The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-18

I-FORsAKEN.


heart fear; but yet, there's no help for
It. The mans a cowardly villain, and Mr..
Vernon. a pale thin, careworn man, pick
ed I'd letter which lay on the table be
fore him and his hand trembled as he read
It for the fourth time.
when you read this and learn from II
that cannot fulfil my promise to marry
Your daughter, you Will think me scoun-
dreL You will not wrong me much in the
,hought. though you may not quite under
stand all my reasons. I wish the engage
ment broken; nay, more, now declare II
at an end; and I am leaving England 70
return I know not when. / write 10 you
that YOU may soften the biow-if Il be
plow-to Madge. I cannot write to her.
Probably she will soon come to agree with
what YOU will be sure 70 think, that you
are both well rid Of man who can act
as am acting. I cannot wish that 1t
should be otherwise. Yours faithfully
II Waters Trevor"
INV Door child! How VIII she bear 1t?
So trusting, loving. faithful as she Is 1t
will change her whole nature
He sat LOT Some N1illN WIN AaA' ''-e-
ing in his hands, silently thinking OF the
sorrow that had thus fallen upon his child
and wondering how he could most lightly
break the news to her
Presently he heard her voice singing
merrily in the house; he folded up the let
Ter and thrust 1t hurriedly into his pocket.
The singing ceased and the door was
opened very softly and almost noiselessiy'
and a girl peeped cautiously into the room.
Then followed a burst or low musical
laughter.
"Oh. YOU lazy papa, you said you must
come here for important business, and l
declare If you are not letting the whole of
this lovely afternoon slip away and you
haven't even a sheet of paper in front OF
YOU: and believe you haven't even dipped
a Din in the ink. No. that you haven't
for both inkpots are shut, and every pen
a dry. Oh. papa, papa" and the girl shook
a torehnger at him gravely, what a lazy
law. law old darling you are Ana theh
she laughed again, and threw her arms
around him and kissed him.
'But you look troubled, dearest she
said, with much sympathy IN her voice
and manner, when she noticed the narass-
ed. worried look on his face what Is
~ TE II anything l can help to bear?
Not more money matters, 1 hope?
Money was always scarce with the two,
the fathers fatal love of speculation MAX
ang IL oftener scarcer.
''No. AIadge, no; 1 don't think anything
is wrong. I've heard of nothing"
Aren't you well to-day, then, dearestY'
asked the girl, again. You looked tired
inc NFoF
againT She laid her cool hand on his
brow as she spoke.
mo, Madge. my child. / feel quite well
wonderfully well" he answered, with an
attempt at cheeTfulness.
Then, that's all right, isn't It? If you
are well and you've no bothering money
matters there is no cause why / shouldn't
laugh and tease you, just as much as 1
like is there?" And then she did laugh
and merrily, too, and running out of the
room for a moment. came back with his
hat and stick and gloves. She put his hat
on his head-With the back in front, of
stick into his hand, and his
gloves into his breast coat-pOcket and
then laughed again. and said:
Nov. I'm ready; so well go for a little
walk, please, if you'll take me. But
won't take you unless you promise TO be
good sir, and give me first a smile and
then a couple of kisses" and she put her
face up close to his.
He smiled and kissed her, but grew
grave again directly. and put his hat down
on the table and the stick into a corner.
"We'n go out directly, Madge, If you
Ike but l want to have a little talk with
you first. Come and sit by my side, dear"
She moved a chair close TO him, and TAX
ing of her hat, she sat down by him and
put her hand in his.
Not going to scold me. papa, are your
j wonder what I've done" and she looked
so lovingly and wistfully into his face that
for the moment he could not speak.
"Scold you, Madge: no, my dear. Why
you never give me a chance to play the
angry father with YOU" and he raised the
hand she had placed In his and kissed it
and pressed it against his cheek Then.
after a pause. he said. WAS Mr.. Trevor
here yesterday Madge?'
mo, that he wasn't; nor the day before
nor the day before that. It's nearly n
week since he came. / suppose he's very
busy, but-he hasn't even written me a
line. But he'll come to-day. / think. d"
Her face Frightened as she said this. and
she added merrily enough And then IN
Just punish him. But don't really mind
papa, OF course. I'm not so stupid as
That because ] know he has some GOOD
reason for being away, and l trust him
ah, Just as ! trust you"
You love him very much, Madlse %
asked her father, gently.
Love him? An. yest Her face grew
very thoughtful and grave as she said
this, with a lovers sigh II don't think
] know how much love him-I can sneak
freely 20 you can't I? Just as do to my
self Sometimes I think / love him TOO
much-not more than he deserves, for he
Is brave, and true, and good, but that
my love Is too much akin TO a religious
faith, and almost a worship. Il is not
really So OF course; but have never tried
20 think what life would be without him 10
1T Is not right 10 love like that, Madge -"
said her father, tenderly Men are not
faultless child"
No no. ] know that" answered the
Eirl, with gentle laugh. Il know that.
] only feel like that when ] am very ro.
mantle, / suppose; when ! try to realize
al that he Is to me. Al other times 1 am
Just your sensible little Madgo. and can
zee quite well the idols feet OF clay
Her father did not answer az once. Ue
scarcely knew what TO say.
You ought not 10 rest so much OF vour
happiness on anything human. Madge."
he said. Suppose he were 10 die"
The girl grew grave IA an instant. whiIe
her grey eyes were fixed eagerly ana
eearchingly on her fathers face.
rs this the trouble ] saw iu your face