The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04

CIapping them both heartily or the back
still further to encourage them in their
meritorious labor, ne passed on his way,
laughing at intervals for ten minutes
after he had left the little fellows, 10 the
surprise Of those who met him, since In
srcwn-up persons solitary mirth is so rars
as generally to imply lunacy.
ACT II.
An hour later two ladies' stood on the
doorstep OF that house In Ebury street,
/ which Clanbaly had credited the Masters
Stainer with visiting. While the elder it-
/ ted her door key into the keyhole, prov
| ing herself thereby no casual caller, but
an inhab.tant, the younger looked vacant
! ~ down the street forgetting even the
] precautionary measure SO necessary on a
wet day OF rapidly opening and shutting
! her umbrella, to get rid OF some of its
/ 700 abundant moisture, ere entering.
When her mother pointed out the omls-
| son, she Indeed listlessly repaired It; but
| there was no life in the gesture nor in
the step which carried her to the little
| nail flap table on which a solitary card
! II was a family evidently not oppressed
! Dy too numerous visiting list-lay. But
no sooner had she glanced at 1t than the
animation so patiently absent sprang back
INTO her face and figure showing that her
| deJected phegm was not constitutional.
out the result of some unhappy accident
"Oh, mother, look" The mother-not so
| young as she had been, wasted a couple
! OF precious minutes on that chronic eve
! glass chase which is one fthe small vet
! decided embitterments of latter life; call
ing forth a tremulous impatient. "Oh,
| can't you see? What does it mean?p from
| the girl The eyeglasses were on.
Lady Thoms,"
me mother paused a moment in oh
ylous, stupefaction. Lady Thoms, Am
l awake! But it is incredible!' yet it
IS true|-in key of the highest, most
quivering exultation-"and she did not
only leave it formally, she asked to come
IN. See the corner is turned down! There
rs no mistake She asked for usi When
ala this lady call?' turning with a futile
eHort to hide her agitation to a parlor
maid who had come on the scene to take
their wet tweed capes.
am sure can't say. m! I found the
card IN the letter box about half an holr
| after you and Mrs. Baddeley had gone
out" SUNG
In the letter box? Oh, then she did not
ask to come in!'-with an accent of acufs
sappointment-"and yet''-With a glance
OF reinsurance at the very unmistakablv
bent-down corner of the card-"she must
have meant to do sou
i am sure / do not know. m. I found
1t in the letter box"
minute Of silent anxious ponderlne
then with a clearing brow
Il see how IL vast The bell did not
ring; the wire is always rather stiff: and
even If IL did, you know. Sarah, that Won
are sometimes a little slow In Answering
II, and the footman grew impatient and
cropped II into the box. but the lady. evil
IDENTIFY meant to come in"
she began to walk up the squealxy stairs
mean as only the stairs of a small I.on-
don house know how to be-with an airy
step, eherishing In her hand the little
square OF cardboard as she went. When
mother and daughter We're safe In the
drawing room, out of Sarah shot the
daughter flung herself on her mothers
neck.
"Oh, mother. Il can mean but one thing,
She has repented! They are coming
roundY'
Mrs Baddeley put away her daughters
arms quite gently. but decidedly.
1t Is absolutely incomprehensible to
meP -
why did we go out?" cried the girl
walking about and twisting her gloves
this way and that in spasm OF excite
ment. mo doubt she calculated upon
finding us at home for a certainty, this
pouring day! II we had but been at
homer
The other gave a slight shudder
Il do not think l could have met her IN
anything like Christian spirit after that
letter.!
But she has repented Of having writ
ten It. Does not this visit prove it? What
other Interpretation can you put upon 1t
than that Il was meant as a reparation?'
why should she repent? Are you any
more desirable a party for her son than
you were six weeks ago?'
mo" dejectedly, "Of course l am not
but perhaps the sight of Fitz's unhappi-
ness-I know he is unhappy. and you think
So TOO, don't your" very wistfullv)-"may
hqk fOfrpbnH ho fr
monster. She must have a heart, though
We have never been able to find itg'
The girl had sat down on the sofa beside
Mrs. Baddeley; but II was now the lat
ter's turn to find relief in motion. She
started PIP and paced the little room, with
her brows gathered, evidently chewing
the oud OF most bitter memory.
us there anything more that they can
get out of us2s' she asked presently in a
key of distilled bitterness. do they need
US to start them in life again. or pull them
out OF the mire they fell into when we lad
started them? And II they did is your IA
ther alive to do it?"
Dear father. nor Cbpeaklng into gentle
tears) But perhaps NJ is the memory
that has softened her. When she recalled
all he did for them In those early years no
doubt she was sorry for having written
US that dreadful letter. She must have
done II in the heat OF the moment She
] Goulp NOT nave AHoubHt US aQNCntuF-
essesv
Mrs. Baddeley gave a sort Of stung start
And you think that she has called 10
tell us that she finds that after all she
was Mistaken
III you take II In that way-lf you are
determined not 20 accept any amends from
| her, OF course there Is no hope" letting
her head fall face foremost into the sofa
cushions. The inert weight of wretched-
ness expressed by the gesture tugged at
| the mothers heart strongs. She went and
stood ruefuliy over her prone child.
Sue, you used to have some pridey'.
HAD II"
AT least, some sef-respect."
"Had II"
what has become OF them?"
81 do not know-at least, yes do" alnR-
| ing up out Of the cushions aud facing her
mother with look OF Almost Inspiration
upon her whole wet face. They were
small things. and they have been killed hv
a great one. Love has knocked them into
/ cooked hatsv
most mirthless inclination TO laugh
! seized upon Mrs. Baddeley: her daughter
/ had 40 little bent towards slang that the
/ slanginess Of the phrase by which she had
/ expressed the domination OF her pa-elon