The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26


was very angry, for while they were moi
actually engaged, still there was kind OF
understanding between them, and the sir
remembered that she had betrayed more
of her feelings than she had intended the
night before he had gone away on a
elzetching tour. And as a reward she has
received one hasty little scrawl. bidding
her be "a good little girr' till he came
back. That was all; "a good little girl,
indeed? The words seemed to rankle, and
a hot flush rose to her face as she re-
peated them.
A good little girl-a child of course-and
anything that had passed between them
was just nonsense. He had simply been
playing with her, amusing himself watch
ing the warm color food her checks as
she listened to his words, words that seem
to mean so much yet now-bah-of course
he had laughed at her confusion-thought
of her as a pretty little fool, if indeed
he had thought her even pretty.
She bit her lip with vexation as she
thought thus bitterly Of her recreant ad-
mirer. Then she picked up an open letter
from the table and began to read It slowly
and critically. II was an old story, this
other mans love, and one that had not
particularly touched her before, but now
she seemed to be drawn little closer
TO the writer-he was in earnest at any
rate and there was something pathetic
in the way he expressed himself OF
course he was old, and pleaded his cause
for the sake of what he could do for her
and hers.
He was an honorable gentleman rich
and cultured, and his sister was her dear
est friend, the one who seemed to under
stand her best, and hey-dayl if only Phil
ip's benny, laughing face would not stay
so persistently with her how easy it would
be just to drift on into this haven; TO
live with her dearest friend and to be pet
ted. aud have her every wish gratifed by
that friends brother; if only Philip would
but there, what was the use; one might
as well wish for the moon.
And Anna knew about Philip, and so
did Sir George, and they had been 50
good about it, only as Anna had said,
Philip was rather too much of an I'M
known quantity for her little girl to trust
her life entirely to- but, she had added,
with rather shamefaced guile, "as Georges
wife your power for Philips best good
would be almost unlimited for I am sure
your friend only requires the right kind
of influence behind him to become IA
nous; but without it, my dear, he does
seem to be making rather failure of
things, doesn't hep
And Doris had pondered these things in
her heart, and had held back until love
had at last almost overcome her scruples, !
and she had shewn Philip that she cared
and was prepared to believe that love w9s
better than fame for him as well as for
her; and now-well, she had been fool
that was all, and she brushed her nand
hastily across her eyes to clear the mists
that prevented her seeing TO read Sir
Georges letter.
He ended by saying that he was going
abroad-unless she bid him stay; that ne
would not pain her by asking for another
interview but he would see her at the
Musicale New Years evening, and If she
happened to wear a white rose, his ia !
vorite flower, II her hair that he should |
postpone his trip abroad until she and |
Anna felt disposed TO go, too. But If it !
pleased her to wear a red one, that he
should understand that she refused
Doris worried over this letter the live
long night whichever way she turned,
she seemed bound to give pain to herself |
or to others, but when the post brought |
no letter from Philip, she rose from
breakfast with a set face, her mind made
up. Later in the day she visited a florists !
and there wayered again for moment
before the banks Of crimson roses. How
lovely they were! Philips favorites, too!
But no, she turned resolutely away and
asked to see some white ones, and finally
made her choice.
There was one great, creamy half-opened
flower that especially attracted her, among
those she had selected; deep down in its
shaded heart it grew warm almost to
crimson and the effect fascinated her i'm
agination. Il looked almost as if the
beautiful heart were bleeding, as if it
understood and sympathized with her; and
she determined that this should be the
one to carry her message that night. She
checked the thought ere it had barely
risen, and went home to rest before what
she felt would be the ordeal of her life.
She delayed her dressing until after the
last post, but when it had gone, she
knew that the die was cast, and robed
herself with a feverish haste, as If fear
ful that something might yet intervene
10 swing her back again TO that depth
OF humiiating yasciliadon.
An the white rose! how it cleaned from
the dark shadows of her silky hair, gleam-
ed and seemed to palpitate and throb like
some mysterious living thing. She felt
half afraid of it, she was so nervous and
over wrought. 1t seemed the arbitrator
of her fate, and her fate was moving on
so steadily and surely Even had she will
ed ii she felt she would be powerless to
change its course by the breadth of a hair.
She gazed after her reflection in the glass,
the reflection of a tall, slender figure robed
in shimmering white, with here and there
the fash of jewel; of "a
dainty proud face, just touched
with usefulness; of dark silky
hair; as sweet a thing of breathing flesh
and blood as ever mortal man would need
20 look upon, and looking love-
But all the glass gave back to her was
lost in the light Of the cleaning rose that
seemed to fairly envelop, her and-to her
nervous fancy-to control and dominate
her
An hour later having spoken a few
words to her hostess. Doris sought out a
quiet corner in the conservatory and sat
there resting and watching the new arri-
walls. The warmth of the room was crate
ful after the cold drive and the girl leaned
back among the cushions with a sense of
quiet peace and even pleasure; after all
she had been making a great fuss about
nothing; She would be very happy and
Phllp-wen she would be able to act the
hnnefarfrnEc nd l. 90,