The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-23
i /


DOCK, to finish their story Harriet was
stlil staring with dismayed eyes down the
drive.
Chapter eight" said Mrs. Pomeroy.
setting herself and beginning
harriet did not hear that chapter She
was run OF apprehension What II Hum
bert should run away or throw a ahoeq
What If Eugene should fan orr him and
hurt himself? And right in the midst of
her disquieted thoughts something han
pehed which was worse, surely than any
thing else imaginable-her Uncle Thad
drove into the yard and into the stable.
Harrlets heart stood stnl. She listened
she waited. Presently Uncle Thad came
OUT OF the stable, Where's Humbert?"
ne called 10 Harriet. Where Is Jim? Jim
dldnt drive off with Humbert. did he?"
pale.
where's Humbert, them" said Uncle
lhad, with rising voice, and he turned
PACK INTO the stable. Mrs. Pomeroy. peace
fully unconscious of the dire truth and of
the gathering storm, began to read again
Uncle Thad reappeared And with him
came SOMEBODY elsa little figure whose
arm he grasped, sim, small poorly
dressed girl Liskuml
Harriet gazed, dumbly. Look here -
said Uncle Thad. forciby, whats the
meaning of this? Isn't this that gypsy
girl that was around here yesterday"
Why yes; it's Liskum" said Harriet.
Liskum!' Uncle Thad repeated, not
gently. Uncle Thad was rather quick
tempered always, and now he looked
warm. Those gypsies decamped this
morning, the whole lot of them, and
what's this one doing here?"
Nobody spoke. Nobody knows how
much she's been proving around here"
said Uncle Thad, nor what she's found
out and told the rest of them, and now her
tribe is gone and my horse is gone. Rather
queer, isn't it?"
Liskum looked up at him. Her under lin
was between her teeth; she was the pic
ture of despairing fright. And Harriet al
most wrung her hands. Her heart pound
ed. O dear II she could speak outfit she
could tell her uncle that Eugene was rid
Ing Humbert. But no, she had promised
Eugene she would not; and she knew Eu-
gene, she knew what powers of INVITING
and taunting he possessed, and how he
could exercise them when she did anything
he thought mean" Besides a promise
always, and she must keep this. She look
ed at her Uncle Thad at Liskum--and her
unhappy heart kept on pounding.
Ihaddeus. said Mrs. Pomeroy don /
be hasty. II cannot be. I do not believe
this girl knows"
Somebody knows" said Uncle Thad
warmly. If those vagabonds have stolen
my horse I'll chase them up
Harriet could see Liskum tremble Har-
riet what with her load of suppressed an
guish, was trembling herself What should
she do2 O, what should she do? II SEEM
ed to her that IL something didn't happen
pretty soon she should scream.
And something happened. There was a
rattle of brisk hoofs and Eugene came
speeding up the drive on Humbert
"Weil-wcll-well!" said his Uncle Thad,
In an awful voice. Eugene stared at him
His scared face grew very red. Have you
got backY' he gasped. He slid 10 the
ground and stood backed up against Hum
bert, in utter AFFECTION and abashment
II took little ride" he stammered
80 | see" said his uncle, sternly. 80 I
see. Go and put Humbert in his stan. IN
attend to you cater, young man."
II was terrible moment But even in
the midst Of II, Eugene flashed took It
Harriet, a look OF true gratitude and APP
probation, a look that said. "You didn't
! tell on me; good for your And he silently
led Humbert into the stable.
| Uncle Thad took Liskum's brown little
| hand i'm his. "Liskum," he said--"thafs
your name, isn't it?-Liskum, / am sorry
/ laid the blame on you, without cause or
reason. / was hot and hasty. ! owe you an
| apology. Liskum, and / make 1t right here
and now"
Il never stole any horse" the girl fall
| tered II wouldn't"
"Of course you wouldn't" said Harriet,
and her eyes shone, and Mrs. Pomeroy put
her arm around Liskum and drew her
| near 10 her.
MY dear" she said, gently, what were
| you doing here alone? If the gypsies have
| gone, why are you here, Liskum?"
| Liskum's hands clasped themselves ner-
vously; she turned upon Mrs Pomeroy a
! look of timorous, deep appeal. I'll" she
| said, under her breath--''I liked you, and
l liked her" pointing to Harriet "and you
| was so pleasant-spoken to me, more than
anybody has been since / had my grand
! mother-and IL thought ia stay here
where / could see you sometimes couldnt
| bear TO go Off with en- said Liskum, and
| Land ! came up here-and / hid"
you poor, poor child" said Mrs Pom
eroy and there were tears in her voice.
And Harriet looked at them. her eyes
| eager, her lips parted. Several anxious
| thoughts were In her mind, chiefly there
were two; that Mrs. Pomeroy had no chill
dren and that her husband was as good
| hearted as she was, and well-off, too-and
| that poor Liskum had no home, and that
she liked Mrs. Pomeroy and that she was
a gentle girl and bright and pretty.
90, Mrs. Pomeroy," Harriet whispered.
"Llskum," said Mrs. Pomeroy. and the
! trembe in her voice was replaced by a
| note Of firmness and decision Liskum.
| we will try to make a home for you. III
| you don't want 10 live with the gypsies
you shah not,my girl. l viii take care of
| you. Liskum."
Good enough" said Uncle Thad, and he
| said II loudly and heartily. And Harriet
| looking into his face knew by its softened
! expression that his injustice TO Liskum
would serve, whether reasonably or no, as
a means Of dscuIpation for Eugene She
knew that Eugene would be forgiven for
riding Humbert.
III.
Harriet and Eugene went home, with
the profoundest regret, a month later
| Harriets foot was quite well, and their
! last weeks at Durham we're much the
| toliest-because of Liskum. And when
| they had got home, what gave them both
| the deepest pleasure vas their frequent
| news from Durham. Sometimes their Tn
| Gle Thad wrote, and sometimes Mrs. POM
eroy; but the day before Christmas there
came thin. obiong package directed to
| them both IN an unfamiliar hand, and a
| letter directed likewise.
| Eugene opened the package. and they
/ both fairly soueaied with Measure II