The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-10-26


ly. I'll see her tomorrow. I'll win her
back; 1 will not lose her."
But Hugh de Burgh resolved in vain.
Day after day he sought to see Grace.
She had caught chill, which turned
to fever, and for long no one save the
doctor, the nurse and poor, bewildered
Grannie. had a glimpse of the fasci-
mating Grace.
The clustering winters day on
which this important interview took
place Dick Ashton was beginning to
put away his easel and brushes pre-
paratory to taking a brisk walk to
Hampstead, when the old woman who
ruled his very modest establishment as
cook and housekeeper informed him
that a gentleman wished to see him,
at the same time handing him a card
on which was inscribed: DIR. Cornelius
Macdermot, H. 1. c. 81
SHOW him up" cried Ashton eager
ly, land bring in some tea" he added.
as he reused the fire to a bright blaze.
MY dear Doctor" he exclaimed, as
short, stout, red-haired man, with
twinkling, keen, gray eyes, a short,
broad face and a turned-up nose, en-
tered the room, you are most welcome.
L had no idea you were in England" e
The doctors visit was a welcome in
terruption to Ashtons sad, solitary
served his full time and retired on a
comfortable pension; he was conse-
quently in joyous mood, and not too
careful of his money-as became a
bachelor of rather luxurious tenden-
cies. So Ashton found himself carried
off to theaters and suppers and other
resorts, which he found helped, as the
doctor asserted, to rouse his soul.
One very foggy afternoon, too dark
work nj
ton sat over the fire trying to decipher
letter he had just received. 1t was
written in very illegible hand by the
stewards wife at Thoresby at the re-
quest of Mrs. Norton, to explain why
she had not answered a letter of his
making inquiries for her and Grace
From 1t he gathered that the latter had
been seriously ill, and was now slow
~ recovering. He had risen, intending
TO reply at once, when the doctor
came in.
I've just come to bestow my tedi-
BUSINESS on you, my boy. What cut
throat weather-no comfort indoors or
out. What's the matter, Ell? Heard
of the death of your sweetheart or the
loss OF your sweetheart or the loss of
your fortune?"
Well. neither, exactly. I have heard
OF the illness of a charming girl whom
1 sorely wanted for sweetheart. or
rather, for a wife, only she wouldn't
have me-" said Ashton, who had no
small vanities.
"Begad, she must be hard to please
and fool in the bargain. Sure Won are
a naturally domesticated animal. You'd
just be model husband. Is she bad
still? If so, introduce me to the dar
ing, ana IL soon put her to rights, for
though L say it myself, l am a devilish
good doctor"
We'll, the young lady in question is
on the mend, still, 1 wish you could see
her; II the weather improves next week
would you mind coming down to the
country for day or two?"
Not l. I'm game for anything.
Where does your jewel hang out?"
m q, in Midlandshire-a place called
Thoresby."
Thoresby-I seem to know that
name l say, Ashton, light up the gas
man. and let me see those works of
art there with their faces to the wall
en- penitence. Are they your failures? ?"
Yes, IN sense; things l have failed
TO sell-but some of my best work"
Turn them round, my boy Sure. I'm
gong TO start an elegant little bach
elor's box myself, and maybe I'll want
a rev pictures to brighten it,"
The friends accordingly lit I'M and
began TO cr1ticise and discuss the neg
lected canVases-woodland scenes
sketches of purple moorland-a great
variety of subjects. At last the pastel
portrait of girl more charming than
handsome came up for exhibition.
Ashton, who is that?'s cried the
DOCTOR when Ashton placed it on the
easel. And he rose to inspect it-then
stepped back, and drew nearer again
evincing great amount of interest
fancy L have seen that face before. :"
do not think you have" returned
Ashton, for l do not think the vounp
lady was born when you were last in
England"
rs it the darling herself? Yes
then, man alive, don't you let her go
easy. Try, try, try again. Nothing sue
ceeds like perseverance. Faith, it's the
face of nice kindly human angel
boldo"
20, Norton, there is nothing to con-
ceal about Grace Norton"
"Grace--O, yes-but l do not know
Norton"
Her father was in the army, but
her grandfather was huntsman to de
Burgh of Thoresby Chase"
DE Burgh? You do not say So"
The Doctor stopped abruptly, and
kept unwonted silence for a while.
LcON mere, ashton, ne exclaimed
rain or shine, let's go down next week
Where do you put up down there
wherever it is?"
20, always take my rooms in Mrs
Norton's house-a delightful, roomy
cottage"
Gould she put me up. too?"
I have no doubt she could"
Ashton was shocked to see so great
change in Grace when he and his
friend took up their abode at Wood
land Cottage. Though the local doctor
had been dismissed, she was still pale
weak and given to almost unbroken ST.
lence, but she confessed to sleeple-s
nights, and seemed scarcely to care
about getting well.
will you let a poor old sawbones
like myself do what ne can to bring
back the life to your heart and the
light to your eyes, my dear young lady?
I'm unknown to the faculty here, but
you see I've lived among the magic
mongers of the East, and l know a
thing or two"
During Ashton's short stay he kept
a strict guard over himself; nothing
could be more brotherly and unlover-
like than his manner and converse
ton. Grace again became thoroughly
at home and at ease with him.
Macdermot WAS the first to depart