The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04

L II Il NlO1tAN ~ ~ - a
Il cannot heIr tn hiking" he said, that
we must be related"
Mrs Warlock was prepared for this
Il am sorry 10 say that Ethel and ! can
claim kinship with no one she said
quietly, my husbands family are all
dead"
Dear, dearl How very sad. And your
husband too?'
yes" she answered.
"Ded aboard, 1 presume""
Yes" 7t-
In India ?"
May 1 ask from what part of England
your husbands family spring? Pardon an
Old mans curiosity; ] am an enthusiastic
genealogist. and the name is an uncom-
mon one"
HE came from the Western states Of
America. We We're married abroad.
But If there were Warlocks ia America
the vicar decided to regard them as the
spurious usupers of the name of which
he and his son were the last representa-
rives. Still. he was far from satisfied with
this vague Information and the defensive
reticence which gave il.
But the nature of his studies had taught
him patience, and he loved mystery.
Miss Warlock had brought one to his
gates. Moreover, he felt that in his ca
pacity as historian and geanealogist of
the Warlocks, he had a right to know
the secrets of all who bore the name.
Thenceforward. although he retraned
from asking her any direct questions on
the subject Of her husband, ne remained
on the watch for some clew
"Who is she? Where does she come
from? Why has she Gomez Until he
could give an answer to these questions
the vicar felt that his curiosity would
never be relieved. But he was a pleasant,
kindly old gentleman, and Mrs. Warlock
accepted his courtes es with pleasure.
And so the summer days went pleasant
ly by until Hubert Warlock came to stay
at the vicarage, and introduced a new
and unexpected element into the prob
lem.
The day he arrived Ethel and her moth
er were in the vicarage garden.
Let me introduce you 10 Mrs. Warlock,
Hubert" said his father, "who ought to
be cousin of ours. but refuses kinship.'
"Only because honesty will not let me
claim IT," she answered, smiling.
Fresh from India, Hubert Warlock. pos
sibly on that account, thought she was
the most beautiful woman he had ever
seen. Her voice, her gray eyes, full OF
soft light when they fell on her little girl
her singularly gentle and winning man
ner charmed him.
"Shes like Madonna" he said to his
father, when she was gone. you never
told me how lovely she was!
"Wen Hubert that was an oversight
You see the genealogical side Of the ques.
ton chiefly appealed to me-"
| what do you know about her?'
Absolutely nothing. ] believe she was
married to a Warlock, but / can't trace
him. 1t seems he died in Africa, and was
an American"
But her knowledge of misplace and it,
associations seems to connect his family
with it."
''She hints clearly enough that her mar
ried life was unhappy, but makes no Sc
cret of her repugnance TO talk of it,
you want an intelligence department,
said his son; "Tn collect the data, yoi
shall put it together"
But Hubert Warlock was only half II
earnest, for, however great his curiosity
admiration had blunted it's edge and hi
interests in his fathers genealogical stud
les was but moderate. Instead, therefore
of prying into the private affairs of hi
new acquaintance the young man in reali
ty protected her against the researches @
his father.
You can't possibly fall in love with
woman of whom you know absolutel
nothing" Hubert Warlock said to hi
father, as an excuse when the old gentle
man half-laughingly limited at the danger
But in reality the mystery surroundn
Mrs Warlock spread a romantic atmos
phere about her that increased II. Thi
interest begot sympathy, and sympath
was merging itself into passion.
Meanwhile Ethel, q singularly nervou
and shy child became devoted to her ne,
friend. Hearing the vicar address his so
as Hubert. the chi d had also insisted o
calling him by his Christian name, a hab
the young man encouraged. II was plea.
ant to see the girl with an air of propris
torship leading the young soldier roun
the vicarage garden, and the mother
heart was some time strangely stirred