The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-09


often speak together about our Miss
Dunnin', just as if you really an truly
belonged TO us"
A cluster of freshly opened roses
caught her attention, and she ran for
ward to smell of them, and then en-
gagged in romp Of tag with the SPUR
| rel At length she came back with
flushed face and sparkling eyes.
oh, forgot TO tell you. Miss Dun
min, she cried, roguishly, hes come.
Miss Cummings hand closed a little
more closely upon the pruning shears,
but her face was calm, even smiling.
Il thought he was not expected till
next week" she observed. at least,
that is what the paper said
"Oh, I don't know" doubtfully; I'VE
don't have any paper. But I think
Charlie was expectin' him before next
week-Charlie's my brother-in law, you
know. an owns that pretty house next
the river. Mr.. Grays goin' to stay with
him. They used to know each other.
But there. I'd better get the roses an
be goin'. They're all comm up this
evenin', an ma said for me TO hurry
back an get through with my fixin
an fussin'. An, say, Miss Dunnin', if
you don't mind. I'd like to bring him
up to see you fore he goes?"
of course the strained lips forced
themselves to say; you must bring
him, by all means"
One day, a week later, as Miss Dun
ming sat on the veranda with the SPUR
/ rel in her lap a firm, eager step came
up the sidewalk. But she did not no
| tice until her latch clicked. Then she
| turned inquiringly
She knew him in an instant, for the
years had brought a stronger step and
nobler carriage, with perhaps a too
liberal sprinkling of gray hair, which
she could discern even from the We
randa. She was conscious Of O. curious
thrill of awe and tenderness as she
rose from her chair, for even in that
brief instant she remembered that
there was not single gray intruder
/ among her own soft hair. and his she
| associated with the work which had
conquered obstacles and adversely.
There was no reserve or ceremony in
her movements. and by the time he
had closed the gate she was half way
down the walk. But it was as an old
er sister greeting her brother hero, or,
rather, as one who had sent her best
| thoughts out to conquer the world and
was now eager TO wreathe them with
J the laurel of victory.
! Alfred" she said as she went for
ward with extended had
| Elizabeth and then he bent for
ward and touched his lips to her fore
! head. And she received the kiss with
her eyes looking straight into his and
| with only the faintest possible color
! stealing into her cheeks. 1t was not
a wrong to her girlish admirer, nor
| an act of presumption or breach of
| faith on his part. 1t was merely a
! seal of the success of their parting
| twenty yeasr before.
| Come up to the veranda, Alfred"
| she said, with her eyes full of frank
| welcome Il want to hear all about it.
| OF course I know, in a fragmentary
way; but 1t will seem new and more
real from your lips
: And he told her, sitting in his old
! place behind the honeysuckle. with the
! swaying sprays sending alternate lines
4 of sunlight and shade across his face
| in the same old way: and she listened
with eyes full and lips half parted, and
with her head nodding commentator
/ or sympathy from time to time. It was
/ to story of heroism and triumph, told
| in a straightforward matter of fact
way, without egotism or self-deprecia-
! ton, knowing it was her right to have
! 1t entire, even as he had lived it.
But it is good to be home again.
Elizabeth" he concluded. with a salts
, fed sigh. as he leaned back in his chair
and surveyed the veranda and rose
garden beyond. THE memory of these
| flowers and their owner has been with
me through all the twenty years, and
many times have / been at the point
of giving up and returning. And. in
deed, / might have done so but for
what you said. l knew / could only
return to the sentence of a deserter
who had forsaken his colors.'
"But-but you never wrote, Alfred"
She was looking at him in a wonder
ing. startled way now, with the color
coming softly into her face.
Yes. twice. But l learned after
ward that one of the mail steamers
was lost in mid-ocean. Perhaps the
other letter met with some accident,
also
II never received it," Then: But
you have been in the place a week, AL
| fred. and only just called
| He looked puzzled.
II came in on the train an hour ago
Elizabeth. and would have been here
before but for a complication over
| telegram. 1t seems there is another
man of the same, name in town"
But Susie?''
Never mind Susie. have gone
through my probation, and have done
my work with ali the strength that
God gave me. Now have come 10000
miles for my reward--for you. If
! there is more work. bid me do it; but
for charity's sake do not refuse your
companionship in the labor"
| She was not looking at him now.
Her heart was too full for speech al
most for thought. The squirrel ran
down a pillar of the veranda and
sought her lap, and the oriole lifted up
his voice in a SUDDEN ecstasy of song.
She stroked the one TREMENDOUSLY and
looked at the other with the new ten
derness of the great JOY that had come
| to her.
Then the gate clicked, and she
reused herself with an effort. A young
man whom she did not know stood be-
fore her. and with him was Susie.
i've brought him at last, Miss Dun
| MIN" the girl cried. merrily; but l
Just had to drag him. he's so bashful.
Mr.. Gray. this is the Sunday-school
teacher I've told you about" Then,
disregarding further formality. and
with bubbling gladness in her voice:
An, oh say. Miss Dunnin'. we've
coaxed him TO stay with us for good
an all. Hes goin' to open a grocery
next to the postofice." Here she
caught sight of the gray-haired, SOL
dierly figure in the background. and
stopped in sudden confusion
This is Mr.. Gray, too. Susie" Miss
Dunning said. with something in her
voice which the girl could not under
stand and we, too, are going to be
married"