The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-30
HELEN BARNARD'S FRIEND.
BY MRS. GRINIWOOD.
Author Taree N ManlpuT. 'ITeVoz sl0ry'
Copyrizh,ed 1Ss. 10y Mrs Grimwood.


incapable ot single pure thought or clean
action. and whose gratitude showed itself
only I'm the fact that he sought the other S
society
After a time my husband found out a
new way 10 torment me. He made out
that he knew I was in love with BERTHE
Neville and be made horrible jokes about
10 10 me before every one. He tainted me
with giving my affection TO a man who
did not want 10. and he said Capt Neville
would never come near the house II IL
were not that 9Fe could not live without
his tmy husbands society. But ne never
said these things before capt Neville. so
] could only hope such vile insinuations
would never reach his ears. II they did.
/ never knew Of IL. We had come TO N
in November. When April came. and il
began TO grow hot. Gladys got in again.
Ny husband said ne meant 10 stay on for
two months longer. and he insisted on my
being with him. SO l had to arrange for
Gladys 10 go up 10 the hills. TO the cool.
as knew she would not stand an unheal-
thy climate. The wife Of one OF the neigh
boring planters was going, and she offered
70 keep Gladys with heJ: so. as the child
liked her. IL seemed an admira BILE arrange
ment. II was curious fact that Bob
never made objections to any arrange
ment where Gladys was concerned. He
never showed her any kindness outwardly
except. Of course, allowing her TO be with
me; but he never interfered with any
plans for her well-being.
Il can always be grateful TO him for
what he enabled me 10 do for her.
$50 she went off up to the cool hills.
and babe her farewell 1t was hard to
let her 20. but best for her; and l meant
to see her again in a few weeks time
And then my life went on the same as
II had before. My husband was away
more. as big game swarmed in the valley
as soon as the hot weather came. II was
a relief when he was away. BERTHE New
He was nearly always with him, when he
could leave his work TO get away. And
when he had to stay, 1 never saw him.
Il wondered whether life was always
10 mean The same for me, or whether some
kind fate would end il. And knew all the
the time that / had myself to blame, in
a measure. / had married man for his
money, and so had to accept the conse-
quences. The end came. however, sooner
than ] had expected. Towards the end of
May, my husband returned home in a state
OF great excitement from a shooting expe-
dition. News had reached him that a man
eating tiger was ravaging the district.
and had killed a woman at place only a
few miles away, belonging to a planter
This man asked my husband and Can't
Neville If they would come out to the
place and see if they could not kill the
great beast Bob's excitement was mar
vicious. Nothing would satisfy him but
that l was TO go too, and, strange to say
l rather liked the idea, and was quite glad
10 go. We talked of nothing else all day.
and for the first time for years we seemed
at one with each other l went over to
Helen's house, and told her. She was dis
gusted with Bob for taking me, and
prophesied dangers of all kinds. But it
didn't alter my purpose, and / returned
home, changed my dress for a riding hab-
it, and prepared with an almost light heart
for our expedition. The horses were at
the door, and / was on the point of mount
ing when a telegram was put into my
hand. The news it conveyed was brief:
come al once. Gladys dangerously ILL.,"
That was all, but enough to make my
head swim and my eyes blurr
4 gasped out the message to my hus-
band. He snatched 1t from me, tore it in
fragments, and swore that l should not
go.
Tt is some dirty, vile excuse you have
invented he said, and by - you should
not carry it out
II implored him, prayed of him to let
me go, but he raved at me like a mailman,
and swore l should accompany him.
Then tried the other thing. 1 said l
would go. He came to me- took me by
the wrist so firmly that it hurt me, and
said that even If he had to stay behind to
StSP my 6NAAlSs uc NOulu 40 SO. w nat
was l to do?
Suddenly the thought Of Helen came to
my help. 1 sent for a pencil, and on the
| back of a telegram l scrawled a few
words to her. I scarcely remember what
they were. l only know I begged her to
| go to my sister, and to send me word
every hour as to her condition. 1t was a
great deal to ask of Helen. but knew she
would help me. Meanwhile my husband
| stood by glowering and swearing over the
| delay but when, after sending a man run
| ming with my message to Helen, I mount
ed my horse, he stared at me with some
| surprise.
so we left the house, he riding little
ahead of me. / could not speak to him
| my heart was so full of bitter pain. and
! seemed to hate this man with my whole
| strength. 1t was a long ride, and when
| we arrived I found wire from Helen
| awaiting me, telling me She was starting
at once. and would do her best for GLADYS
and would send me news directly she ar
rived.
Capt. Neville had already come and
| when I went into the verandah lust be.
| fore dinner, l found the three men talking
! together over the chances they hoped fol-
! with the tiger. The woman he had killed
/ was lying almost within sight of the
house, and our host expected that the
| tiger would return to the same spot that
night.
| He tired to persuade me not to sit ur
and watch with them. as there was a cert
| tain amount of danger about such a pro
| ceeding, but / seemed glad of any excite.
ment to prevent my dwelling entirely or
! the terrible news about Gladys
! My husband made no remarks on the
! subject He had relapsed into a suller
silence, save when BERTHE Neville spoke tc
! him.
so, after dinner we all four sat out
| on the veranda- l was at the end neares,
the open French window. and Bob at tn,
/ other end near the entrance. He had In
/ sisted upon taking up that position as he
! thought it commanded a better view O,
| the garden in front, and the particular
'spot where the kill lay. The men smok.
! ed and talked in whispers for some time
| with their rifles ready beside them, and
| ! sat still thinking. So the night wore
ON. The moonlight was superb, and ma IL
! the surrounding landscape as clear as
! day Gradually all conversation ceased
and ] fancy we were all asleep. How
| long we had been SO l don't know, when
l suddenly opened my eyes and looked
! round, without changing my position OF
| making any sound