The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-28
The SACRIFICE OF VIOLA BRANDON.
By Victor Old. Power.

Hubert, and instantly Violas face changed
She ,patted his hand gently, and forced
sad little smile.
I'VE must only hope for the best, Hubert
you and 1. That is all we can do
We'll, not quite all her brother an
sWered, with momentary return of his
events must do, ere | allow myself to
lapse into inactivity. That plan / referred
TO awhile ago must be carried out, Viola
and after that
Hush! Somebody is comingg'
;. Just as the interruption escaped Viola's
lps footsteps We're heard, and the TALL
muscular hgure of a handsome young fell
low, dressed in the brown corduroy Of the
Brandon gamekeeperS, came rapidly along
pathway which intersected that on
which Viola and her brother stood.
oh, it is only Robin Dale,' Hubert said
Good evening, Robin.
me approaching figure abruptly halted
pale, handsome face. Clearly Robin Dale
mad been so wrapped up in his own medi-
tauonS, that he had not heard the voices
OF the brother and sister as he came along
GOOD evening, Master Hubert Good
evening, Miss VIOLA
Ihere was an odd tremor in Robin Dale's
voice as he pronounced the girls name-a
strange, Wistful sadness in his eyes as he
turned them for a moment upon her face
VIOLA brandon was conscious of this al
though she tried to blind her senses to the
lact. For months past she had secretly
suffered from the Wel-nigh incredible
put suttlclently patent evidences of Robin
she had laughed at the idea as being of alb
surd fancy on her part but little by little
me tact was brought home to her in a hun
only.
1t was ridiculous-it was humiliating-it
was preposterous; but 1t was no longer
possible to doubt it. Robin Dale, son of
the head gamekeeper of the Brandon pre-
serves, had conceived an unfortunate at
Brandon Court!
When the truth stole upon Viola, her
first impulse had been to speak to her
Iather but second thoughts stepped in
ana tied her tongue. She trusted now to
time, to her own tact, to Robin Dale's good
sense, for deliverance from this absurd
but very real difficulty. For the previous
month she had never even once seen Robin
until this moment. She was almost
shocked at the worn look of his face-at
the hopeless expression of his deep-set,
He passed hastily down the path and
was lost to sight. Viola breathed a sigh
What a strange fellow Robin Dale isr'
hubert said 81 cannot understand him
at all. have met him from time to time
ABOUT the woods here of late, and invari-
aply ne IS incoming along, with his eyes a
thousand miles away; or else walking at
the rate OF dozen miles an hour, with
look OF madness in his face"
he is something of poet they tell me"
Viola said. with averted eyes His
mother was a lady-or so I'm told She
eloPed with Adam Dale, his father, and
on OF course, know that old story
vi" Hubert interposed 1T NAV be true
too My recollection of Mrs. Dale brings
Defore my memory very lady-like pen
slve creature, with long lappets to her cap,
and lace mittens on her thin fingers.
Viola smiled at this; and instantly her
face was transformed. So beautiful was
that sunny smile that one could only re-
greet that it came so seldom.
You have brought her before me now
poor, woman" Viola said. Eyes; she GER
a Iodxr
but lady could ever wear such mittens
Dele's.'' ~ .
They turned and, both smiling now. re-
traced their steps through the wood
Little they dreamed. at that moment
that turning point of their lives, as well
and that the gathering shadows Of fhe
wood We're strangely typical of the lower
ms clouds that were already darkening
above them.