The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-26

had said, of the kiss they had exchanged.
OF the sixpence they had broken between
them? He had brooded over these things
day and night for the last two years-but
then everybody knew that he was fool.
He got up to go. I'm glad you haven't
worried about il, dear" he said because
It came to my mind that you might think
II was a sort of obstacle-between you and
say, any other man; so 1 Thought ia
Just step up and tell you not to think of it
Il won't think of 1t again you may be
certain of that" said Edith, in a hard.
eold voice; and she went away to the
dresser and began to re-arrange the plates
with her back to john so that he should
not see her face. For although she manag-
ed to hum a little song. the tears were roll
q must be going" said John ohm heavily
'Goodday to you Edith And I hope-T
hoPe-you'n be happy" And, overcome
strobe hastily out of the kitchen, while
Edith relieved from his presence, put her
mead down on the dresser and sobbed
Il don't see what else 1 could do" said
John to himself, as he strobe along the
highway. But then, John was always
Three days afterwards, George Westcott
opened the door of John Bars rough lit
tie hut, and burst into the room 1t was 10
Clock at night-a late hour for Riverford
IoIk-and the rain was pouring fast. John
looked up in amaze. WeStcotts face was
Wulle ana furious, the dent in his brow
was more sharply marked than ever, his
lips were drawn back from his white teeth
IN a sort of snarl, He was in a wild rage
so much was evident at first sight
What's wrong, George?' said John, ris-
ing from his seat
Wrong! .Everything's wrong. That old
fool, Horribly
And George burst into a storm of angry
invective against the saddler, which made
even quiet John Barr turn hot and cold.
At last he raised his hand.
''StOn that GEORGE - he said
tat1vely. Hornby's my kin, remember
How has the man injured your"
Thus suddenly brought to book, George
stared, swore, and then lapsed into sulky
silence.
What ails thee?" said John. reproach-
fully. Tell a man clear and plain what it
is, but don't rave, and curse, and swear
like a madman. What has Horribly done?"
He has forbidden me to enter his house
again-the old fool! He has sent me pack
Edith he'll-he'n have me ducked in the
pond. He shall rue his wordsp'
H53rnby never speaks without reason"
said John Barr, slowly. What made him
After considerable beating about the
story of evil behavior on his part had
come to Hornbys ears-a story that he
had not been able to deny; and that the
saddler had taken 1T seriously.
mo wonder" said John, breathing a
it seriously, too?'
George hung his head; II didn't see
her" he answered sullenly. But wo-
man forgives these things easier than a
man."
nothing else"
so you turn against me, too, John, &"
said George, bitterly.
mo, don't. I'm your friend; and once
your friend, its your friend for life.
There's no other way" said John.
10 his surprise George Westcott low
cred his head in his hands, and began to
sob pitifully like a girl. John Barr was
once more amazed-and rather bewilder-
ed. 1t would not have been his way to
sob aloud because he had been disgrace
in the eyes of the girl he loved But he
put his hand on Georges shoulder and
stood by him until the hysterical parox-
ysm passed. Then he made his friend lie
down in his own bed and tried to induce
him to eat and drink. But George asked
for nothing but brandy, and when he
found that John had none. he turned his
face to the wall and slept, or seemed to
sleep. John lay down on the floor, and
being young and strong, and possessing
clear conscience, he slumbered soundly
on his hard couch until the morning
When he reused himself, however, and
looked round for his friend, he found that
George was not there. He had gone out
long before John was awake.
John scarcely saw him throughout the
day; but he heard rumors that Westcott
was in a vile temper and was behaving
like one possessed" But they did not
come into actual contact, and John could
only feeel vaguely curious and anxious
and unhappy though scarcely knowing
why.
To some men Georges announcement of
the saddlers opposition to his suit would
have come as welcome enough piece of
news; but John was not of that fiber. No!
to him It was care and a grief that his
friend should have done wrong and there
by incurred blame, and that Edith should
be mourning-presumab the loss
of lover. He was half inclined to step
Nxrhn r4.lr4 orr
done, and see whether he could not mend
matters a little, for Edths sake. 1t
might be useless experiment, but it
was perhaps his duty as a friend to try
it.
But he could not quite make up his
mind to do it. He did not think that
George was suitable husband for Edith:
and 1t scarcely seemed right, therefore,
for him to interfere. He stroiled out for
walk when his work was over, and
went to one of the quietest spots he could
think of, in order to argue the matter
out after his own fashion. The day was
fine and mild after the storm, and he sat
on grassy slope, underneath a young
mr. plantation, smoked his pipe, and con-
sidered the subject at his leasure
The sound of footsteps made him at last
look round. Ascending the messy path,
which wound through the plantation he
saw two fgures-and he knew at a glance
that they were those of George and Edith
He sank back with something like a
groan. His doubts were futile and vain.
it was evident that Edith had made her
choice and was going to be faithful to
it; or why should she be walking out with
George? He looked, and even listened
eagerly but the speakers words did NOT
reach his ear; and he saw the Young
couple for few minutes only, as they were
soon lost to view behind a hilIock and
in the grove of frs. They had not seen
him at all. George seemed to be talking
fast and eagerly; and just before thew
disappeared from sight John saw his
friend take Edith's unresisting hand in
his own and hold it while he spoke. John
turned away and rested his forehead on
the cool, soft grass for a time when he
had seen this action on Georges part.
But presently he reused himself and
prepared to walk home. He had the feel
ing that all was lost. But he did not
carry his heart upon his sleeve. He ala
not show what he felt. He walked
through the plantation, with the even
tread, the quiet face, the set lips OF the
brave man who does not mean the world
to guess that he IS suffering Except
that he was a trihe paler than usual be-
meath his tan, there was nothing 10 be-
tray the fact that his whole life had
gone awry.
Suddenly he heard strange sounds-a
cry for help, a dun thud Ike blow.
long, low moan. He quickened his steps
TO a run-scarcely knowing, h-wever,
whence the noise proceeded. At the top