The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-18

a
Brooke rising and offering the paper to
wen isn't he worth the cost?" asked
Sarah Jane. Il don't know that you would
get better value anywhere"
Faith, that's wen said my dear young
lady It's pleasant to see a purity girl
stand up for a boy that's only her half
brother"
Not even that, Uncle McShane," cried
Sarah Jane, with a deep blush. Wal
happens to be my mothers husbands son.
He is no relation to me-"
MIR. Brooke folded up his napkin pre-
cisely, and wished the party good morn
ing.
There was a moments silence Then
Uncle McShane rose and handed the pa
per to Mrs. Brooke; maybe you'd like 10
see the news. Pm just going into the
garden to say good morning to May and
her guardian angel. / suppose they are
out by this time"
He rose and brushed the crumbs from
the waistcOat of his accurate grey morn
ing suit; rose from table, patted a shrewd-
looking fox terrier who fawned upon him,
and left the room, followed by Sam and
Elizabeth long-legged awkard girl of
13 or IA, the eldest of Mrs. Brooke's sec
ond family.
"Wellr' exclaimed Sarah Jane, as soon
as she was tet-a-tete, with her mother, "of
all the old eofties l ever came across, I'm
Gle McShane is the softest! Do you know
what he sinks off for every morning, as
soon as MIR. Brooke as gomez"
How can l tell?"
"To read fairy tales to Mayl and If
you heard him, what with his brogue and
his queer pronunciation, it would make
a cat laugh"
HE Is very kind to poor May" said
Mrs. Brooke, with a sigh. May, her
youngest, was a little, crippled weaklng
for whose future there was little hope
nd hon.
cousin, whom Mrs. Brooke had taken for
an unpaid attache, as the cheapest way
OF providing for a pauper relation.
"Oh, yes, kind enough, but l say, ma,
he can keep his money tight enough. There
Is such lot of humbug in people, now
amt there?"
"Oh, I don't know. I have too much
to think of. Here is Val coming unex-
pectedly, and, as he wants to speak 90
your father, l am certain he is in
scrape.'
Poor Val! It's his misfortune; he was
born with a prncey nature. Show me his
note, ma
Mrs. Brooke threw 1t across the table.
IF he is in any money trouble" con-
tinued Sarah Jane, "he can soon get clear
of it," continued the young girl, her eyes
on the paper: ''if he had only the cour-
age to ask"
Sarah Jone, you're a foolY said her
mother, emphatically.
Perhaps l am, perhaps 1 am not. Any
how, know what / want rather fancy
I'll get it,"
eff l were you, Ia be ashamed to ham
ker after man that doesn't want me-
. How you know he doesn't? ] am not
the sort of woman men are Indifferent toi
Val and 1 understand each other. All he
wants is encouragement Mind, ma.
whether he is in debt or out of 1t, he is
the man I fancy. never met any one
to match him."
Sarah Jane was both bright and busy
the rest of the day. She put the flowers
on the dinner table herself, much to the
disgust of the tasteful parlor maid. "She
ways makes object of the decorations -
observed the aggrieved damsel. She gath
cred some flowers for her own hair, and
then she made a ponderous "buttonhole'
and place it on "the shrine" l. e.. the
dressing table of the admired Val That
gentleman was somewhat late, and dress
ed with reckless rapidity, so not unnat-
uraly omitted the 'posy' provided for
him. This did not prevent Sarah Jane
regarding him with tender pride. She
gazed delghtedly at his well-set-up, we'll
proportioned figure, his sun-embrowned
countenance, and short. curly dark hair.
his somewhat impatient, handsome hazel
eyes, and the white teeth which showed
under his thick mustaches when he smil-
ed. But he did not smile much on the
present occasion. The good-looking young
captain was not an a good temper, evident
ly, and did not speak much to anyone, ex-
cept Uncle McShane, with whom he gen
orally exchanged jokes and good stories
which We're something of an unknown
tongue to the rest of the company.
have you renounced buttonholes?" ask
ed Sarah Jane, with a languishing glance
Yes-no! Oh! l had something else to
think of to-day" he said, carelessly.
You might have put 1t in when it was
provided for you"
All, indeed! Did you put that posy on
my table? Very good, I'm sure. Don't
waste you time on such an unlucky fell
low as myself"
luck2"
Cant say Don't fancy you would care
for failure. What, going? Wen. want
to talk to my father See you present.
ly."
And if he proves obstnate?"
what do you mean?" interrupted Val.
What should he be obstinate about?'
Il m sure / don't know" returned Sarah
Jane, little awed by his stern tone
suppose May and Kitty have gone
on to the seaside said Val, as he held
the door open for his stepmother to pass
through.
mo, not yet! They are upstairs. as
usuai; May hates coming into the drawing
room more than ever"
Il don't suppose Kitty objects to socie-
ty though"
kitty's business is to attend to May"
returned Mrs Brooke, shortly.
You may trust Kitty 10 take care of
herself, added Sarah Jane, with mock
ing laugh, she followed her mother
across the hall and Val closed the door
not too gently.
Arrived in the drawing room, Mrs.
Brooke sat down and looked at her daugh-
ter.
There win be a row." she said, sol
EMMY.
Il fancy he is in a scrape he looks
awfully glum!" replied that young lady,
Yes, Sarah Jane l hope you see what
horrid temper he hast Mr. Brooke has
always been TOO indulgent 10 him.
well, you have nearly cured him of
that weakness"
Don't be so disagreeable Sarah Janep'
"An right I'll bestow my disagreeabil-
tty on Mayor Kitty-May will be In
bed"