The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-18

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sarv. and the weather, for wonder was
all that a lover of old customs and as
sociations could desire. The wind mad gone
IN into the north, it had showed during
the night, and the upland marshes and
distant hills were sprinkled with a white
sheet of lawn, over which the sun, red
and round as a floating colored balloon,
eimmered down through folds of frosty
mist. Even the little town of Deal it
self where the snow seldom lies long, was
covered with snow, more of which was
melting in the narrow streets. The sea
was calm, and still white mists hung over
the Goodwins and the distant channel
In those days Deal was Rttle frequented
even during the summer 1t was still am
phibious, old-fashioned, sleepy, and dul,
while in winter il might almost have been
said to hibernate, so quiet and still it re-
NAMED from month to month. The very
fishermen were slow and silent, going
forth in the night and coming back in the
early morning, to be greeted on the shore
by their patient wives and children, and
by a few old sea-captains and retired
naval officers who had settled down in the
sleepy town to end their days.
On the morning of which we write the
streets were, comparatively speaking, live
~. Weather-beate men were tramping
TO and fro and drifting socially from inn
10 inn, ladies, young and old, were shop
ping, the old captains were gathering on
the shore with telescopes tucked under
their arms, and boys and girls were pelt-
ing each other with snowballs at the street
corners. Wherever a shop was open with
anything interesting on view little group
was gathered In front of "Birchington's
Library" just out of the main street,
there was quite a crowd.
"Birchingtons Library" so-called was
established in an old-fashioned gable build
ing, consisting of a shop with a double
frontage, a large room at the rear of the
same, and one or two living rooms on the
floor above. This building was one of the
Oldest edifices in the town, and had once,
some generations previously been Dri-
vate dwelling. For nearly fifty years,
however, "Birchlngton's" had flung out
the sign of enlightenment and useful
knowledge to the locality. Beginning in. a
fancy goods, sweetmeats, and picture
books it had gradually grown and increas-
cd so that at the date we write of it was
the solitary circulating library in the town,
and the only place for the sale of new
books from London
on the present occasion the windows
were brilliant with showily bound vol
umes, colored engravings, ornaments for
the parlor and bedroom, trays of cheap
vic I'd On,
minated card suspended against one of
the center panes was the inscription:
"Birchington's Circulating Library. All
the latest works Subscriptions received
Within"
The little crowd, gathered in front of
the shop was ever renewed, as it melted
away by the advent of new corners. In
side, Miss Birchington and her solitary
assistant young girl of fifteen, were
very busy attending to the wants of at
least half dozen customers, two old la
dies in quest of wool for fancy work,
servant girl sent by her mistress for the
newest novel in three volumes, a little
boy eager to purchase a paper kite, the
younger Miss Deane from the Misses
Deane's Academy for young ladies, and
Capt. Sandgate of the Coastguard bluff
white haired Old mariner approaching the
seventies.
The two persons last named had not
come hither to purchase anything. The
captain was lolling against the counter
and looking on, while the young girl at
tended to the customers. and Miss Deane,
a mature maiden lady of 40, with some
what severe cast of countenance, was
whispering to Miss Birchington at the
back of the shop
AZ first a hasty glance at Miss Birch
inston, christened Esther by her pious
father, showed a fair girlish face, with
high and somewhat narrow brow, fair
hair arranged primly on each side of the
forehead, well-cut and somewhat decid-
ed mouth. Even her greatest admirer
could not have called Esther beautiful;
her enemies indeed young ladies of more
snowy and belligerent attractions, describ-
Cd her as plain" The fact that she was
very short sighted and wore spectacles,
did not add to her attractions. closer
scrutiny, however, showed that the girl
She was only two and twenty, though she
looked somewhat older-was by no means
destitute Of womanly charms Her figure
was full and graceful, and her hands and
feet perfect her bearing refined and lady
like and her face, little sad in repose,
fun Of indescribable gentleness and sweet
ness. On the present occasion she looked
really pretty for her features were flush
ed with a rosy light and wreathed in
smiles.
III is really true then, Esther" Miss
beane was saying, that you are going
TO marry him?"
Esther smiled and nodded, glancing
somewhat nervously towards Capt. Sand
gate. who stood a little distance off, in
an attitude of attention, listening
Well ] am surprised" exclaimed Miss
Deane stil whispering. you don't mind
my saying that do you? I'm sure l don't
know why, but We none of us thought"
Esther interrupted her with a light rip
ping laugh, that seemed to well right up
from her heart.
m sure I never did either she re-
pied ia almost made up my mind to
De- an old maid like aunt and to carry
on the business till I died. But that's all
changed now, and Of course I'm not sor-
ry."
Then the business is for sale?" in
CURED the elder lady glancing around at
the shop critically
Yes, II think So" said Esther, II
ShaH dispose Of 1T if I can get good
offer. Mr.. Belairs thinks I ought to do