The Savannah morning news., 1903-12-13

with her face in her hands, and all
in frantic kind. Sobbing, she left the
room.
IAN affair of the hearth" cooed
Noah, sympathetically, to the mother,
While the Rev. Campbell fidgeted WISH
bly,.
Sir" said the mother, loftily, "you
touched her rudely. Mr.. Timberlake
was paying my daughter marked at
tentions, and ones not to be misun-
derstood, he was stolen from her side
and trapped to the altar by that wan
ton, Peg O'Neal."
Sorry, I assure you" murmured
Noah, alphabetically. Sorry I so blum
dered against your daughters sensi-
bilities. Please recall her, madam, if
only to hear me ask forgiveness"
The daughter, whose emotion was of
the briefest, returned, with nose red
dened and look more bilious than be-
fore. Noah became profuse in his re-
grets, and severely characterized his
own awkwardness.
Nor are you to have blame for your
feelings" said he. addressing the
daughter and as a finish to his self
reproaches. Your mother has done us
the honor to confide the once nearness
of the handsome purser Timberlake to
you. And that hideous woman who
stole him away! I do not marvel you
hate her. / could teach you to write
her such a letter as should be a re-
venge; for I know one of her secrets.
the very name of which would crush
her like a falling tree"
1t was to me a thing astounding how
neither of these women resented the
raw freedom of Noah's words. On the
contrary they went with him, making
no question of the propriety of such
talk on the tongue of a stranger. They
on - How haay
by such a thought, for, so to phrase
it, they fell in with Noah, and, as if
it were. hand in hand.
At the word Secrets" both women
sat bolt upright and questioned Noah
with tongue and eye. What was this
hidden sin Of that siren, Peg o'Neal?
They painted for fullest tale of it.
NAY, then" demonstrated Noah, sit
was but a slip. l said I could teach
you how to write a letter that should
strike her to the soul. But of what
avail? Timberlake is dead; his grave
is the Mediterranean"
But she lives" Missed the daughter.
''Tell me that secret concerning her,
| and 1 shall call you my best friend"
Truly, the bilious maiden had a taste
| for vengeance as pointed as a thorn.
"Why, then" returned Noah, hesitat-
ing with invented reluctance, there is
no reason why should not humor your
WISHES. L dke your pen, anu IL dictate
that letter l have in my mind"
The bilious one wheeled about to
writing table which stood by her side,
and while the rest of us sat silent
| for the mother and myself had long be-
| fore surrendered our semblance of con-
versation, and the unhappy dominic
| still pored upon the floor-Noah began
with finger on forehead as one who
| cudgelS memory.
write her this" said Noah. IRE
venge is sweet! I have you in my
power; and I shall burn you as saw
ages burn their victim at the stake.
| Think not that you can escape me. 1
would not that death nor any evil thing
should take you out of my hand for
half the world
| When Noah began this evil dictation,
| the lime-faced one took down his open
ing words with greedy pen. AS he pro-
ceeded, she first hesitated and then
with blanched, scared face, whirled her
self upon him. Her pen fell to the
floor, while her hands shook in a gust
of fear. At the close she gasped:
you have read my letter."
IT have, indeed" returned Noah. ct
have repeated word for word your
atrocious threats to a lady whom we
| will not name" 1t was verify; with a.
memory like unto wax, Noah had re-
called with every faithfulness of word
and mark that menacing epistle Peg
! brought to me, and which was then
under my private lock and key. Yes,
| you wrote that letter." repeated Noah.
| And you," coming around on the Rev.
! Campbell, who writhed as one in the
| jaws of wretchedness, unable to make
a plan or frame a sentence; land you,
sir, were privy to it,"
"Our dear sister'-he could not lay
aside his shuttle even now-"our dear
sister did indeed tell me she had
sent such a note"
You mix your lenses, sir" retorted
Noah, savagely. "She told you before
it was dispatched, and you read it,"
"My dear gentlemen" broke in the
mother, in mighty agitation, "he put
that letter in the post himself. Oh.
| gentlemen, spare my poor daughter!"
with that the mother put her arm about
| the younger harpy, where, like some
! frightened thing of sin that can escape
no farther, she waited as one frozen.
Your daughter, madam" replied
Noah, quietly enough, lies in no peril,
although by the law there be punish
ments for ones who thus misuse the
| post. But there remains another ques-
ton. You have put lie against that
| lady of the letter into the mouth of
| our reverend friend. He has retold IL
! to many; this morning he told ii to
| the President. The tale proves itself
untrue upon its face, and that is the
/ OAiN INCL IL u II. II WAS Il dangerous
falsehood to tell, and"-here Noah look
ed towards the unhappy Reverend
| Campbell, who as though fascinated
by the others baleful eye, lifted UP
his visage, with its ugly array OF
/ munching mouth and fabby unhealth.
fulness-'and a still more dangerous
| faisehood to repeat"
What do you require OF us, gentle
| menu" asked the frightened mother
| harry.
Nothing, save tongues of peace"
| cried Noah. 1T is too much to sup
! pose that her friends will rest. quiet
while you foully tear a good woman
to shreds. Tie up your tongues, you
three. and the thing rests. Let an
other word escape. and torch shall
be found TO burn you out like any
/ other nest OF adders."
The Rev. Campbell made no return
| 10 this warning thrown 10 him with
| the others. The scoundrel had the wis
dom Of silence when words would work
no benefit. Still ! could trace a hun
ger for retaliation writhing beneath the
coarse snakes skin OF him.