The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-05

at home-anyth but an angry word.
So he had often seethed inwardly with
a closed mouth.
"Going?' queried Willoughby in
great astonishment, when he was noti-
fed "Why, pa said we couldn't"
Ma says we are, and she is the
| one" answered vi. '"He didn't mean
anything, Hurry up, VIII, and go over
to Edgars."
The boy shook his head obviously
II don't know about this he said eau
tiously. He did mean 1t. They say
pas awful in the office when he gets
mad"
oh! come on" laughed his sister
''he is dear, harmless old thing, and
will be all right by tonight. Run
along. We are going to fish to-day,
you know. The wind is just right
This vas too much for Willoughby
He started for the house of Edgar
Lowell with leaps and whistles. and
that young man welcomed him with
the effusion due to a prospective
brother-in-law of tender years and
hardened remarks.
TEL Mr.. Saylow that we will be
back about O'clock" called Electa to
her domestic, as they drove away in
style behind a pair of grays. Give
| him a good dinner, Margaret
1T is a lovely day. Too bad they
couldn't CO." sighed Afford as he
walked into the house at noon. Il
had to do it, though l will try to
make il up to them in some way--why,
where is everybody? Hullo, Electa,
where are you?"
They're gone, sir. Mrs. saylow said
you could look for them about 6
| o'clock. Your dinners all ready" an
nounced Margaret, appearing from the
| kitchen.
Gone! Gone where?" gasped the
man with sinking premonition of the
reply.
ITO the lake. sir. Didn't they tell
your"
''Oh-oh, yes! To the lake Yes, I
! forgot" replied Afford instinctively
| hiding his feelings, while a great wave
of anger surged through him. Put
| dinner right on"
! He few up stairs to his room. closed
the door, and paced up and down with
clenched fists and set lips. The mirror
on the bureau reflected a white,
! strange face, unlike his own.
"Ill teach them all a lesson they'll
never forget" he muttered. ut is high
time. ! will show them who is master
in this establishment"
He had never been SO angry and he
had never known before such a feeling
of hardness. "I'll begin at once he
| decided.
Maggie" he said calmly to the girl
as he sat down to the table, this
house is to be closed to-day. Here are
your wages and a month extra /
want you to pack up and get out by
! O'Clock. You shall have a splendid
recommendation--yo have been a
good girl
Margaret began to weep loudly with
incoherent protests,
Stop crying. now" said Saylow; sit
can not be helped. Do as l say and
| leave everything"
But. Mr.. Saylow," sniveled Maggie,
"the bread?"
"I'll attend to the bread" answered
her master, with a hard little smile,
"any everything else" he added. This
is my affair, and you must be out by 5
| o'clock. Don't try to talk to me. 1
| will not listen. Go now and get ready.
With the firm belief that she was
| alone in the house with one demented.
| the domestic dried her eyes and de-
parted for her little room to pack her
small belongings with alacrity.
THAT settles Maggie thought the
irate Saylow. Now / will write her
! a testimonial, and also one to my duti-
full wife, lock UP everything as tight as
a miser's fist and get out myself"
1t was very thoroughly closed dom
! icle that Afford Saylow contemplated
from the sidewalk, when, at half-past
four, he watched a wild looking girl de-
part on an express wagon.
Margaret's fears had grown to fright
full dimensions during the last two
hours, as she heard theeenraged man
of the house tearing about and fum-
bling with locks. Now he stood glaring
after her and jngling big bunch of
keys. Surely, 1t was a fortunate es-
cape.
A short but impressive note was ly-
ing on Electa's little writing desk for
her edification. in view of the time
when she should gain admittance. Her
husband looked cautiously about, men
tally noting such articles as might be
used for battering rams. He was quite
positive that his better half would not
delay operations. All the afternoon he
had worked in frenzy of anger Now,
he stopped, wondering at himself.
ITS done" he murmured. Am l
fool or not?" A curious reaction pos
sessed him. Thoughts of Eleeta. of
the girls, Of little Villa strange med
ley Of their loving ways and tender
words and kindly acts. of the home
comings and home goings OF the past.
of the trustful look Of the slender faced
bride OF the long ago. the babies faces,
the burdens and joys borne and shared,
rushed through his brain.
He started irresolutely up the steps,
his eyes full of tears. Then he shook
himself together and walked rapidly
away, hardening his soul.
A boy stopped him-a boy who was
breathless and painting. Here he
gasped holding out "a paper Its from
the stable"
"Tell 'em can't pay that bill to-day.
I'm too busy to atetnd TO it," snapped
Saylow.
mo, no." cried the lad; "'tain't no
bill. It's about your folks. They're all
drowned in the lake"
Saylow clutched the note. glanced
at II. and ran, making little moaning
sounds like a tortured, dying animal.
Five minutes later he was on a frantic
horse, flying like the wind through the
dust on the road to Echo Lake. Peo-
pie yelled at him.
"It's a crazy mani" they shouted.
Get out Of the way" Then the pound
ing hoof and the savage lash Of the
riding whip were by and out of hear
ing Of their shocked ears.
Thank God and that doctor, Mr..
Saylowl" exclaimed the proprietor Of
the boathouse. I'VE thought your wife
and one Of the girls was gone. The
young man kept the other girl up and
the little feller swan ashore. Lucky
they was close In, and lucky the doctor
knowed how to bring folks to. They're
all right now. l guess. All I'm bed up
10 the hotel
Afford leaned against him. white
and trembling The rough man COW
cred his eyes. The other was praying
aloud. a strange, incoherent mixture