The Savannah morning news., 1903-08-02
THE TWO VANREVELS
By BOOTH HARRINGTON
Copyright Phillips z C.
3v BOOTH HARRINGTON.
CHAPTER l.
HE
Copyright, by Mcclure, Phillips u Co.

when people danced by candle ana
lamp, and did dance, TOO, instead Of
soIemnly gliding about; in that mel
low time so long ago, when the young
were romantic and summer was roses
and wine. old Carewe brought his love-
~ daughter home from the convent to
wreak the hearts of the youth OF
Rouen.
That was not a far Journey; only an
afternoons drive through the woods
and by the river in an April. long ago:
Miss Betty's harp carefully strapped
behind the great numbering carriage,
her guitar on the front seat. half
buried under a mound Of bouquets
and oddly shaped little bundles, fare
well gifts Of her comrades and the good
Sisters. In her left hand she clutched
a small lace handkerchief, with which
she now and then touched her eyes,
brimmed with the parting from Sister
Cecilia, Sister Mary Bazlede; the old
stone steps and all the girls; but FOR
every time that she lifted the dainty
kerchief 10 brush away the edge OF
tear. she took a deep breath of the
Western woodland air and smiled at
least twice: for the years of strict in
closure within St. Mary's walls and
still gardens were finished and done
with, and at last the many-colored
world flashed and danced in mystery
before her. The mystery was brilliant
10 the convent girl because it contain
ed men; she was eager to behold 1t.
They rumbled into town after sun
set, in the fair twilight, the dogs bark
ing before them, and every one would
have been surprised to know that Tom
Vanrevel instead of Mr.. Crailey Gray,
was the first TO see her By the unrest
accident, Tom was strolling neM The
Carewe place at the time; and when
the carriage swung into the gates. with
rattle and clink and clouds of dust al
the finish, il was not too soon lost be
hind the shrubbery and trees for Tom
TO catch something more than
glimpse Of a gray skirt behind a
mound of flowers, and of a charming
face with parted lips and dark eyes
beneath the scuttle of an enormous
bonnet 1t happened-perhaps it is
more accurate to say that Tom thought
II happened-that she was just clear
ing away her veil when he turned 10
look She blushed suddenly, so much
was not to be mistaken; and the eyes
that met his were remarkable for
other reasons than the sheer lovliness
of them, in that even in the one fash
of them he caught, they meant SO
so many things at one time. They
were sparkling, yet mournful; and
they We're wistful, although undeniably
lively with the gayest comprehension
of the recipient of their glance, seem
ing to say, "Oh. it's you, young man
il it," And they were shy and mys-
FERROUS with youth, full of that wonder
at the world which has the appearance
sometimes, of wisdom gathered in ,h'
unknown out of which we came. But
above all, these eyes were fully con
scious of Tom Vanrevel.
Without realizing what he did, Mr.
Vanrevel stopped short He had beel
swinging a walking-stick, which, des
scribing a brief arc, remained poised
halfway in its descent There wa:
only that one glance between them
and the carriage disappeared, leaving
a scent of spring flowers in the air.
The young man was left standing on
the wooden pavement in the midst OF
a great loneliness, yet enveloped in the
afterglow; his soul roseate, his being
quaVering, his expression, like his
cane instantaneously arrested. With
such promptitude and finish was he
disposed of, that, had Miss Carewe
been aware of his name and the con-
dition wrought in him by the single
stroke. she could have sought only the
terse Richard of England for a like ex-
ecutive ability, "Off with his head Sc
much for Vanreveli"
She had lifted a slender hand to the
fiattering veil, hand in white glove
with a small lace gauntlet at the wrist
This gesture was the final divinity OF
the radiant vision which remained with
the dazed young man as he went down
the street; and it may have been three
quarters of an hour later when the
Background of the picture became vivid
TO him: a carefully dressed gentleman
with heavy brows and a handsome
high nose who sat stiffiy upright be-
side the girl. his very bright eye quite
as conscious of the stricken pedestrian
a. were hers, vastly different, however
in this: that they glittered, nay, almost
bristled. with hostility; while every
polished button of his blue coat seem.
ed 10 reflect their nralignancy, and L
dart little echoing shafts of venom a
Mr.. Nanrevel.
Tom was dismayed by the acutenesi
of his perception that a man who doe
not speak to you has no right to haV,
a daughter like the lady in the car
riage; and. the moment of this reali
Zation occurring as he sat making
poor pretence to eat his evening mea
at the "Rouen House." he dropped hi
fork rafting upon his plate and leane,
back. staring at nothing, a proceeding
of which his tabie-mate, Mr.. William
Cummings. the editor of the RouaI
Journal, was too busy over his rive
bass to take note.
Have you heard what's new il
town" asked Cummings present..
looking up.
NO" said Tom truthfully, for he ha,
seen what was new, but not heard II
"Old Carewe's brought his daughte
home. Fanchon Bareaud was with ne
at st. Mary's until last year; m
Fanchon says she's not only a grea
beauty, but a great dear"
"Ah" rejoined the other with mas
terly indifference. Dare say-dar
say"
mo wonder you're not interested,
said Cummings cheerfully, returning I
the discussion of his bass. The oil
villain will take precious good car
xau don't come near her"
Mr. Vanrevel already possessed
profound conviction to the same effect
Robert Meilhac CareWe was known no
only as the wealthiest citizen of Rouer
but also as its heartiest and most stead
fast hater; and, although there wer
only five or six thousand inhabitants
neither was a small distinction. Fo
Rouen was ranked, in those easy days
as a wealthy town; even as it wa
called an old town; proud of its ag
and it's riches, and bitter in its politics
of course The French had built ;
fort there, soon after LaSalle's las
voyage, and. as Crailey Gray said, hat
settled the place. and had then beer
settled themseles by the pioneer mill
tia AFTER the Revolution, Caroliniani
md Wfrufrafapc ha1 rppap NV NAV n