The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16

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! quite an absurdity."
! Then they are very impudent and i'll
| bred" said Fame hotly.
/ 'Oh. no, they are not" and she laughed
l little. They come and call on regular
days and ask me IL l am equal 10 the
management Of such a large hOuse2 Do
I not ma the servants a great trialy Have
I a strong constitution one lady always
Z surveys me mournfully through her pince-
nez. and says; You are very young TO
I have secured such magnificent estab-
I hshment' And that is quite true, Duns-
/ combe Hall is magnifcent-don't you think
so2"
They paused on the terrace just at
/ point which faced the extensive left wing
I OF the grand old pile. Carved escutch-
cons. flying buttresses and heraldic devices
were all thrown up into sharp promi-
hence by the mellow rays Of the autumnal
MONDAY sun. and Immediately opposite
them was the sculptured figure OF a war
rior-saint in a Gothic niche. festOoned
with clambering white roses whose deli
cate blossoms surrounded and softened
the statues frigid aspect Of frozen prayer.
Fame shivered Slightly. Yes" he said.
In tone Of one who makes reluctant
admission. 1T is fine old place. But its
character is distinctly melancholy. Il is
not a Beethoven Sonata or a Mcndel-
ssOhn 'Lied'-it is one Of Chopins most
mOurnful 'Nocturnes.'
Rose Allingham gave him q quick glance
Of perfect comprehension, but said moth
ing in reply. Moving in her light. bird
IKE way across the terrace, she gathered
one of the roses that hung near the statue
IN the niche and gave it to him. He had
scarcely taken it from her before its leaves
Tell In white fragrant shower at his feet.
She smiled little forcedly.
Il was afraid Of that" she said. They
are all on the very point of falling. / will
hn
afternoon-Or tomorrow will get YOU
one from the rosery: they are in better
condition there. Now. | must not dctain
you from your work any longer; you want
all the daylight possible. Have you got
this old stone saint in any Of your sketches
yet?
Not yet" he answered abstractedly.
looking first at her and then at the petals
OF the fallen rose
''Oh, hope you viii put him in some
whereF' she exclaimed. almost playfully
He Is such a dear old thing. You seem
quite melancholy over that wasted rose"
1 am, he admitted. Il hate to see any
beautiful thing perish"
But then so many beautiful things do
perish. she said, with a musing regret in
her eyes. zone must get accustomed to
that You recollect your picture of the
great pine tree on the 'Gutsch' split
through by lightning? That suggested to
me the ruin Of a noble life Wei. all these
little white roses that fall so easily at a
touch, they are TO me the emblems of just
such number of little lives; quite little
lives, you know. Of no actual use to any
body; only just pretty and fragrant and
harmless, that at a rough touch or
hasty misunderstanding drop to pieces and
sink into the ground unnoticed aud I'M
missed. believe each little rose has its
own little secret sadness"
She smiled and waved her hand to him,
and she moved away slowly and re-cn-
tered the house
When she was quite out of sight. Fame.
moved by some odd sentiment which he
could not himself analyze, picked up nv-
cry one of the fallen rose petals and put
them in his pocketboolI. Then he set dbou.
sketching the ancient sculptured saint.
while the sun was still bright on its
weather-beaten features and piously fold
ed hands.
Der, the Feast Of All Saints" The wealth
er was beautifully clear and warm, AMI
Fane went out early, without even see
ing his host and patron as usual III
order to profit by the clearness of the at
mosphere and get a long days steady
work. When he returned in time for the
late dinner he heard that Mrs. Alline-
ham had been seized with a succession OF
Painting ITS and that the doctor had been
sent for. Greatly Disconnected by this
news he entered the dining room fun Of
eager and sympathetic inquiries. but
found his host so bland and calm, and
SO perfectly satisfied that there was no
cause whatever for anxiety as to his young
wife's condition, that he felt it would be
deemed odd and out of place If he. as q
visitor and paid artist" has exhibited
any unduly great concern.
1T is mere weakness and nervous pros
tration." said Mr.. Allingham, drinking his
champagne with relish as he spoke, "aui
in these cases fainting fits are d relief
rather than danger l am sorry Rose has
allowed herself to run down in this way
l am afraid IL will necessitate my going
with her to the seaside for a short time
1t would be particularly inconvenient 10
me just now-but if it must be done it
must"
Fame could not speak. He gulped his
food and wine down hastily with such
sense Of impotent rage as almost
choked him. He could scarcely bear to
look at the composed, sleek, self-satisfied
man beside him, attired, as was his usual
evening custom, in irreproachabe dress
suit, starchy shirt and white tie-he would
have liked to knock him down and tram
pie on him. AS soon as the dinner was
ended, he left the room with muttered
hasty excuse about "having letters to
write, and went out in the soft night air
to smoke by himself and "cool down.
as he inwardly expressed It, for his feel
ing were in perfect tumult. Pity and
anxiety for Mrs. dillingham; and CON
tempt for her husband struggled for the
mastery in his mind; and he walked on
and on through the grounds under the
light of full MOON not needing where
he was going to in the heat of his wrath
and excitement.
Il can't staid it," he said, half aloud,
at last, I'm leave the place tomorrow,
l can finish the sketches at home now.
I've got enough material to go upon. If
| stay here any longer 1 shall come to
hsucuns with that egotistical prig, or
or-otherwise make a fool of myself"
sudden shiver ran through him; and
conscious of certain dampness and I'M
pleasant chill in the air, ne stopped alb
ruptly to see whittier he had come
To his amazement, right in front of
him stretched the Haunted Mere" gilt
tering like polished steel in the silver rays
OF the moon. Something there was in the
weird aspect of the still water and the
twisted willows that impressed him with
a sense of awe; and, as though a cold hand