The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-03-29

L u the trees were having Dad dreams.
| But as the days few by. The boy went,
as he had said. 10 college, and the girl was
I iefL alone But always she thought OF
that kiss under the evering stars, and
Z OF the quest on which she had sent her
lover. And as she slept she dreamed Of
what Il would prove 10 be-that most
beautiful thing Sometimes it took one
shape, sometimes another but Il always
nlied her thought when she woke at morn,
and when she lay down upon her cot at
night, y mingled in her prayers. and so IL
Went. days flew into weeks; weeks into
months. and months into years; but the
boy remained a student at the school. and
the song Of Cricket grew more and more
sad, as he chirped upon the Uncovered
post.
One day the boy came home again. It
was TOUR years since the night he had
kissed the girl IN front Of the gate.
Four years is a long time. II works
many changes, and he noticed IL as he
walked up the narrow street and looked
about him
Many OF the old landmarks were gone.
and the old facesi they, too, were chang
pie now, and the quaint old inn had given
place TO staring hotel. with horrible
windows and gaudy paint. Everything
was changed. he himself as much as
any. He was a tail young man now
with a dOWny muStache, and a gay,
cashing manner. He wore a uniform.
Tor he was in a military school, and
ogled the girls as he passed them.
Yet. changed as IL all was. he was
surprised to find that everybody knew
him.
Here's my young scapegrace again, I
see.' cried old Hugh. the sexton, as
they met. and Rob laughed and held up
his head as he walked on. Tt is no harm
to be called a scaDegrace!
There goes young Eliot" said one
Wrinkled dame to another Sorrow o.
me. but me hearts sair TO see that same"
answered her companion, Stout Betty
OFlynn. There never was Eliot yet who
didn't mar more than he made" went
on the first.
'''Thrue for ye. och hone, but me heart
is wrung for the Colleen there; she wor-
ships him so, an him en- Elliott"
"Shure. but here's a fCine fellow now"
said Mike Cooper, Robs old playmate.
But Mikes hands were dirty and his
clothes torn. To be sure his face was
bright with sturdy good nature, and the
light Of pleased recognition shone in his
eyes, but still his neck was bare and sun
burned, hts arms gTirly, and his red hair
shaggy and unkept. So fastidious Rob
felt awkward as he met him and shook
hands with his old cOmrade IN faint
hah-hearted way. Why did he go around
looking 50 disreputabie." he thought, and
his unuttered words ShOne out of his cold
gray eyes, and right into the honest soul
OF the boy before him. And they rested
there, and burned a little hole, where envy
found a place TO nestle and was followed
by Hatred, and soon Discomfort came
likewise and made poor Mixes life a
misery. and all because Robs hand was
limp in the honest grasp of his friend and
and his thoughts not being confined in an
honest heart, few out OF his eyes and into
the others mind.
50, as the two parted, Rob felt dfssat
isfed with himself, and said as he brush
ed of his hands on his cam brio handker-
chief must hunt him up again and talk
over old days, while Mike looked back
contemptuously, and muttered with a
sheer, Mighty foine. amt we, with our
white handst and turned away with a
great sob in his heart. and a tear I'm his
honest eyes.
That evening the girl and the boy met
again. They were taller now. and the
grIs race was grave, but she looked hap
py; the boy, too, felt happy and he showed
Nellie" said he. as they leaned to-
gether over the gate, II have brought
See, here IL is; is 1t not magnificent" and
opening a little case, he took from IL
q diamond hanging pendant on a neck
lace OF pearls and virgin gold. 1t was a
lustrous stone, shining Whitley and dia-
bolically in the twilight. AS the girl
gazed at it and then at his face, her
heart grew SAD and her lips trembled
The twilight shivered little. too. and
the Cricket, who had been singing before,
stopped suddenly as il in pain.
Look up. Nellie" went on the boy 'is
1t not the most beautiful thing?"
mo, Rob-" answered the girl, as she
took the necklace, sadly. at Is not 1t
Is lovely thing. but there Is something
OH so much more beautiful, so infinitely
more lovely, that this is not to be COM
pared with it. This is a toy, Rob, a lovely
toy. but ii is not what / want"
Why. Nellie, l thought it would he
Just what you wanted. 1t is so beauti-
full, and it will look so bewitching on your
neck. DO you know, you are ever so
pretty? l never knew before how pretty
you are"
Am I, Rob? Then it is because love
you so much. l have prayed every day
that / might be beautiful for your sake
because l knew that when you came and
brought me that most beautiful thing,
would have nothing at all TO give you
but myself So wanted myself to be as
lovely as 1 could because 1 love you
''Do you. Nellie! Do you really love me
so much?" Then see herei Why need we
wait any longer. Let US get married soon
there is time enough for me to find you
the most beautiful thing in the world
You know l will be a full-hedged lawyer
soon and come into my property besides
thing we want"
mo, Bob, you promised me years ago,
and l will never marry you until you keep
your word. You know you said you would
try TO find It, but you never did. Tell me
honestly, Rob. Have you ever tried to find
The cricket who had been silent a great
while, now chirped drearily as if trying
to cheer himself, but his song was very
sad, and he soon grew silent again.
NO, Nellie, 1 have not hunted much for
it yet. Tell me, where do you think it
can be found. You have thought more
dnOuL II tAdl 1 nave nave you any idea
what II may be-"
YES Rob" answered the girl. but her
voice was low, and she drew little apart
from her companion, Il know what The
most beautiful thing is, but / cannot tell
you. If you really care for me, YOU will
find 1t, and If you don land as she Daus-
ed, her great eyes closed suddenly in two
pearly tears. and she buried her trem-
bling face IN her arms upon the gate, you
will never know"
Care for you, Nellie" cried the vounp
man, you know ! love you with all nv
heart and always have; come don't cry.
cheer up; of course I'll find il, III find If
somewhere, will start tomorrow. and If
won't be long before I'll fetch it to Won.
you know am n man now. and a man can
do anything Come kiss me- Nellie. and
look bright again. How can YOU saw 'if
care for. your" Don't you know do?@
Oh, l hope so, Rob" sighed the girl
while the Cricket began to chirp again
for 1 really believefI would die if voi,
didn't You don't know how a woman
loves. Rob. It is different from a man,
You men, you see so much Won have
so many friends, and we've SO Few
so few. On. Rohi Rob! you viii hrins
me that most beautiful thing won't VOWS
day?' -A'0
ssOf co,,rea vim Nm. -