The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16


ages disposed of the dead.
1t was a gruesome subject. and he ham
died IL with gusto. Ali at once he stop
ped and faced Miss Blake.
What's the matter with you? You are
very undressing to-day
spark had gone out of her eyes that
had been there when they started on their
walk.
Am II" she said, smiling. isn't it
strange that we should be walking here
talking of the past and not giving
thought 10 the dark depths so cold under
us?"
THE past is always more interesting
than the present" he said. sharply.
And is the future interestingly"
There is never any future" he an
swered.
When they came nearer to the Hohwald
she pointed out the toboggan run that
sheered steeply down the hill to the lake.
4 have never been on an ice-run:
should like to try that one" she said.
DO you want to commit sucide?' he
asked.
Il had not thought of it as suicide, pro-
fessor."
1T would be suicide. Onfy an expert
could come safely down that run. And you
are NOT an expert. You toboggan very bad
ly indeed"
The professors business at the Hoh-
valid was to eat huge slices of rye bread
ana goats milk cheese, ana to drink a
bottle of Davos beer.
When he had finished they set out again.
You are positively stupid to-day" he
said to Miss Blake when they came down
the bill a Dorfl
The clash and wrangle of bells pealing
out from the tower prevented his hearing
her answer.
I DO you hear? Some one has been COM
uniting the folly of matrimony" the pro-
fessor shouted in her ear.
When they arrived at the hotel door he
| detained her
What is wrong with you? I am sure
/ didn't say anything to hurt you to-day,
did -"
| She smiled at him. shook her head. and
ran away TO make herself tidy for luncn.
The professor stood in the hall a long
time thinking
Dol l have your
A child darted out from behind the coats
and seized his legs.
What What! Hnlo! Oh, it's you,
| Miss Busybody. You nearly threw me
! down"
You promised me Christmas card,
! and you never gave it me-" said Miss
| Busybody reproachfuly.
| Didn't l? Didn't ]? But I bought 1t.
| Yes, l know l bought it. Tush! it's been
! in my pocket for weeks. Wait, child; les
| here somewhere"
| MISS busy bOuN Tell DdCk. her eyes,
round and shining, followed his hand as
it plunged into Every pocket of his over
| coat.
IT'S here; know it's here" he said,
testify
Perhaps it's in the pocket of your old
coat" she suggested.
81 haven't an old coat" he said, GROSSLY.
1T must be here. This is the only over
coat I have and l put the card In the
pocket"
mo, it isn't" she said, with knowing
look. This is your new overcoat that
Miss Blake hung on your peg when she
| took away the old one. I saw her when
was hidded, watching for Santa Claus.
May l ask her to let me look in the old
coat for the Christmas card?'
The professor did not answer.
May l. professor, may II" said Mis-
| Busybodg, prancing round him.
Certainly not!" he shouted; certainly
not! If yoH mention thlt COMPOUNDED card
coat cerl to anybody III never, never
give you q bonbon az lin
CHAPTER III.
NJ! blake sat on her LAlcony. looking
wistlully al the road tht- I1ssed the val
ley ard trailed its SOLID skirts 10 the
lovely Waldhaus. 1t vas picture of he,
| If si,c thought. She might watch al
day lons aud the pros ssOr would -.nt
come shdtr ng up the roal To ill her if
| with interest
1t was a fortnight since he had gone
away without word or sign; only fort
night. The snowstorm that had made
the road to the Waldhaus impossible haC
wrapped her days in a cold silence.
She did not blame him, but it would
have been better if he had never come intc
her life She had been satisfied with hel
loneliness until he had shown her the pos
sibilities of friendship, and had reused
her womanhood only to deal it this crue
blow.
She remembered the long talks that had
| beguiled the evenings, the merry tramp.
side by side over the snow, the quarrels
that had made them better friends, The
happiness that had sprung to meet hi.
footstep. He had been the only figure il
her world. She loved the sight of his ben
shoulders the blue goggles, the straggline
beard--she loved even his rude manners
She would not have had anything about
him different. And she had thought h
cared for her and found pleasure in hel
society. The other people had noticed it
She burned with shame, remembering tina
they had discussed Miss Blakes love-af
fair" Only yesterday Mr.. Sales referenc,
to 1.-THE Professors Love Story had sen
a gust of merriment through the salle-a
manger. The mockery had been justified
by that empty chair. She had not beer
mistaken in thinking he cared for her
And this was the end. Loneliness hard
er to bear than the loneliness of her frs
days in Davos; infinitely harder to beal
than Aunt Sabinas cruelty. He had beer
rougher to her than Aunt Sabina had eve
been, and yet she had loved him. Bah
cite, and Miss Busy body, and she had sees
the nature he hid under his rudeness anC
cynicism.
She leaned her head miserably agans
the balcony. Her heart was too heavy fo
tears. IF 1 could only die" she moaned
But she was only 40, and Aunt Sabini
had lived out three-score years and ten
Thirty more years of loneliness and re
gret and this gnawing pain at her heart
oh. how could she bear il?
All, yes, he had been cruel. She was 10
a young girl, loving lightly to-day anC
leaving brightly tomorrow. She was
woman in whom love was born slowly
and with anguish and travail. But h,
had not thought of that when he mad,
himself necessary to her And nov
it was all over and in her weakness sht
bore the mockery of the hotel rather thar
leave the place where she might hear o
him But if she could only di,
if she could only die.
Her face was grey and worn; she hat
lost the youth of hope. The stiffness of he
pain was in the day. Mrs. Kirkland anC
IL