The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-03-20

her heart felt there was some change as
yet underlined in her lover. She was
not jealous, for jealousy is a parasite that
feeds only on ardent passion, and of that she
was incapable. If there were grand heights
and depths to her nature they had never
been reached or fathomed. Her love was as
calm and quiet as summers sea, and she
would in all probability make model wife.
She would bring no disgrace to her husbands
name. she would rear his children to be gen.
tlemen and ladies in miniature, and keep
his home elegantly neat. But as to sharing
his burdens of heart and soul, to kneeling
with him at the death bed of the sinner, the
poor or the Christian, she could no more do
such a thing than she could fly. She would
give of her means to the needy but she
would not grant TO the miserable or unfor-
tunate an instants admission to her home.
She might legally be his wife, but she could
not be his help mate, his companion. Love
capable of thus changing her she had never
felt. Her feeling for Hugh Arnold was like
an old glove-lt touched her lightly, but she
could shake 1t from her as an idle thing.
Thus matters were drifting until the
| Christmas times came, and Mr.. Arnold's
church resolved to have Christmas tree for
the Sunday-school, and. be wrote of this to
Margaret. 1t was unlike him. for she took
no interest in the work, but in an idle mo-
ment he mentioned it incidentally. This
entertainment she could appreciate, and her
mind was instantly made up to show to the
| people that she would make good wife for
a minister. She ransacked the city Tor suit
able presents, and had you heard her opin-
| ion of the scholars you would have thought
that Hugh was a missionary to the South Sea
islanders. But she was generous, and the
box was large that, properly marked, was
landed at the church door at Glenville
| Christmas eve. She wanted to'surprise her
| lover, and she had given no hint of the gift
in the letters, so that when he was told of
| the box he had no idea that it came from
her. few of the Sunday. school pupils and
teachers had gathered in the church to
sing over the anthems for. the next
night and while Ruth Allison was
playing the organ the others sang. But
the mysterious box for the moment occupied
the attention of all. 1t was found to be
full of pretty things so inviting to a group
of children, and here and there were gifts
suitable for teachers or older pupils. note
directed to Mr. Arnold in the well known
handwriting explained all: ga merry Christ
mas to all. From yourifriend, Margaret Car
lyle" A committee of distribution took
charge of the presents and arranged them on
Al fo1 DrrtH
home she said, laughiDgly, 81 expect am
on forbidden ground, but who is Margaret
Carlyle?'' "a young lady" ''Pretty?"
''Yes." Living in the city," "Yes." And
there the matter dropped. He was tempted
for moment to tell her all, to let her know
that in honor he was not free man, that
be was bound as the betrothed husband of
was weak; he waited; he was silent, and
bitterly did he regret in other days
that he did not speak. Christmas
came and went, but Mr.. Arnold was I'll at
ease, and time dragged heavily on his hands.
/ He tried hard to feel that he was doing right,
and he threw himself heart and soul into his
work. He preached with zeal, he prayed
with fervor, he visited every person in all
his congregation, and he, labored to BRING
every unbelisver under the influence of re-
lIgion. He studied late in the night, and
spent hours upon his knees in wrestling
prayer, but he could obtain no peace, no rest
of mind or soul, He was as a boat tossed by
the breakers, now dashing on the rocks OF
despair, again drifting far out to sea. People
praised him for his devotion to the work; he
felt that he was not worthy their words OF
commendation. He felt that be ought moi
rebuke the sins of others for he himself was
SHINING in that while his word and faith
were pledged his heart, that most treacher-
Gus of servants, had gone beyond his recall
One day, weary with study, he called to see
Mr.. Allen, believing that Ruth was away
The old man saw at glance that something
| was wrong, but with no thought of the cause
he waited for the minister to voluntarily
/ give him his confidence. They talked Ions
! of the work at Glenville, what had best bC
done and how best to do it; the needs of the
church, the outlook for the coming year, the
fields when the harvest was ripest, anC
where the blade must soon be thrust in
Then the conversation drifted to other mat
ters, the past life of the two men, the on,
giving, the other receiving advice. Mr.
Allen told of his sonin-law's worth, his true
nobility of character, his zeal, and husheC
. his voice as he told of his glorious death, hi
} faith and trust. Mrs Allison had died some
years before her husband, and her father
} speaking Of this, said: "As they were unit
ed in life. so they were scarcely separated BY
: death. She was everything to him, anC
though be struggled on be felt her loss keen
} ly. She was a true wife, and he, aye, h,
almost worshIped her. Such love as their
, was beautiful, and 1t was sarctified anC
noble" Over and over again did the listen
er repeat the words and the sentiment, ant
r for the first time he saw his danger, anC
+ knew that honestly he could not marry
} Margaret Carlyle. lie could not be be-