The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-18

ural she should choose Jacks favorite
song. Soon the soft notes of her voice
stole through the house,
len weiss NIGHT was soil es bedeuten,
Das len SO traurig bin"
She merely touched the instrument with
her fingers. and her voice was very low
and gentle. The song, fullest of yearning
and regret and sweetness of all songs,
sounded with profound tenderness in the
mothers ears. Suddenly Katie stopped
and looked at Mrs. Holloway. Tine Dolly
of ord days was gazing with sad eyes far
beyond the room. beyond the inn, beyond
the beach and the eyes were filled with
> tears
Mother" cried the girl kneehng at
her side, forgive me? 1t was thought
less Of me 10 sing that. l know how it
affected you on the night of the storm.
You are not nervous again tonight, are
you, pet?"
II don't know" Dolly murmured,
catching Al her child's hand. I am not
nervous, but I fee The same curious
sensation of sadness and forebodsng. 1t
is stupid of me, I know, When we should
be happy-Christmas and your wedding
both coming. Yeti know not what has
happened that 1 should be so sad 4"
Il know what is going to happen"
cried Katey. You're going to have a
tumbler of muded port and go straight
10 bed. See, it's late, and Maggie went
to bed long ago"
Shortly afterward Dolly kissed the girl
goodnight on her pillow, and went TO her
own room.
With soundless lips the snow-fakes
kissed the earth. and kissed the sea, dy-
ing on the kiss. II was cold on the
| beach. None of the Villagers were abroad
that bitter Christmas eve but from some
of the cottages came voices of merr.ment
and in the little lonely church at the far
end service was being performed, the mid.
night service. The tiny organ piped its
best and the fisher folk sang and prayed
of forgiveness of sin, and peace and good
will on earth to all men.
To all men? Could there ever be for
giveness for such as these, creeping over
the snow in the shadows of trees and
fences? Could there be such a thing as
peace and good will in the hearts of men
like these, cursing the cold, cursing their
luck" cursing their fellowmen?
They crept softly on with the velvet feet
of wild oats. 1t was almost midnight
now and they were close to the inn. A light
yet shone from a window in the top of the
house.
"Confound IL" muttered Holloway
who is awake so late? can't wait much
longer or I'll be frozen to death. Let's try
it right away"
The other shrugged his shoulders. and
soon they were beneath the windows,
creeping about. feeling their way
80. rotv' said Holloway again: wed
better smash in at once. You said there
were only three women. 1 wonder Whist
they are anyhow. You're dead sure there's
money"
The fisherman who talke muche say
plenty"
Didn't hear their names. did your"
mo media names"
True enough. If we can only raise
enough here Wen be far on our way West
by morning. It's a chance, but there's
nothing else to do. Come on-this Is q
pantry window, I guess"
"Sh-sh! What's that?"
There came from villageward crunch
ing of hasty stumbling feet on the road.
"A drunken fisherman said Holloway.
"Waitr
I've waited long enough. Do yuu want
to freeze to death? Come on"
For an instant there was silence Then
a windov glass fell in fragments on the
snow Holloway passed into the inn. The
approaching feet sounded more loudly
and nearly. One voice hailed another
Watt" called the Cuban. Come back"
Come back be blowed!' fierce voice
snarled from within. Il tell you It's a
drunk fisher
He interrupted his own words by Civ
ing a horrible yell, as, on the instant.
pistol cracked inside the house. The
Cuban fed. A moment later Old Ted
Guest and David Copeland Numbered at
the door-Ted with cut and bleeding head
and raging eyes. The door was opened,
and the captain ran straight into Dolly
Holloway, who carried a pistol.
Are you hurt?" he cried.
mo, no" she answered trembling but
firm. II coud not sleep. and heard
1GiG of hn anfF mir
protect Katey and Maggie. you know, and
sleep with a pistol l think-Im afraid
l hurt the burglar
Guest rushed on and found him pros
trate, the man who had so strangely been
thrown by fate at his wife's door. but
Guest met her before she saw and led her
back
Don't look, please" he said
do you know who II is?"
Yes" said Guest softly.
why do you look so? o, have killed
him? Is he dead?"
Yes, dear, he is deadv'
Dolly was sobbing now, and shaking
at was for Kateys sake" she cried
historically. u had to protect her
Poor man. o. the poor man! But, Ted, II
was my duty-say it was my dutyp'
Yes, dear, yes" said the skipper, ten
derly:: 1T was your duty" a
The wedding, that was to have heen CO
merry, between Jack Beaumont and IA
tey Holloway. had to be postponed. tor the
landlady OF the inn was very sick after her
adventure with the burglars. When she
was better she insisted upon the young
sters being married at once, when the
skipper. who had been merely stunned
and little cut by the pistol blow. gave
away his old sweetheart's daughter
When the lovers got back from their
honeymoon they found an amazing thing
had happened. Dolly HoIloway's hair was
almost white, and-she was married To
Ted Guest. What had passed between
them neither sad, but we may draw our
own conclusions. No word has passed The
lips of either to say how the skipper ever
told Mrs. Holloway whom It was that she