The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-26

cut off," cried Alice, indignant with her bro
Their for this slanderous charge.
You are certainly improved by the less, If
the beard made all the difference in your ap-
pearance;" and Judith glanced roguishly be-
hind her at David's pleasant face, with its
blonde mustache and kind blue eyes.
Thanks. Miss Alice, for the doubtful COM
pliment; always had rather q weakness for
fattery, and 1t Is certainly innocuous when
administered with such admirable discre-
ton"
Judith laughed softly. and dipped her pen
into the ink and wrote the date aud read it
aloud, to signify her readiness for duty; and
with much merriment, many objections and
dent secretary. the letter to Mrs. Barlow was
completed and consigned to the maiibox in
time for the afternoon train.
David in some way made the discovery
that his fair nurse was in the habit of
spending several hours each day working
over her German; and after little urging
Judith allowed herself to be prevailed upon
to accept his assistance In the study. and it
soon became her regular custom to go to the
library with her books each afternoon, there
to read and recite until the twilight creeping
upon them warned teacher and pupil that
work must be laid aside.
Two weeks thus passed away, the happiest,
Judith acknowledged to herself, of her whole
life; resolutely had she suppressed each
doubt as to the wisdom of her course. Life
she refuse such simple and innocent ones as
were now thrust into her hands?
But after long night of troubled thought
Judith rose, resolved that there should be a
change; SO, when breakfast was over and the
orders given for the day, she quietly told
Alice to bring her books to the school room
again; their old habits of study must be re-
sumed. Very reluctantly did the child COM
ply, and the lessons proceeded slowly, with
little animation on either part, until light
al 1911 ~
temples, and brought renewed life to her
pupils eyes.
May Mohammed come to the mountain?
Or am | to be entirely ostracised? OF what
crime have been guilty, Mis-, Allan, that /
should be so cruelty condemned to solitude.
Plead for me, Alice; know you want me to
stay"
''Oh, Miss Allan, mayn't he?'
And what could Judith do but smile as
sent, and avoid meeting the deep blue eyes
that she knew were trying to search her
own; and when the lessons were ended and
David brought his volumes of German poetry
to her desk could she refuse to share the
book with HIM or decline to read aloud the
selections that he made?
One evening a letter from Mrs. Barlow an
nounced that she was coming home, and her
plans were made to leave the folio wing day.
Alice lay coiled OF the sofa fast asleep;
and Judith was playing dreamily in the fire.
light when David entered the room and
stood quietly behind her. She was con-
scious OF his presence now; indeed, it seemed
move and glance. Her fingers sud-
denly grew cold and refused to
strike the keys; she imagined David's hand
again upon her hair, and when she really
felt it there, as on the night of his arrival,
her head grew dizzy with happiness, and she
passively allowed it to lean against her arm.
Then his voice whispered, Judith, l love
| you" and the spell was broken.
With a passionate movement she released
herself, and gasped, You are unkind, you
are cruel" she turned to leave the room !;
| but David's hand had detained her.
Listen TO me, Judith"
81 can not must not listen." she cried
wildly. What would your mother say?
Be generous and let me go.'
Answer me one question, Judith, and
you shall go; does my love for you distress
| you for my mothers sake, or mine; do you
can you ever care in the least for me? or
must nay life be dark?'
! Juditn's head dropped lower and lower
until drawn by Davids encircling arm, it
| lay an instant quiet on his shoulder; then
| quickly she glided from him, and taking
sleeping Alice by the hand, disappeared in
| the dark hall.
Mrs Barlow returned from the city look
ing tired and careworn. though the two
weeks in her sisters room had evidently
been softening IN their effects. Late the
| SAIuo aitcIuOOu uultu TcC5lNtu d uItllOuS
! to the library and there, in an arm chair be-
fore the fire, sat Mrs. Barlow, calm and
stately, with no evidence in her manner Of
| what she had to say.
sMiss Allan" she began, without moving
her eyes from the polished fender at her feet
my son tells me his happiness depends
upon making you his wife, and | ssnt fol
you to say hope you will not find it neces-
sary to disappoint him.
Judith started violently, turned pale, and
overcome with sudden emotion burst inte
tears.
..My dear, think 1 understand your feel
ings," said the elder lady, after LONG
silence, taking the young girls icy hand ii
hers. You love my son, but pride forbid
you saying SO; let love conquer, and marry
him; desire IT." and rising as she spoke
Mrs Barlow softly touched her lips to Mis-
Alan's cheek, then left her alone.
During the short month that followed
Judith drank in happiness with every breatl
of air; then David returned TO the city
promising that all his Sundays should b
spent at home.
The first week had passed away, and OF
Saturday morning while the whole famil,
were still at the breakfast table, the mai
bag was brought in, and the various letter
distributed.
David wants small key from the to-
left-hand drawer OF his secretary. Judith,
said Mrs. Barlow, looking up from the not
she was reading: will you get it for me?
expressed on the 10 o'clock train, it vii
reach him early this afternoon before
leaves the CITY,"
Rising with alacrity, Judith danced gail
away to the library, that dear old roor
where had been passed SO many of he
, happy hours. Unlocking the great des
, she touched hidden spring whose secre
, David had once taught her. but neglected I
keep her hand upon the drawer, which cor
sequently opened with such force that th
/ sudden shock threw all its contents int
disorder. The cover flew from a small past
: board box, and as Judith bent forward
3 replace it, she started back with bewildere
= eyes, then with a smothered cry buried be
face in her hands and sank down into tn
/. nearest chair; in the little box, on q bed {
I. pink cotton, lay tiny onyx fuchsia, th
earring she had lost three months ago.
Quick as q fash the links of evidence cam
}. before her; the pulling familiarity of th
] face In the nhotczraph. Qaxid,a faar that 81