The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-28


sion Of the whole truth-was confronting
her escort with blazing eyes
You have deceived me shamefully!
she declared. you think / am going to
lend myself to your wicked plot-now-
you are greatly AIKEN, George Dallas.
As soon as this ship touches land, shall
turn straight round and go home again"
Here her anger melted suddenly in
shower OF tears.
II forgot-I can't go home again-be-
cause I've no money. Oh, how terrible
this Isl she walled softly.
But indeed" Dallas pleaded, Il meant
1t all for the best. 7 thought IL would
be for your happiness. And he says he
shall be a Bombay-and he's as good
fellow as ever stepped. Don't cry any
more. pleasev'
Amy. dashing off her tears, turned upon
the distressed and tncoherent Dallas a
look half-defiant, half-reproachful She
was maddeningly pretty at that moment.
We land al Bombay on Tuesday,"
Yes"
"And-and on Saturday I am to go to
the Cathedral and be married to-this
man? That's what you wish me 10 do?"
Dallas made quick gesture with both
hands, as if thrusting aside the vision
these words conjured up. NO" he an
swered vehemenuy. mo, 1 certainly
don't wish-how can I wish? Why" he
demanded with unnecessary violence of
I
ask, should ] sacrifice the happiness of a
life-of two lives-to sentiment about
Mallingers loneliness %
Why. indeed?" Amy echoed gently.
There are those kilograms" Miss She
rard remarked, about quarter of an hour
later. 1t will be rather difficult won't
il, for you to explain them away when
you meet Mr.. Mallinger?"
Upon which George responded, ooh,
| hang Mallinger, and the kilograms tool
| What do a hundred kilograms matter
now?"-with a splendid assumption of in
difference. But he felt in his heart, even
then that the suggested explanation might
possibly prove difficult. And when, three
days later, he walked into the hotel at
which Malilnger had intitmated his in
tenton of putting up. he felt persuaded
that il was going to prove very difficult
indeed.
Mallinger was in his room-the Thetls
had arrived some hours before her time,
60 his non-appearance when her passen-
gers landed was fairly accounted for-and
sprang up with every expression of joy
to welcome his friend.
Splendid of you to look me up directly"
he declared, grasping Dallas warmly by
the hand.
Dallas, his guilty heart sinking within
him, gazed at the speaker in establishment.
| This was not the moody, fantastic being ne
had left behind him in Kurree, but total
~ different Mallinger-alert bright eyed,
overlooking with animal spirits. Had his
| treacherous kilograms wrought this ex-
traordnary change? Shame and remorse
overcame him. How should he find words
in which to dash this happy dreamer s
| cloud-castle to the earth?
"Of course" Mallnger continued gaily,
''you got my wire at Port Said. had
yours from Alden all right. Glad to near
! aFai0
voyage.
Mrs Dallas?" stammered George, ooh
all. I forgot you didn't know. I-we-the
fact is, that affairs off. Miss Dempster
thought better of it."
My dear Dallas, I beg your pardon!
I had no suspicion-and your telegram
spoke Of She so / naturally inferred"
But my telegram referred to Miss Sher-
and. l took it for granted you would I'M
derstand that"
Sorry to be so dense. But as 1 never met
the lady in question-nor heard OF her I'M
| til this moment-"
Dallas sprang from his seat "Do you
mean 10 say my wire from Southampton
has never reached your
From Southampton? Did you-ah!
with new air of intelligence, L see! YOU
wired to me at Kurree?"
Dallas, speeches., inclined his head
and I left Kurree a month ago. They
| offered me the assistant commissionership
at Badrepore-rather a change from good
old Kurree. eh?"
Again Dallas minated silent consent
so l had to post down here in hot haste
And here I've been ever since. That ac-
counts for everything"
"Yes-that accounts"
The new Assistant Commissioner of Bad
| Iepore took a turn across the room.
I'm another man, Dallas. To know that
! I've said a final fond farewell to that beast
ly hole! Seriously, the place was getting on
my nerves; there were times, lately when
] felt myself on the verge of lunacy. on
| the last time you rode over, l tmplored you
to bring me out a wife from England
you recolect? Lucky you didn't take me
at my word! l should be very much en-
barrassed with a wife just now"
| He laughed a laugh in which Dallas did
| his poor best to join and, ceasing his walk,
halted suddenly before a side table loaded
| with papers.
why, here's the Kurree mail! Must
| have come in while 1 was at 'tiftin. Won
der If Gundra has had the sense to for
ward your telegram He tore open the
packet, and began turning over the en-
velopes of all sizes and colors-white blue,
yellow-which 1t contained. Yes, this
must be it"
Dallas interposed a nervous hand.
Tear it up!'
"Why?"
'On, Stale news. 1t would read so aD-
surdly at this distance of time. Tear 1t
up. there's a good chap-just TO oblige
met"
Malhnger Wonderland tore. "A bit
unhinged by his young Woman's heartless
conduct, poor fellowr' was his unspoken
comment. Perhaps the wire was sent
10 warn me thai | needn't erect trium-
phal arches for the bride. BY the way"
he asked quickly, aloud-good naturally
willing that Dallas should suppose his
singular excitem~at on the subject of the
| belated message Aad passed unnoticed-
'''you haven't yet thrown any light on
the mysterious she of your other tele-
gram Who is Miss Sherard If one may
ask?"
"Ah, Miss Sherard I was forgetting
She-shes staying with Mrs. Carnegie for
week or so, till we can arrange things.
| l hope to get the wedding fixed for Tues
day or Wednesday, at the latest"
THE wedding? Am l to understand"
THAT Miss Sherards engaged to me-?
Most certainly" returned Dallas, with I'M