The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-16
THE WITHERING OF A ROSE,
BY MARIE CORELLL.

T
I She went back to London after about a
T week. and then fell i'll"
I hat was the matter with your" he
asked sympathetically.
She shrugged her shoulders
An sorts Of things-fainting fits. weak
ness, nerves-disagreeab leness generally
, Here is Harold"
She broke OF her conversation with
Fame directly her husband entered the
room, and seemed TO shrink into herself
IKE a sensitive plant too roughly han
dled- Allingham himself was the same as
ever-irreDroachable in dress. demeanor.
and what is understood By a portion OF
society as gentlemanliness." He greeted
tane with exactly the correctly measured
air Of cOrdiality-nam that OF the
wealthy host and encourag ing patron
and II was an air that CALLED the young
artists pride considerably, though he was
careful for Mrs. Allingham's peace and
comfort TO show no offense. He certain
~ could not complain OF his entertain
ment- He had a suite OF rooms to him
self and perfect liberty Of action he
breakfastcd, lunched and dined at table
appointed with the costlicst luxuries: a car
riage was al his disposal whenever he
needed fl; and Mr. Allingham had furth-
ermOre. given him the choice Of any horse
IN his stables, should ne care for riding
lie had engaged 10 make two dozen
sketches Of Dunsc0mbe Hall from all the
different points of view, and when once
he began his work he became almost en-
tirely engrossed in il.
The place was undoubtedly a fine OBJ
Ject Tor any artists study-its architecture
was well nigh perfect. and all the sur
rOundings were eminently picturesque,
though indubitably Of a solitary and mel
ancholy character lie did not see as
much Of Mrs. Allingham as he could have
wished; she was often ailing and though
she invariably exertcd herself TO appear
a dinner. there were times when she was
was not equal even TO that effort and her
husband seated in solitary state at mis-
glittering board would make formal ex-
cuscs for her absence.
My wife is very young" he would ex
plain ponderously, land is. therefore, in
clined TO give way to any trifing all
ment. The doctor assures me that she is
suffering merely from a little want of
tone and tho autumnal air depresses her;
there is nothing at all serious the matter"
she looks extremely ill.," said Fame,
impulsively.
you think SOP" And Mr. Allingham
smiled indulgenuy. I expect you are
not accustomed TO the ways of women
they put their looks on and off as easily
as the gowns. In her present nervous
condition of health It quite depends upon
Mrs. Allingham's own humor as to whcth- |
or she looks well or Hit has nothing
whatever to do with any actually real
organic mischief"
Fame swallowed glass of wine hastily
to keep down the angry remark that rose
to his lips, for the cold calousness of his |
host was almost more than he could bear
Rejecting quickly. however, that 1t was
not his business to interfere, and that
the less ne said the better for Mrs. Alling-
ham, he was silent.
You have not tried your hand yet at
the Haunted Mere?" inquired Mr. Alling-
ham presently.
mo. 1-er-the fact isl have not yet
had time to go and look at it,"
'True-you have been very much occu-
pied with the house Itself" and Mr.. AL
bingham nodded approvingly-"an your
work is admirable-quite admirable, But
should suggest your visiting the Mere
before the. foliage quite falls. fancy you
will find & well worth your study"
Il Will go Tomorrow said Fame.
And on the morrow he went He started
early in the morning, one of the gardeners
directing him as to which path to follow
When he came in fun sight of the glitter
ing sheet Of water he could scarcely refrain
from uttering a cry of rapture. 1t was
so m=stically beautiful: the deep soil
tude surrounding 1t was so intense and
unbroken, that he no longer wondered at
the reputation 1t had of being haunted"
Grand old willow trees. with gnared
trunks and knotty stems bent above its
lance the land rolled away in gentle UNI
dulations of green ana brown, relieved
here and there with a clump Of
stately elms, or a tangle of bright, yellow
furze. The place was so still that not
even the twitter of bird broke the breath
less calm-and, powerfully impressed by
the whole scene, Fame took a rapid pencil
sketch in outline to begin with, his ult-
mate intention being to make a large pic
ture of It, with view to exhibition in one
of the London galleries. Returning rapid
ly to the house, to finish what he had COM
menced the previous day. he met Mrs. AL
bingham walking slowly to and fro on the
terrace.
Have you been to the Haunted Mere?
she asked. smiling.
For moment he could not speak. The
pathos of her young face. the fatigue of
her soft eyes, the listless expression of her
very figure. all this went to his heart, and
made him pity her as he had never pitied
any woman. He felt her to be no more
than little tired out child-a child, long
ing to be taken up in tender arms, and
gently carried home There was slight
tremble in his voice. as he answered with
an effort at playfulness-
yes, l have seen the Mere, but not the
ghost. DO you know, Mrs. Allingham, !
begin to think you must be the ghost-you
look like one this morning"
do l? I'm sorry. l hate to be ill-my
husband doesn't like it. 1 wish l could get
strong more quickly" .
Are you feeling worse then, to-day?"
asked Fame, with a touch of real anxiety
in his tone, which made her look at him
in grateful wonder.
ooh. no." she said, II am only little
run down., as the doctor says, and weak.
Harold declares it is all womans non
sense and thinks don't exert myself to
get well; but indeed do. 1t is very kind
of you to take so much interest,"
Kind" echoed Fame, almost irritably;
then, looking about him to make sure there
was no one in sight, he approached her
more closely. Look here, Mrs. Alling--
ham, do forgive me if l seem officious or
impertinent, but l can't help asking you
this one question-are you quite happy"
She glanced up at him almost alright
eddy, and meeting his friendly eyes, her
own filled with sudden tears.
NO" 1 am not" she faltered. but it is
wicked of me to say so. because you see
it is quite my own fault. l ought to be
happy-I have everything 1 want"
"Except-love" said Fame in half
whisper struggling mentally with the in
sane desire that had suddenly seized him,
to take this pale little child-woman in his