The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-20

at her with wide, fascinating eyes. No
one would be so cruel! Why, he knew
all about it, He is in the house now.
And then, to hurt him with such a let
ter. To let him know that I was sus-
pected. And he never told me! He bore
that. too for my sake, in silence"
90 he's in the house now, is he?"
cried Mrs. Dean, in her shrill staccato.
You'd like US TO believe that, would
you? You'd like to make US believe he
knows all about the man you've got hid
somers here now"
Nothing would make us believe your
husband is in this house now but SEEM
him in the flesh and blood" said Mrs.
Hostetter, solemnly. May the Lord
have mercy on you for a sinful woman
Your only hope of salvation is to make
a full confession of your sins Bring out
the partner of your guilt" she exhorted
in a loud voice. Bring him out an let
him suffer the awful effects of his secret
sin. Nothing can save either of you but
bein' purged with fire. Mebbe you think
it was pleasant for US to come here an
be insulted? We've done our duty like
Christian women, an we're ready to leave
1t all to the Lord. Bring out the part
ner of your guilt"
Her voice faltered. The door of an in
ner room had opened. A young man
came slowly toward them.
Not greatly like a triumphant lover
looked he. He was pale and haggard
The three women started and grasped hold
of one another convulsively. He faced
them with an air of desperation.
You want to know who / amp" he said.
Shed die, or lose her reputation forever
| before she'd tell you, but I'll tell you. I'm
| her brother; the son of her mother. I live
in hut up in the forest, and l don't dare
TO show my wretched face to man. I'm
an escaped convict from the penitendary,
where l went for forgery. l was guilty
II Is hat oil
sits there in bed a jibbering idiot 1t is
my fault that this awful burden is on my
| sister. Yet twice a week for months she
| has been letting me come here, because my
| mother knows me and is Gained by my
| presence. Only an angel would have chung
! to such an abandoned wretch as l am and
| tried to make a man of him. She has new
| er once reproached me; never once lost
| faith that 1 will yet be a man. Her hus-
| band, modest ladies, knows all about my
! coming. The bird cage was not hung out
| to inform me that he was not at home
| but that none of her kindly interested
neighbors were making afternoon visits
! Since you have known of my visits for six
months I am almost stunned with wonder
that you did not drop in before. I marvel
| in fact that you did not take up your bed
and board in this unhappy home. Your del
| icate self-repression fills me with admira-
| ton"
He paused for a second, in absolute
| need of breath. When he spoke again a
! glance at his sisters face which showed
| signs of deep suffering, had changed his
| look and tone. We'll" he said deliberate
! Iy. you have invaded the sacredness of
my sisters home. You have Wormed out
| her sorrowful secrets. You have tried to
| estrange her husband from her You have
| bounded down guilty, repentant wretch,
VINO had nothing left but to be near his
mother and sister, whose lives he had ruin
/ cd NJ ln mn r0du RAJ pfIf uqf N an
! his lonely wandering with no place in
| which TO lay his head You belong to the
| church. You call yourselves Christians
Are these the things Christ taught you to
| do? Are these"
Hey. heyn cried the old creature on
| the bed. whats all this fus about?"
| She peered at them with dreadful eyes;
| the pupils were like little blue-black bull
lets. why don't you give 'em cheer?
| They don't look like ladies, but give EN-
a cheer anyhow"
"And now" concluded the young man,
| walking to the door of the inner room
| and throwing it open, my sisters hus-
| band will say a few words to you, and
then we will regretfully premit you to de-
| part"
When the three women became con-
| WINGED that 1t was really Mr. Mayhem
who was entering, their faces were things
TO behold and remember. Mrs. Frazer
| confessed afterWard that she had gid
| dy feeing-as If she'd let all holts go;
| the very carpet itself went up and down
in waves under her" Mrs. Dean shrank
! back against the wall for support. Mrs.
Hostetter's fine fighting feathers drop
| ped but she stood her ground bravely.
Mr.. Mayhem advanced and stood beside
| his wife. He was pale and worn-looking.
He spoke in quiet even tones.
Il have heard all that my wife said,
although she did not mean for me to
hnn I am ola he rnlra fna
| truth. 1 have been jealous of her devo-
| ton to her mother. 1t made me miser-
| able, and 1, in turn. made her miserable
| by my hardness and GOODNESS Until this
hour l have been unable to appreciate the
| Lnselhshuess and nobility of her charac-
| ter. Her brother, too, has spoken the
| truth. The letter which one of you must
| have been so kind as to write me made
me feel more bitterly toward my wife for
| having placed US both in false positions.
1 brooded over il without telling her. But,
| foreseeing that sooner or later the author
| of the letter would make the visit of in
| vestigation which you are now doing US
| the honor to make, l have remained at
| home every Tuesday and Friday since
| to protect my wife when she needed me
| My wife'-without looking at her he
| reached out for her hand which she gave
| him quickly, and silently, drawing nearer
| to hints woman who win let me atone
| and make her SO happy that She will for
give me. Ienceforth ] shah bear her bur-
dens and help her to do her duty Now
| you know ALL And now-as you have graf
| iied your curiosity in what you are proba-
| bly, pleased to consider a truly Christian
manner and sDirit--we shah be glad to
be left alone to bear as best we may, the
| bitterness and the humiliation which you
| have heaped upon us"
They got themselves out of the house
somehow. Their faces were of a duh red
| their breathing was somewhat hurried
IF 1 ever, in all my born daysw said Mrs
| Dean. She cast a bafled look up at the bird
| cage as she passed Il declare l most
| wish to mercy we hadn't gone"
Il don't believe a word of It," cried out
Mrs. Frazer, lifting her dress high on
| both sides. There something agoin' on
| The brass Of 'em-a-tellin' a story Ike
that to our faces guess we'd better MOI
| breathe IL 10 a soul"
Breathe it!' said Mrs. Hostetter In a
| deep voice. She was walking on ahead