The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-31

Doubtless" said I, in a high pitch
of scorn, "he can there 1aunt his
riches i'll the faces of the Dons, and
show Pegs beauty, and make a vast
display"
You interrupt me-" remarked the
General However let me ask a queS-
ton: Why do you remind me how
I've TESTED and mayhap made some inle-
laugh between us, and as innocent as
idle, over your feeling for the little
girl? Why do you put that to me?"
Because" said 1, in fury, II think
you break up your cabinet for that.
You will have it how Peg is in some
peril of me; you would send Peg to
Florida on a pretense to make her safe
from me. There you have it. You see
l can be the honester and the franker
man. / pass you my heart on q spear"
The General arose from the chair
into which he had flung himself, and
taking me by the two shoulders, would
look on me squarely, while 1 in my
turn must gaze into his gray depths. 1
could see the tears stand in his fine
eyes.
Let me tell you one thing" said
he. 81 but repeat what you know as
well as 1, when 1 say that. should you
harbor thought of Peg, or look on her
in lights other than as the wife of
to yourself and to me, and most of all
to Peg. And do you think I would
not trust you? Man, need no sentry
over you save the sentry of your own
conscience, no guard other than the
guard your honor sets. You would do
no wrong to Peg. 1t is not you l fear;
on your faith l would stake my souls
hope of a meeting 1 look and long
for after death. Will you have my
for what 7 dn0 &c
to save Peg from you; it is to save
Peg from Peg, she goes to Florida. And
to save our Peg I'd break a dozen cabi-
nets"
1t was now grown dark, and the
silent storm swept down more Whitley
dense than before. 1 threw a heavy
military cloak about me and stepped
out into the night. 1 had no set pur-
pose, no destination; but some sure in
fuences tugged at me, and then the
house would seem to choke and it's
heat to smother me; 1 wanted the
darkness and the GOODNESS and to be
alone. Was it some sweet power beck
onlng my heart, or merely a plain in
stinct to save and recover myself, one
that any hard-struck animal might
have had, to thus take me forth into
the midst of the binding storm?
My journey through the gathering
drifts was not pushed far when, I'M
der one of the oil lamps that f1anked
the road and shed a sickly flare
through the Undertaking snow, l be-
held a closed carriage drawn up. 1t
was one of those vehicles of hire COM
mon of the place, and beyond being
better than most, and with two pow
erful horses that would have looked
we'll hauling a gun in a battery, moth
ing to mark it. At first glance 1
thought it had come by some mishap
to running gear or aZle-tree.
AS l was for pushing by, quite heed
less of the stalled carriage and think
ing only on my own broken heart,
some one plucked me by the cloak.
Wheeling sharply, 1 saw it was the
coachman who had leaped from his pox
to interrupt me.
There would be no mistaking the
massive shoulders and easy pose; it
was Rivera.
Whats this?" said I. when did
you turn whip?"
Rivera gave me no words, but mo-
tioning towards the carriage, swung
again to his place with the reins. AS
he did SO, there came a tap on the
glass
Somewhat in a maze, 1 approached
and flung open the door. In the dark
depths / made out the vague outlines
of woman.
Get in" 1t was Pegs voice.
Without demur or question I took
my place beside her and shut the door;
with that, Rivera cracking a thong
over the sleepy horses to rouse them,
the carriage at a slow pace began
moving Georgetown way.
Hold me close to you," whispered
Peg, her low tones falling on my ears
like cry of pain, hold me close to
you; 1 am cold"
Continued in Next Sundays News.)