The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28
A CRAVE RESPONSIBILITY.
BY CONSTANCE SMITH.
copyrighted, 1925, by Constance smith.


NOR was greatly aggravated 10y the pres
ence of George Dallas. Dahas-who had
hooked in" from his lonely station thiTty
miles distant 10 say goodbye and now
sat on a corner of his hosts writing Ia
bic, hicking the dust airily from his IT.
ding boots-was going home on leave the
following week. and his spirits were. to
Malinger's thinking, EXCEPTIONALLY high
in consequence.
Lucky fellow growled the deputy col
Iector Of Kwree from the depth of his
long chair, gazing resenuully at his Wis
itor over the bowl of a short pipe.
Dallas. modesny allowed his good for
tune-which, it presently appeared, was
even greater than his companion sus-
pected. Il don't mean to come back
alone this time; I shall bring her with
me. Yes, relllyl Old Dempster seems
willing to hear reason at last"
Congratulate you,' said Mallinger,
shortly. "On the principle that it's not
good for a man to be alone. you are to
be congratulated. II I could md any wo-
man willing to bury herself in this con-
founded dog hole, ia get married myself
like a shot"
NO difficulty about the woman. There
are plenty of girls in India who"
'Thanks-I don't fancy the Anglo-In-
dian variety of girlhood Now, if some
one-you for choice-would undertake to
bring me but a specimen of the genuine
British article
Dallas broke into a boyish laugh. I've
Il wish you would"
This time Dallas did not laugh. He sat
up squarely on his table corner and star
ed at the other man.
e'You're not serious?"
Never more so in my life"
"Well, you always were a queer chap
but upon my word! If any other fell
how were TO start such an idea, 1 should
swear that he'd got touch of the sun.
But as its you
''You judge-quite correctly-that my
essential queerness has merely broken out
in new place. That's all right"
II you are really in earnest"
1--WE already explained that I am
II appeared that he was, indeed. In
vain did Dallas, half amused, half scan.
dalized, by turns argue, expostulate, and
1eer.
Engage yourself to marry some woman
you've never yet set eyes upon? My dear
chap, you must have taken leave of your
senses. Suppose you and the Unknown
She didn't happen to hit 1t off-and the
odds are thousand TO one against your
hitting IL off-what them"
Then we should quarrel, I suppose.
Quarrelling with ones wife would at least
be more amusing than doing nothing at all.
I'm athirst for excitement, Dallas-any
excitement. Even a conjugal dispute would
serve. See what you can do for me in
England, there's a good fellow"
Dallas rumpled his hair energetically.
'Anything-in reason--to oblige a friend.
But this isn't reason. / can't ask a young
lady to leave her home and travel out with
me to India"
"Why not? If your wife will kindly con-
sent to take charge of her"
Dallas mathematical his friends per-
sistent lunacy under his breath. THE right
sort OF girl would be furious If l proposed
such a plan to her. l shouldn't get one TO
hear me out"
TRY" said MaI1inger imperturbabiy.
Tnereupon Dallas reported bluntly that
he'd be hanged If he'd do anything Of the
kind.
Nevertheless-such is the deplorable
weakness of human nature-he quilted
kurree that afternoon with a reluctant
promise TO make the desired and desper-
lucky beggar left behind on the frontier"
when you yourself have six months
leave and are going to be married besides
seems almost brutal How on earth Dali
las was 10 redeem his promise he did not
stop TO inquire. He left that considera ton
TO the future-and the chapter of acct
dents
Meanwhile his return TO civilization
first at Bombay, and then on board the p.
and o. steamer, which conveyed him to
England-had the immediate effect of max
ing Malinger's outrageous scheme appear
more than ever outrageous. Among the
"Titania s. passengers We're several
charming girls, with whom Dallas became
passably intimate. The bare thought of
suggesting to any one of these young wo-
men that she should presently return with
him 70 India, and there bestow her hand
upon an obscure deputy collector, whose
very name had hithertOn been unknown 10
her, made his blood run cold And al
though he was accounted in his district
brave man, able TO face a frontier rising
or an angry tiger with the best. the pros
pect of encountering the father and moth
er of that young woman, after they should
have learned his audacious proposal,
struck terror into his soul. BY the time he
landed at Southampton, the proceeding 10
which he stood (most rashly) pledged
seemed impossibly fantastic, and fit only
for the world of comic opera
NSAly it was i4pA bOaIS 10 make a 1901
OF himseif-or insult any lady Of his ac-
quaintance-just 10 satisfy an eccentric
IDIOT like Mallinger! If opportunity Of
fered-but. then, no opportunity was at
ali likely to offer. WiJh this consoling
reflection, Dallas thrust aside the subject
OF Mallingers matrimonial ambitions-he
had plenty of other subjects, more inteE-
esting. TO engross his attention during the
next few months-and might never nave
REQUIRED 10 it, but for his mothers say
ing, one morning when his stay in Eng
land had begun TO draw TO its close
George. / wish you'd stroll over and tell
Amy Sherard she had better spend TO-
night and tomorrow with us j don't
think she means 70 leave the village tin
Thursday: and by this time the cottage
must be dismantled-and very uncomfort-
able quarters for her, poor little thing!"
IAN right" George rose from the lawn
on which he had been doing luxuriously
with q weii-bronzed straw hat tilted over
his equelly bronzed countenance, and
whistled 10 the dogs. where's Amy go-