The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
MUMMY

mo, professor shall keep the mum
my to remind me that my father squan-
dered 10000 on such-like rubbish"
Don't dlsparase those whose tastes diff
fer from your own" retorted Carberry,
with some dryness; lin my eyes your
mummy is worth f2y0 Come, IN let you
have that sum for it,"
''No! l have made up my mind not to
SELL"
Obstinate man, I'll Increase my offer
TO guineas. It's worth consideration"
Il dare say; and worth more than the
mummy" said John. However, / can
only thank you, and decline your pro-
pcsal"
Car3erry was vexed and showed II by
frowning. Then he smiled and held out
/ his sand. We'll Vale, if you won't sell,
you won't" said he, but # You should
change your mind, fet me know. My
offer win remain open. And Vale" added
the professor with a backward glance.
come and see us when you have nothing
better to do"
John did not accept this cordial invita-
ton at once, as he had no great love
for Carberry and his whims. But one
afternoon at a garden party he saw a
pale and delicate face which fixed his
wandering attention. Forthwith he bog
ged his hostess for an Introduction, ard
shortly found himself walking and talk
ing with Mrs. Carberry. The professor
was not present, otherwise he would have
resented the long conversation which took
place between the pair Both Vale and
Lucy were mutually attracted to one an
other; and after few moments they were
chatting confidenuahy together as though
they were friends of years standing.
I don't know why l tell you Ihase
things" said Lucy, stopping in the mid
die of a description Of her taste in books.
4 am sure they do not interest you
But indeed they do Mrs. Carberry l
am enjoying our conversation more than
I dare tell you"
All, that is because you are what the
Italians call 'simpatica.
IT is the first time such a term has
been applied to me-" laughed John. Il
am not what you term a ladies' man.
The professor is, / understand"
rs he? That is news to me-"
She said this so bitterly that Vale was
surprised, and glanced sideways at her
charming face. The rosy color Induced
by the pleasant conversation had died
out, the soft eyes had hardened, and the
mobile lips were firmly set in thin line
of scarlet When Carberry was mention
| ed Lucy could govern her speech by linn
iting II to few cold and careless words;
but the expression of her face was be
yond her control, and the opinion she
| entertained of her husband could be read
thereon without difficulty. John saw dread
and hate in every line of the pretty coun-
tenance; and also ne deduced fear from
me nervous and hurried way in which her
eyes Travelled round the sunlit lawn. He
concluded from such evidence that Mrs
Carberry both feared and hated her hus-
band. And in this conclusion he was alb
solutely right.
With considerable tact he turned the
conversation into another channel. and
soon he was confirmed in his opinion of
her matrimonial feelings by seeing the
face relax and the eyes soften When
Carberry came to take his wife away
which he dad in a particularly gracious
and smiling manner-Vale noted the Me.
dusa-lilIe transformation once more. When
speaking TO him Lucy's face had seen
fuI OF change and color and charm when
leaving with her husband 1t was a mask
of stone, hard and colorless. Only Inc
expression of the eyes betrayed how ter
rlned was the soul hidden in that slen-
der body. These things afforded Vale food
LOT much reflection on his way home
Il knew that Carberry was a brute he
unused, taxing the most extreme view of
the professors character. He tvran-
ises over that poor little woman. She
looked like dove caught in a snare
when her husband appeared. 1t is a case
or JOY abroad and grief at home. I siis-
pect; but few inquiries will soon en-
! tighten me on that point"
In this superstition he was wrong. for
his few inquiries did nothing of the sort.
10 all the gossips of Camford he applied
artfully for information and from ali the
| gosslp&-on the best AUTHORITATIVE heard
the same story. Prof. Carberry was an
amiable genius married to a brainless don
! lie was the most delightful companion
/ IN the world but he required clever
! woman TO understand and appreciate him.
| and Mrs. Carberry-by unanimous opin-
| ion-Wds not clever woman. She was
! .la..sA
Few social tricks like a wel-bred poodle.
| and feeble stream of patrlot-like chat
! ter. But brains? Where was Mr.. Wales
talen for character reading to look for
brains in that Dresden china nonentjtv ,
! On the whole, the verdict OF Camford wo-
manhood was dead against Lucy
| john in his own mind declined 20 ac-
cept this verdict at final He saw that
the Camford ladies grudged Lucy her ac
/ question OF an eligible bachelor ana IN
1 revenge were determined to deny her pos
session of all feminine graees likely 70 ac-
| count for the marriage. To learn tbe
! other side of the question Vale determined
to use the invitation he had received from
the professor, and in pursuance of this
! idea he called forthwith on Mrs. Carbarrv
Again the mutual attraction declared H.
! self between the pair and they spent a
most delightful hour together, notwith-
standing the inconvenient presence of Car
] bClAS hAluSSll. IN response TO an aDDeal-
| ing glance from Lucy-she did not dara
| to put her wish into words-John again
repeated his visit. Ultimately. as CON
! Toiled by some irresistible fate the youpg
man fell into the habit of passing the
greater part of his spare time i'm the COM
! pany of Mrs. Carberry Busybodies rot
Cd the fact, and informed the professor.
who merely shrugged his shoulders. ana
/ said that his wife liked TO be amused
| Nevertheless, he thought sufficient Of rho
! hint TO keep a close watch on the pr1r-
ress of this new acqualntanceship Ii was
| at this point that Camford cynics si,r-
gested exchange of wife for mummy.
Ignorant of gossip and espionage. the
! lovers-as they tacitly wore-drifted into
a knowledge that they could not live with
out one another For a considerable time
| Lucy shrank from revealing her domestic
misery. but finally she spoke out, and tha
indignation with which Vale received her
| confession drew them still closer toeathar.
/ Caroerry made no attempt to end TIER
friendship, but blinking Ike some slv
beast OF prey, he kept himself informed
/ of an that was going on Al lenrfh th,