The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-10-17
in pride, and she finished her breakfast

in pride and she finished her breakfast
silently.
Cicely like all women who fancy them
selves neglected, craved for excitement,
and sought intimacy at houses to which,
year back, she would not have cared
to go. She grew eXtravagant in dress,
wearing clothes for effect rather than for
adornment, and walking consciously.
In her new set it was fashionable to
play roulette. but the stakes were mod
crate, and, with her supply of money, the
trihing losses were no inconvenience The
excitemnt, though, told on her, and per-
haps after a long evenings play, she
would allow a compliment 70 pass un-
checked which would have annoyed her
in a calmer spirit. More especially was
she lenient to one man, George Proctor,
who, of all her friends, was the most
agreeable. He was man in whose ma
ture the animal somewhat predomiuated.
He had that sort of cunning which is
wrongly called patience; and he was sub
tie, making himself useful to Cicely, with
the purpose of becoming Indispensable.
Cicely liked him; any woman of her age
and ineXperience would probably have
done so. He met her very frequently, and
often came to the house. After few
months he let fall some remarks on the
yoke of marriage, and the injustice of
all laws By degrees he gained her conf
dence; he learned that her husband was
much away from her, and he treated her
as neglected SOUL" offering silent SYM
pathy. Poor Cicelyl She was only p, and
the desire of life was denied to her; she
had no child. Matters drew on to a eli
max at the end of November; a lighted
taper soon burns down and hurts ones
| fingers
III
John breakfasted alone one morning
Cicely had been at a dance the night be-
fore, and was too tired to get up so early
as s o'clock.
When he reached his office he found that
he had forgotten some most important
papers, which he had taken home with
him the night before. He had left, them in
his safe in the bedroom. and there was
no one to whom he cared to intrust the
key. He sent for Phillips, his head clerk
"Oh-er-Phillips, l find l must go home
again. / have left some papers behind
me. VIII you do these orders and see that
man with whom l have an appointment
| this morning? Tell him l was obliged to
CO. and shall be back soon after y.
shall be off as soon as I've got through
| these letters, so just ask the boy to get
| me a cab" . -ah.7 s...l i..
John told the eabmanl to drive quickly.
| When they turned into the street he no.
| tlced hanson standing before his house.
/ ne supposed OlCely ndu an early CAlleF.
| In the han canvas trunk was lying. He
ran upstairs to the drawing-room to see
| who had come; he had not heard that any
| guests were expected
| Cicely was standing on the hearth-rug,
| buttoning her glove. AS she looked up and
saw him, her face became awfully white,
and she swayed backward.
"Cicely!' John was just in time to catch
| her as she fell. He put her on the sofa,
| and shut the door. There was some water
| in a vase on the piano, and he sprinkled
| some on her face. After a while Cicely
| opened her eyes; there was look of hor-
| ribie fear in them.
THE letter." she said, trying to sit up.
"What letter."
"On the chimney piece; give 1t to me-
John looked round. A letter was resting
against the clock, addressed to him in
| Cicelys handwriting. AT once a fearful
| intelligence seemed to light up within him.
| Little occurrences of the last month";
word here, an act there the fear in Cice-
| ly's eyes, the letter in his hand--drew
| sharply together in his mind like the fig
ures in a kaleidoscope, and made horrid
| pattern He tore the letter across and
| across, and knelt down beside her. The
| fear was still in her eyes as she looked at
| him. but in a moment came the relief of
| tears. John took her in his arms, soothing
her gently as man can do.
"What a fool Eve been" he thought
what bitter fool I've been not to have
| seen it all long ago."
While she was crying he had time 10
think what should be done, and as she
grew calmer he said, reassuringly:
"There, dear, don't cry any more. 1t is
all right now . I'm tell you what
wen do; there's a cab at the door, and
wen just run down to Brighton for a week
and enjoy the sea. Shall we? Would you
like that?'
"Ohw Cicely nestled closer to him and
began to cry again
NOW, will you be ready in FIVE min
utes? 1 must go to the city first, so we
can start from London bridge, Cicely,
dear" he said kissing her. y
He rang the bell for the servant.
put Mrs. Green's trunk on the cab and
come up for my bag. And just pay my
cabman, Will you. please?"
He ran upstairs and hastily thrust into
his bag a few clothes. Happening to look
in the glass, he drew back in surprise. His
face was pale, and there were new lines
upon it.
by jove" he said, 'I didn't know
looked like that. Well, the sea will bring
the color back, but expect those lines
will help me to remember to-day whenever
l brush my hair"
At the office he asked for Phillips, and
hearing he was in the market went In TO
see him. LOOK here Phllllps," he SAID,
pulling him into quiet corner there are
those papers. I'm gonig to Brighton for a
week, and you must get along by yourself
If you want anything, come down for =
night; I shall be at the Bedford. And,
Phillips, when l come back / must have
talk with you; 1 find / want part
ner."
He drove on with Cicely to London
bridge They had a carriage to themselves.
and as The train rushed along through the
hedges Cicely said after a long pause,
and in very fearful voice:
John, I ought to tell YOU"
He interrupted her, putting his finger
lightly on her lips.
mo dear, no. Let's bury the past year
at the root of the coming one. We have
both been wrong, and now we will both
be right"
''But ought to tell you" she persisted
"Then you shall write me letter all
about It, and we will go out together on
to the downs with a box of matches ans
burn your sacrifice in the sight of
heaven" .".t
She reached up and drew his face down
to hers, whispering, John, dear john"
And the sun looked through the window,
md HE haarna xvideDed in n smile ba