The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-10

Continued from Last Sundays News.
MEETING OF THE BANK OFF,
GERS.
Mr.. Hamilton, for so l shall call him
dasnite the doubts of Constance, evil
IDENTIFY had no intention of deserving
his own fireside for hotel precints. He
returned early and breakfasted with
the family, much to Mr.. Carriers de-
LIGHT and not to the too-evident dis
Measure of his wife. He still remained
after Mr.. Carter went to his office and
the children too school, for meeting
of the bank directors had been called
ar 10 o'clock at his own residence.
In the hour of waiting there was
much serious conversation between the
husband and wife. 1t could not be de-
MED that she appeared little exact
mo and unreasona BILE, while he was
o,iite gentle and forbearing. Could a
Stranger to both have been present at
fne interview the chiyalrous, lover-lke
devotion of Mr.. Hamilton would have
seemed in direct contrast TO her own
more distant and constrained manner.
At last he said:
IT can see you doubt me. Something
has come between us. Perhaps 1t is
that unhappy secret. have been
gone SO long, too; so many troubles
have interviewed they have tended to
set YOU apart from me. Is not that
so?"
Perhaps So"
Then would not have you do vio-
lence to your feelings. L VIII stay mere
it is better so for many reasons out
Won shall live your own life until such
= time as you can truly feel that you
love me as you once did.
want TO be near the children,
want to be near you. Con-
stance. May 1? May 1 have the room
next to your uncle's?''
Yes" -,
And will you try to love me again? p
he asked gently, yet with an eagerness
he could not quite conceal.
Love cannot be forced" she an
sWered. -,
But it will come in time II you VIII
let it,"
But suddenly, evidently recollectins
some resolution he had made, ne
checked himself and said no more,
while Constance sat idly turning over
the leaves of a book until she saw the
bank officers coming UP the street. Then
she arose to go.
President Hartwell and eight trus-
tees, with Tony Osborn, soon entered
The new cashier, or treasurer, was not
present.
There was some constraint manifest
ed by each of the party, unless Tony
be excepted. Indeed, his exterior was
seldom ruff1ed; but it could be seen
that he was fully alert to the demands
of the occasion, and, strange as it may
seem, did not range himself ostenta-
tiously at all on the side of the re-
turned cashier. Indeed, he greeted him
very quietly, and sat down where he
could watch proceedings.
Mr.. Hamiltons manner was very cor
dial and easy Well as the several
gentlemen thought they knew him, they
we're not prepared for so much COM
posture and freedom from nervousness
If not natural, then it was perfectly
initiated. 1t appeared to represent per-
feet innocence and insensibly, as each
felt the cordial grasp of his hand and
the fine, genial warmth of his manner,
their suspicious attitude became less
rampant and more acquieSCent to the
probable explanations he would offer.
A rumor of lost identity as the Sc
quel of his mysterious absence had al
ready reached them, early as it was in
the day; and they were, therefore, pre-
pared to listen without interruptions or
explanations, until he had finished the
tale up to the awakening of his dor
mant perceptive faculties, which had
occurred, he said but a short time pre-
vious to his return.
There was a silence of many seconds
ere any one spoke. They were evil
IDENTIFY digesting in their minds this
curious loss of personality which was
the first instance of the sort known to
the most of them. At last Mr. Hart