
Dena, Neville, when you are so much my
friend, and have known for more than
year that she IS TO be my wife ~ | man
"Oh, yes that's all right, Newton ~ he
returned lightly. But you ought to
nave known, all along, that | love her
quite as deeply as yourself. Now, when
Two men love the same women, one or
both, must stand aside. I'm not going to
stand aside. To be perfectly plain and
end painful matter, l have decided to
take Mrs. Hardie and her daughter under
my own wing. Newton ~
N'IO what end f'1 | rnanorad Fol+o,,
Notwithstanding his astounding impu-
dence and heartlessness, [ could not vet
believe him villain
Il decline to answer any such question
IL is enough TO say that in all YOUR life YOU
can never be in position to tittingly pro
vide for two ladies of their cultivation
and tastes"
Is your love for Robena such as to give
her the protection of your name, should
she consent to wear it, Lord Nevile2"
1t IS sufficient to make her comforta-
Bile and Independent for life man is a
coward who will profess love for any
woman before he has acquired that
ability
now knew he was villain, however
long he had been one. My impulse was
to strike him. He saw this, but never
quailed. | controlled myself, and in
stead. sprang toward the ladies' apart
ments with some swift, confused resolve
to know the worst from them / would
have staked my life on Robenas loyalty
But would not also have staked il upon
Nevlle,s honor and. friendship five min
utes before. Was the ambitious, patient,
polished mother of the woman | loved
the real author of the subtle cunning be-
hind Lord Neville's iusolent assurance?
remember that when | had reached
the door leading 30 the drawing room it
was standing aJar, and that | caught the
sound OF hastily retreating skirts, and |
now knew Robena's mother had listened.
My hand was scarcely on the door knob
when Lord Neville, without changing his
position, spoke quickly and quietly.
''NewtonW he demanded. Newton
have you forgotten that you are merely a
guest here! l should regret having TO
summon an Officer
What dogs favors and obligations make
OF men! | was as helpless as his valet
against the infamy Batfied, half crazed
and lnconceiva bly, wretched, | turned a
pitiful lace upon him and appealed to his
magnanimity, his honor, our olden friend
ships, to everything sacred between men.
His splendid head still rested in his hand
and he was toying idly with his watch
fob; While his features were as impassive
and restful as in sleep.
when you are calm and reasonable
say this evening, or in the morning
would be glad 10 see you again. Until
then, Newton. won you oblige me. won I
you oblge US all, by Withdrawing from
the house,"
| went out into the sweet old streets of
Oxford dazed as one blinded from drink
or blow. Those were the last words [
ever heard spoken by the man who had
made my youthtide and early manhood
almost heaven and who, in a day, had
seemingly palsied my whole life So as
the train Numbered on toward Waterloo
station, past, present and future was
like horrible dream, and as devoid of
hope--save for the one look of pitiful ap-
peal in Robena 5 white face, beside Lord
Neville in his brougham-as the night
outside my compartment window was
rayless of light.
Our sub-editor had regarded me with
watchfulness and concern for a full
week.
"Newtown," finally kindly said, ''you
are not yourself. Your work has no go
IN II. One of three things is certain You
are suffering mental syncope after the
excitements of your oxford victories
you are really i'll; or you have been Tilted
In either case you must have an entire
change of environment Ghosts are
just now coming on in the Saturday sup
plements and the reviews. Leave Lon
don at once. Set out for the north Go
as far as the Scottish border. if YOU like
Search out the most ancient parish