The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-24

y from side 10 side ne turned Nealii4
he opened and shut his dim eyes. with
which. as he lay. ne could see from the
windows Of his room the waving fields Of
uncut corn. the grass-lands the young
pIantations-a hundred familiar objects
that called him owner. He was going TO
leave all these. TO leave them. and to
whom? And the old man sighed heavily.
as again and again painful doubts and
fears passed vaguely and uneasily through
his mind.
Presently the doctor arrived, and the
sq,nre-as ne was always called at Grey
lands-smiIed feebly and held out one OF
his thin hands TO welcome him as he en-
tered the room.
We'll" said the doctor in a somewhat
subdued voice. and rather a melancholy
smile. 'and how do you find yourself this
evening. Mr.. Roden?"
IN be no better in this world. doctor"
answered Mr. Roden. Il know thst-and
] want you to tell me the truth"
The doctor cleared his throat uneasily.
You are an old friend" continued the
sick man; "at least, you have always
seemed friendly enough" he added rather
bitterly; but then l have given you no
cause TO be otherwise"
That's qui:e true" said the doctor,
'you have been a good and kind friend
TO me. my dear sir" and he took Mr..
Roden's hand with some feeling in his
own; 'and it only grieves me-terribly
grieves me-to see you so ill.,"
ITO see me dying. Ward?" said Mr..
Roden. as the doctor paused, "ay. know
st WE'LL must leave it all-and now will
you tell me. honestly tell me, what you
think of Hugh?"
Il think he's a fine young fellow, really
p fine young fellow" answered the doc
tor, heartily. I've seen nothing to find
fault with since he came to Greylands"
But he has a motive, Ward-a strong
motive for seeming all right here" said
the old man, moving his head restlessly
on the pillows; "his old uncle is dying
what will he be when his old uncle is
dead?'
The doctor looked very grave.
Mr.. ROden," he said gently, you did
me the honor to call me an old friend
gust now-may I speak as one?'
Yes, yes. to be sure" answered the in
valid.
Well" said the doctor, Il think in this
world (where our capacity for the knowl-
edge of others is so limited, that IT is
the best and happiest way to trust"
Il can't do it," exclaimed the old squire
as the doctor paused. Il can't forget
Hughs mother"
MY dear sir, why recall old griefs?"
Because I seem to remember them so
clearly now" said Mr.. Roden, 'all those
miserable days-nearly thirty years ago
when Hugh's mother Tilted me. shame
fully Tilted me, because my brother Rob
ert was supposed to be making a great
fortune! But you see how 1t ended-her
son is a pauper now-but for me-but for
met
Il think he is a fine fellow" again re-
peated the doctor
AYE. think, but are you sure?" asked
Mr.. Roden. Would he be honest and
true if he were tried? What is gold worth
till it's tried?"
II hope he won't be tried"
''Why?" asked the old man testify. Be
cause he's courting,or supposed to be
counting. Winny Southwen your sister
daughter, eh, doctor?"
Really. Mr.. Roden," said the doctor,
with some anger and annoyance in his
voice. Il know nothing about such boy
and girl nonsense"
But boy and girl nonsense ends in
marriage sometimes" said old Roden;
land il wouldn't be a bad thing for a
country parsons daughter to marry the
heir of Greylands, eh?''
Il know nothing about it," repeated
the doctor.
But he's always there, isn't he?" asked
MFR. Roden.
i've seen him about" answered DR..
Ward; but come, squire, / came to feel
your pulse and look at your tongue, and
not gossip about young folks folly"
"Ay.' said Mr. Roden4 shaking his
IL
doctor-but you can feel my pulse. though
it can do no good now
While the doctor was feeling the old
mans pulse, and trying to cheer him as
best he could; in a narrow pathway
through one of the fields of the green I'M
cut corn, which the old man, Hugh Ro-
den. was so 10th to leave, young Hugh
Roden. the supposed heir, was standing
looking smihngly down on the face of a
girl. both of whose hands were held
fast in his
"And nothing will change you, Winny?"
he said. still smiling. Suppose now my
venerable uncle We're to cut me off with
the proverbial shilling, what them"
Yes, that would change mel" answer
ed the girl, coquettishly, looking up in
the young mans good-looking face with
her clear bright eyes.
"Oh, Winny!
YES" said the girl again, with little
nod, "that would change me-"
"And you wouldn't care for me then,
winny?"
A sudden flush came on her blooming
face-a sudden glow.
Yes she repeated for the third time,
sit would change me-for l would care
for you more, Hugh-a hundred times
more than 1 do now! And as young
Hugh clasped her to his breast she whis-
pered again: "a hundred times more
Il believe you, Winny," he answered.
ferventIy, Il believe you from my heart
and nothing-you know that, don't your
nothing can ever alter me-"
That very night the dying squire sum
rnoned his nephew to come to his bedside.
He went. the young man with his heart
warm with love and hope, to the old man
whose heart was cold. and for whom all
hope had passed away. For a moment
they looked at each other in silence
the old Hugh Roden. and the young Hugh
Roden-and then the young man spoke
with quick pity in his tone.
Il am sorry you feel so i'll tonight, un-
Gle" he said.
The old man moved his hand as IL TO
indicate that such speech were now
waste of time.