The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-27

hesitation he sprang over the low stone
wall and went straight across the field to the
old tree. There, as he expected, he found
Lizzie. 1t is unnecessary to relate all the
arguments he used to bring her to his way of
thinking; at least they were not immediate
ly effective, for the poor girls conscience
and sense OF duty were unfortunately array
ed upon the wrong side. They had been
thus occupied for perhaps half an hour and
were on the verge of a genuine quarrel.
Lizzie, with tear stained face, sat pulling
nervously at the long grass. Mark stood be
fore her talking earnestly. She had said
something about repairing her mothers
wrong. He interrupted her almost angrily:
How can you repair one wrong by doing
another? That your mother tailed TO keep
faith with Robert Joycelyn is nothing to
You. girl is not bound to marry every
man her mother jilts. II she did wrong by
him you can not make it right by doing me
the same wrong / tell you that my claim
is better than his. That he loves you have
no doubt-how could he help it?-but love
you as well as he, and you love me- for you
have admitted it with your own lips. Oh,
Lizzie! don't you know that love has some
rights as well as duty?'
What answer Lizzie might have made
can not tell, for just then the sound of step
in the grass made them both turn, and there
stood Robert JOycelyn. Mark Strengthened
himself with a defiant look, but Lizzie sat
silent and trembling. 1t was to her the new
conner spoke.
81 thought to find you alone" he said,
"but perhaps it is better as it is | have
heard part of your conversation, and what
Mark says is right. 1 have thought it all
out myself to-day, and came to tell YOU So
L have made great mistake, but, thank
God, have found it out before ii is too late
L hope you will forgive me, Lizzie. have
not been faithful to your mother, for
promised her upon her dying bed that
would watch over the happiness of her child ;
and have not kept my word, but selfishly
sought my own happiness, forgetting yours.
Long ago | regarded you as my child; it was
presumption in me to think that YOU could
be anything else. But my eyes are fortu-
nateIy opened. 1t will be all right between
us, for have found my child again.
be stopped and kissed her twice upon the
lips. so like her Ilother's Then, taking
Marks hand, he said:
This child has promised to be mine. 1
give her to you. Be good to her, and may
God bless you BOTH
Then he walked slowly away in the d.
rection of his brothers. house. The young
people looked after him in silence their own
great joy forgotten for the time in their sor-
rowful sympathy for him who had resigned
to them SC much.
Robert Jocelyn made it his care to recon-
cile Ezra and his wife to the change in Liz
zie's destiny. By what arguments he did so,
and how things were explained to the pub
lic-if explained at ALL am unable to
relate. 1t is sufficient to say that on the two
Sundays Immediately following old Mr.
Beaman again announced TO the deeply
interested congregation the intention of
marriage between Mark Boynton and Eliza
beth Heath and the intention was carried
out at no distant day.
1t was many years ago that those things
happened, during which the Boyntons have
been happy and prosperous couple, with
no reason to regret Mr.. Beaman's mistake
Strong sons and pretty daughters have
grown up around them. One of these, a
gentle, blue eyed girl, bears the name of
Phoebe. With her is often seen an aged
man, who leans upon her arm or follows her
movements with eyes full of tenderness and
love. 'Uncle Robert is the object of affec-
ton and reverence from all, but Phoebe is
his own special darling. 1t is her gentle
ministry which sheds light and beauty on
the evening of his days. He is only waiting
now, serenely waiting for the happiness
which shall soon be his. And ''grace,
mercy and peace, the love of God, and the
communion of His holy spirit" do abide
with him now, and shall forever.