The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-03-16


The porter looked up from the shoes
he was shining at Gaston's dishevelled
hair and collar standing up without tie,
and gave him no welcome.
CASTOR dropped a half dollar into his
hand and the porter dropped the shoes
and grinned a royal welcome.
ANY ting kin do fer We, boss?"
Got any ladies on your carr"
"Yassir, three un EN-"
Young or old?"
Zone young un, en- two ole uns."
Ibid the young lady get on at indie
pendence?"
"Yassir."
Going to Atlanta?"
"Yassir."
us she very beautiful
Boss, she's de purtiess young lady
eber laid my eyes on-but look lax she
been erwin"
Then want you to wake her. must
see her."
'Lordy. boss, cain do dat. Hit ergin
de rules"
But. I'm bound to see her. I've rid
den eighteen miles across the mountains
and scratched my face all to pieces
rushing through those woods. I've
message of the utmost Importance for
her"
Gain do hit, boss, hits ergin de rules.
But you can go wake her yoself, eff you'se
er mind ter. l cain keep you fun it.
She's dar in number seben"
Castor hesitated. ono, you must
wake her." he insisted dropping another
half dollar in the porters hand.
The porter got up with grin. He felt
he must rise to a great occasion.
"Well, l des tumble roun' de berth en-
mebbe she wake herself, en- den tell
her."
Just then the electric bell overhead
rang and the index pointed to seven.
, Oar now, dat's her calm me, shot,
He approached the berth. What kin
l do fur We, m'am?" he whispered.
Porter, who's that you are talking to?
1t sounds like some one l know"
"Yassum, hits young gent name er
CASTOR. jump on bode at the water sta
| tion-say he got 'portant message fur
you
Tell him l will see him in a moment.
The porter returned with the message.
you des wait in dar, in number one
hits not made up-twell she come" he
added.
There was the soft rustic Of a dressing
/ gown-he sprang to his feet, clasped her
hand passionately, kissed it and silently
she took her seat by his side, He still
held her hand, and she pressed his gently
/ in response. He saw that she was cry
| ing, and his heart was too full for words
' for a moment.
| He looked long and wistfully into her
| face. In her dishevelled hair by the dim
| light of the car he thought her more
/ beautiful than ever. At last she brushed
| the tears from her eyes and turned her
face full on his with sad, sweet smile.
4 my own dear love!" she sObbed, 81
prayed that | might see you somehow
before l left. l was wide awake when l
! first heard the distant murmur of your
voice. OH am so glad you camel and
she pressed his hand
81 got your letter at ten-thirty"-
"Oh! that awful letter! How l cried
/ over it, Papa made me write it, and
read and mailed it himself But you
saw my message between the lines?"
| Eyes, and then l covered it with kisses.
! But what is the cause of this sudden
change of the general toward me? What
have I done?''
please don't ask me. can't tell
you," she sobbed, lowering her face a
moment to his hand and kissing it.
/ Don't ask me-"
But, my DEAR l must know. There
can be mo secrets between u.s."
my lips will never tell you. There
/ have been a thousand ISLANDERS breathed
/ against you. met them with fury and
scorn, and no one has dared repeat them
in my hearing. l would not pollute my
lips by repeating one of them"
But who is their author?"
81 cannot tell you. / promised mama
/ wouldn't. She loves you, and she is or
/ our side, but said it was best. Papa has
made up his mind to break our engage
ment forever. And defied him. We had
scene l didn't know / had the strength
of will that came to me. said some
terrible things to him, and he said some
very cruel things to me. Poor mama was
Frustrated. Her heart is weak, and
only yielded at last as far as / have be-
cause of her tears and suffering. l could
not endure her pleadings. So l promised
to do as he wished for the present, leave
for Boston, and cease to write to you
my love, l must know my enemy t.
meet him and face the issue he raises
cannot be strangled in the dark like
this"
4 "You will find it out soon enough,
cannot tell you," she repeated. II only
ask you to trust me, in this the darkes
hour that has ever come to my life. You
will trust me, will you not, dear?" sht
pleaded.
81 have trusted you with my immorta
soul. You know this"
Eyes, yes, dear, do. Then you cal
love and trust me without letter or
word between us until mama is bette
, and l can get her consent to write t
you? Oh, l never knew how tenderly an
desperately l loved you until this shadol
came over our lives? No power shall
ever separate us when the final tes
comes, unless you shall grow weary
4 do not say that he interrupted. g
love you with love that has brought m
out of the shadows and shown me tn
shining face of God. Death shall no
} bring weatiness But ! dread with
e~ IL 81.