The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-03

CHAPTER III.
When Hume Joined Mrs. Calder in her
'bOudOir he found her looking pale but
composed, though she did not welcome
MIN with her usual winning smile.
But ne was beginning TO understand
mat she was most moved when outwardly
most cold and composed. therefore her
quiet greeting did not discourage him.
Ever 50 many thanks for your, ness
age" he said. I was as dull as ditch
water. Calder was entertaining his guest,
Wno-by the way-I don't like"
Hume" she said, with the same calm
manner which somehow lifted her into
an atmosphere Of purity and isolation.
Hume ! stopped you from saying some
thing to me this afternoon. ] know so
well what you might have said, and If I
tell you now that feel with you, / do
50 because l am so sure-so very sure,
Hume-that you know such-feelings
must be shut up in our hearts. You
care for me as / care for you-and we
can't help that il has so happened-we
love one another too well to do anything
which might injure the other, or lower
the dignity Of such true, and pure, and
selfless affection"
She looked straight at him. and the
candor, the sadness, the tender purity of
her gaze found response in HIS manly
young heart. I love you, could not
help loving you, Isobel" he said, simply.
Il knew you were disappointed, lonely, UNI
happy. I'd give my life to save you from
trouble. 1 would not be a cause of trouble
TO you for all the world"
His voice broke, but his eyes looked
frankly into hers, and her heart leapt
with thankfulness.
you utterly"
Yes he answered. you may trust me,
Isobel."
There was a short silence; then she said.
Il have something terrible to tell you. /
am in a sore strait, and ! need your help.
l must speak Of my misguided youth"
Il will listen, and will help you, Iso-
you know" she said, in low. slow
tones, that / was brought up by my aunt,
and in the belief that / was to inherit
all her fortune; but perhaps you do not
know that this was a great vexation to
my brother, who ought to have shared
with me. Our aunt had taken a dislike
to him when he was a child, and she
caught him laughing at her pecularties.
1 loved my brother dearly though we did
not live together, and met but seldom.
1t was Edward who introduced Mr.. Calder
TO me. l was not happy with my aunt,
and so l readily allowed myself to be-
come engaged to him. My aunts dislike
to Edward spread to his friend, and we
We're sure she would not listen to his pro-
posal
"They pressed me-my brother as much
as Alex-to be married privately, and 1
mot long afterward my aunt died, and
then it came out that she had discovered
the deception 1 had been guilty Of, and
had left all her money to other rela-
tives.
At did not feel this loss at first. I was
very young, and l had a husband and a
brother My illusions have long since
She paused there, and the expression Of
her lovely face was so pathetic he could
not utter one word, so that a long silence
followed that sentence. At last she re-
They Edward and Alex, lived by their
wits, as it is called. ] don't need to ex-
plain that, do 1? 1 was never able to
stop any of their plans l had to be quite
passive, in some cases; in others had to
"Poor Isobelp' said Hume. in a broken
Hush, do not pity me, yet. Let me
tell my story. We were acquainted with
the Bartons Sir George was elderly and
very wealthy. His wife was young and
beautiful and Edward had known her
before her marriage. He was very much
in love with her, and he and Alex q found
afterwards) had got a lot of money out
of Sir George. I did not at that time un-
derstand Lady Barton's feelingsi for my
love had been only the tender sentiment
which dies when its object can no longer
be localized. I must tell the rest quick
ly and in bits, but perhaps you can Ill II
Lady Barton and I went out for a
drive one morning, while our husbands
went shooting. Edward did not go with
them, but by himself and ne carried no
gun. Our ponies took fright at some
thing, and upset the carriage on lonely
road Lady Barton was hurt, and l raised
her from the road to the grass. Then l
remembered they were shooting IN a wood
adjoining some fields close by, so | ran
across to find the gentlemen. As l ran
I saw two of them-AleX and Edward
standing together near clump OF trees;
Alex was giving his gun to Edward. an ana
the trees. 1t all happened in moment.
I think 1 went mad. 1t was reported as
an accident; but had seen It all.
Il could not witness against them, could
1? We helped Edward to escape, Whlle
people were talking of the accident, and
the carelessness of Alex; But When was
III rsfrH 20, he rfrnG
that it was Edward not Alex, who had
the gun; and then people remembered that
Edward had not been seen since the acci-
dent, and that Lady Barton had gone
abroad Suspicion was aroused, and
search made for Edward; but it all died
away when Lady Barton was traced to a
convent in Italy, and Alex proved beyond
doubt that 1 had been distraught and
could not give a correct version of what
had happened.
over. But if Edward were to come back,
be recognized, I am sure the whole hor-
rible story would be gone into, and the
two would be in danger"
FIndiay rose to his feet, his face white as
terrible thoughts could make it. He went
to the table where Isobels basket of pho
tographs stood; and, turning them over
with shaking hands, he found the likeness
upon which he had commented in the
morning. Mrs. Calder watched him, but
said nothing. She did not need to ask a
question His face said plainly enough
that he had recognized Capt. Styles" as
Edward Earring. He put the picture back,
and paced up and down the room for a
few minutes; then stopped by her chair,
and said, What can l do for you, $50
bel?''
"Give me money to send my brother
away with, and thenAHume, ah! you will
go away, and never let US meet any
more
He stood before her quite silent, and
fought a tough fight with himself and
conquered.
us that the best for you that can do?''
he asked.
Yes, Hume. best for you and best for
me?'
Il will do that last bidding of yours,
then. love you, and will go. But the
money. 1 will not give it to you, Iso-
bel. ! will give it to your brother him
self, and shall do it with the condition
that he must go right away to the ends
Of the earth-or the devil-anywhere so
that your peace may not be troubled
again"
'And Alex?" she whispered
Il can settle with him, too"
An, you don't know him, Hume. He
will not mind what you say. He Is very
cunning and masterful. l am afraid of
him on your account"
DO you imagine he would be content
to part from your
mo. l wish-ah, if I mig'ht-if he would
let me go and hide myself alone-qutte