The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-03-08

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pain in their tearing loose. The moth
er began to sob owe the picture, and
while they were trying to quiet her,
Guy came in. He started when he
saw Jeanne, and he stood an instant
before closing the door Then he
greeted her quietly. and going TO Eva.
bent over her, with low soothing
words that soon hushed her sobs-
HE is good to her." thought Jeanne,
with a feeling OF gladness. II accord
ed with her idea of him-this patient
tenderness. He did not talk much to
Jeanne. Eva and her mother absorb
ed her attention.; and when she went
away, both begged her to come often,
which she promised to DO.
From that day there was daily COM
munication between the two houses.
Eva grew to depend Upon Jeanne's
presence, and the girl spent most Of her
time reading and talking to the sick
woman. Sometimes Eva would be
carried over to spend the day at Mrs.
Childars, but as summer progressed
each day she grew weaker, and all
save herself knew she was fast losing
ground in the struggle.
Jeanne was sitting with her one day
when she saw the mail carrier going to
her aunt's house with a letter.
81 am going home a moment, Eva"
she said. THAT must be a letter from
my brother, Ralph. You know his
wife was dangerously i'll, and he could
not come to the funeral"
The letter was a shock to her. Her
brother wrote that his wife was dead.
She had died three weeks after his
mothers funeral, but he had refrained
from telegraphing her as she had had
enough to bear. But now two children
were down with fever, and he was not
we'll: and he begged her to come out
to them, and to bring Aunt Sarah, if
possible. She called Aunt Sarah and
gave her the letter.
"Of course I'll CO." said Mrs. Child
ars. "Ill begin to pack now. I think
We can get ready to start tomorrow
night. Run over and tell Eva. She'll
miss us, poor thing. IT'S not likely
We'll ever see her again."
Jeanne told Eva, who cried a little,
hen Frightened and said it wouldn't
matter so much, now hat they were
going south soon.
when do you start?" asked Mrs.
Heathe.
Tomorrow night, Aunt Sarah says"
answered Jeanne.
Can't you come over tonight?" asked
Eva, p~laintively.
I'm afraid not, Eva-there are SO
many things to look after. I will come
tomorrow"
Eyes you must stay all day tomor-
row, and I'll send Guy over tonight to
say good-by; he's going away tomor-
row."
That evening while Mrs. Childars
was saying good-by to her friends in
Linn, Guy Harron came. His face
was pale, and he looked embarrassed,
but the calm determination Jeanne
had always admired in him was more
pronounced than usual. Jeanne was
embarrassed, too, and they faced each
other in silence. 1t was the first time
they had been alone with each other
since her return to Linn.
Jeanne" he said suddenly, and to
her the call seemed an echo from that
river scene, eva says you are going
away"
Eyes, Jeanne replied, forgetting to
give him a chair or to take herself.
Again they looked at each other in
silence, then he said, SO low that she
could scarcely hear, Don't go,
Jeanne"
Her startled eyes stared at him.
"YOu have not forgotten, have you,
Jeanne?". The pleading in his voice
ran through her in shivers. "We have
parted so long, and now that there is
hope 1 can't let you go SO far away. 1t
can't be for long
my God!" she cried in horror, talk
ing a step backward as he leaned to-
ward her.
81 have been a good husband to her.
he said defensively. "You now that
I did not love her, that /"
"Stop!" she exclaimed authoritively
and just then Mrs. Childars appeared.
There was an awkward silence while
! she was closing the door, and then
Jeanne said calmly, "Mr. Harron came
to say good-by, Aunt Sarah"
AS Mrs. Childars directed her atten-
ton to the visitor, Jeanne left the room
and went up stairs.
When she came down stairs next
morning her aunt looked at her curi-
ously, as she said, Going to bed early
doesn't agree with you, Jeanne; you
look pale. There is a visitor waiting
in the parlor for you"
"Who?" Jeanne asked quickly.
Howard Lacey"
Jeanne went to him. He was stand
ing with his back to the door, but
turned quickly as he heard her.
cit is fortunate you came today
she said, as they shook hands.
Eyes, your aunt told me. Especial
1y fortunate, since I came because
must go to Europe for our firm"
ooh! and tomorrow we should have
been gone. Why haven't you been
| down before?"
He looked past her at the window
and did not reply for some time. Then
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