The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-04

his spine, and made him feel very creepy
and uncomfortable. "But-why-why-
why" he stammered, after a perplexed
pause.
Why did take such pains TO separate
you and Mrs. O'COpnor3" said the
coioneIs wife, calmly. ''Ah thereby
hangs tale u She leaned her head Oh
her hand. and looked him full in the face
with her thoughtful eyes How long is
IL since yoa. heard Of Muriel Vermont"
! she asked, suddenly
Gerald S Jaw dropped.
SMufiel Vermont he echoed, blankly,
| "Muriel Vernon ~
For Muriel Vernon was the girl whom
he had loved and asked to marry him two
years ago, land he had almost forgotten
her existence and the pretty summer idyl
In which she had played her part.
IL all came. back to him now, though,
ana rush OF awakened memories flooded
his heart, Once more he was back in the
narrow Winding country lane, with its
nigh green banks and rose-starred hedges;
once more hefelt the fresh perfumed air
OF the June evening upon his face, and
saw the love7light ia the eyes uplifted to
ms; All those eyes-puPe and tender
and steadfasb; he had seen nothing like
them OF late. Why, Oh why had he for
gotten them2 Why, Oh, why had he
allowed other less worthy. interests and
amusements 10 blot out the memory of
the truest love and purest heart that it
ever fell to the lot of man to VIM
The eolonels wife was still looking at
him
II know Muriel Vernon" she said, "she
is good and true woman, a better woman
than any man deserves to win-and she
loves you. But if it had not been for me
you would have lost herr
The paused, and Gerald bowed his head
on his hands. .-
Il am not good enough for her. he said
in smothered tone.
No. returned the colonels wife; 81
quite agree with you; you are not good
enough for her-but you may become so.
You are only thoughtless and impulsive-
there is no real harm in you; aud she
loves ycu.n
She paused again, looking at him re-
heetlYely !; then smile crossed her face,
and brought all her pretty dimples into
play.
Il am afraid my character is irretriev-
ably lost this time, - she laughed. sour
good friends here have torn it into shreds
and scattered it to the winds of heaven.
But L don't mind that Il don't
mind anything so long as | have saved
you, Gerald; for Mrs. O'Connor may pose
as an angel, aud may deceive the world,
but she can't deceive me. l know more
about her than the world knows, and |
know that yeu ought TO go down on your
knees and thank heaven for. your escape.
Never mind how / acquired my knowledge
I did acquire it, and | have used it in
your interests. That woman is heartless
and worthless; sheis incapable of caring
for anyone but herself, and she has not
thought beyond her own gain and ad-
vancement, She played deep game, and
she nearly won it; but well, 1 knew
little too much for her and 1 was able to
turn what kuewto good account. Thank
heaven for that"
THANK heaven" echoed Gerald
She held out her hand to him, still smil-
ing, a....
"You are my prize, Gerald" she said.
II fought for you and 1 won you, and
now give you back to Muriel Vernon. It
is not too late. She loves you still, and
If you tell her all the truth she will for
give you and go on loving YOU. can wish
yOn no better fate'' .... -.
There was queer sort of lump in Ger
AIDS throat but he choked it down some
how, as he grasped her hand and wrHng
1t hard, with all his impetuous boyish
heart shining in his eyes 4t- l+ ..,..
u can't thank you, he cried, $50 it's
no good trying. The English language
doesn't contain. the proper WORDS But
III prove myself WORTHY of all YOU have
dotie for me, and OF Mufiel's love. l
promise. On my hOn0r.
The coloners wife smiled again.
II believe vou," she said
zone thing more,' said Gerald "tell
me why you took all this trouble for me.
What am 1 to you that you should risk so
much for my sakel"
The smile faded then, and soft, sad
look crept into her eyes-a look that the
world had never seen there
You are the son of the only man ever
cared for,' she answered in low tone.
He cared for me, too; but-but we met
too late. He was married, and so
was /, and and. Well, it's
no good thinking about it now. But you
are just like him, and you look at me
with his eyes and speak to me
with his voice, and so could not see you
sacrificed. There was only one way to
save you, and l took it, and risked the
rest. | did it for the sake of the past,
Gerald. A good many versions of the
story will be told very unpleasant YER
sions, and every one will pity Mrs O'Con-
nor and say hard things Of me; but we
Will keep our secret, you and l. We know
the true version, and we know that l did
my best for you, according to my lights I
not so much for your own sake, as for the
sake of Aud Lang Syne."