The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
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ural. He had suffered for her sake, and he
had his own livelihood now to make by his
own eXertions. He was not afraid. He
had abilities he knew and. what was far
more important, many friends among So
licitors. For abilities, alas are a drug in
the market. So little did Lionel under
stand his altered position. indeed, that ne
spent fifteen shillings on that unneces-
sary telegram. When you've been accus-
toned to an allowance of a thousand a
year all your life, you can't realize just at
once that fifteen shillings is fifteen shill-
ings.
On one thing he was determined He
would run out to Antilles and see Thora
Just once before he settled down to work
in London TO earn himself an income on
which to marry her.
Running out to Antilles" seemed moth
| ing TO the young man. He had sixty or
seventy pounds to his credit at the bank.
That would suffice for the present. AS
soon as he got back he must set to work
hard at the bar, and meanwhile try to pick
up "a little easy journalism" 1t seems
so simple to earn your living by journalism
| when you have never tried it. Just pen
ink. and paper, and there you are. But,
oh, heaven. the reality!
| Next day he set out for ChaEing Cross
| by the morning train for the Riviera. He
would at least see Thora, to let her know
and how cheerfully he did 1t.
Calais, Paris, Lyons, he passed them all
| gaily enough, flushed with youth and hope
| and buoyed by the consciousness of having
| performed a meritorious-nay, almost
| heroic action. For Thora's sake he could
do or give up anything. How queenly she
| had looked that evening at Windermere.
| How beautiful how noble! lie would
| prove himeslf worthy of her. Lady Norah.
| indeed! A mere Irish soubrette. pretty and
piquante Of course-but not like his Thora,
All night long the train sped through
the darkness down the interminabe length
of the Rhone valley. and Lionel had time
| and to spare for thoughts of the future
| He was young, he was strong, and the
loss of fortune appalled, him but little
His cousin Charlie might take it all and
| welcome. For himself, he would be proud
to build one up for Thora.
| Marseilles came with morning; hot cof-
fee took off fatigue of the night; and then
all the next day the train still wound on
/ round those gracious bays and bends Of
/ the lapis lazuli Mediterranean. The por-
| phyry crags of the Esterel CLEANED Grim
I son in the full flood of the southern sun
| shine; but Lionel hardly needed them, all
| glorious as they were, so absorbed was his
soul in his expected meeting with Thora
| At Antilles station he alighted from the
| train, and took fiacre to the hotel on the
I
| rived there, forgetful of his long Journey
| he hastily guiped down a second cup of
| coffee, and then went out in search of
| Thora. A small Provencal boy with very
marked accent volunteered to guide him to
! her aunt's tiny villa. He reached it in ten
| minutes-a dainty wee chalet, surrounded
| by stonepines, and overlooking a spacious
view of the deep blue Collie Jouan.
| Lionel rang the bell hastily. A neat
French maid in pretty cap of the coun-
try, all crimped and crinkled, opened the
door for him gingerly.
Gould he see Mademoiselle Braydale?"
No, justement it was impossible. Made
moiselle was indisposed. She was receiv-
| ing no one.
"Indisposed?" Lionel echoed, drawing
back aghast, for the girls face was seri-
Gus. why what is the matter with her?"
The maid dropped her voice. Actually"
she answered low. 1.-The case is isolated
Mademoiselle has smallpox"
V.
The blow was terrible. 1t cut Lionel like
| knife. But / can see her." he cried
wringing his hands at this sad end to his
| little romance. Give her my card at once
and ask If 1 cannot see her"
The girl shook her head. "No, mon
| sieur," she answered. Those are the doc
tors orders. tell you the case is strict
ly isolated. She may not receive any
| one"
For three weeks Lionel stopped on, chat
ing at the comfortable Hotel du Cap. With
| Thora i'll, how could he ever 90 back and
begin that new life in bustling London
! Day after day, he eat away his soul in the
| long suspense of watching and waiting.
| Inquiries every hour were all he could dc.
| The law was strict Thora was isolated
with all the cruel and unnecessary rigor
of French sanitary legislation. 1t is their
IL 4 -
is stolen.
At last she got better and was released
from durance. The very first day she was
/ permitted by the powers that be to see her
/ friends, Lionel went round early to the
chalet all eagerness. To his great sur
| prise, he was given message that Thora
/ could not receive him. In vain he remon-
/ strated The little maid was adamant.
"Mademoiselle said no-not on any ac-
count Monsieur Etheredge"'
| What on earth could this mean? He
/ fumed and fretted. An hour later note
| in Thoras handwriting arrived at the ho-
tel. He tore it open, breathless.
Dearest Lionel 1t said, you must not
come near me. You must never see me
again. My own pride and vanity will not
| permit it, Think of me 1 was; forget
| what I have become. Go home and marry
| Lady Norah. I implore you. My darling,
| nv darling, love you too much to let you
/ see me now Your heartbroken, Thora."
What could Lionel do but sit down at
once and write her passionate letter of
unalterable affection, declaring no matter
what the disease might have done. he was
| still. as ever, her devoted Lionel? And he
meant it, every word. He loved her to dis
traction; loEed her for herself, and also
for all he had proposed to give up for her.
If YOU want to love anybody, take my
word for it, there is no way so sure as to
make for their sake some tremendous sac
| riice.
Even so, for three days, Thora refused
to see him. At last, overcome by his en-
treaties, and her own longing to see him,
i she yielded and received him.
Lionel entered the little salon full of hope
and certainty The blinds were half drawn
the light was uncertain. But even so, the
truth was evident Thora rose to greet
! him. and held out both her hands with a
| wild, despairing gesture. She knew the
worst already. All she could say was,
| s.Lionell Lionelr'
He gazed at her in silence. He could not
utter a word. The shock was too horrible.
| Yet the voice wassThora's.
She paused second and looked hard at
1 hi ole