National Republican., 1880-07-22
Bell the Blacksmith.
by MAJOR ALFRED RoonEFoRT.

near New York, which had been built up by
the enterprise Of Thomas Truxton, the senior
member of the firm of Truxton q Son. The
son was Robert Truxton. He and his sister
Rachel were the children of Thomas Trux.
toms FIRST marriage. They hated their fathers
second wife (who was Frank Bells aunt and
her two children, Joseph and Kate Truxton.
BY a series of maunuvres the second Mrs.
Truxton and bor children were alienated from
the old man aud driven from the house to
take refuge with Mrs. Bell, Franks widowed
mother. Joseph Truxton and Gilbert Bell,
Franks younger brother, had become rathor
wild and disappeared from Truxtou's Mills.
| Frank had studied law nights while work.
| ing at bis forgo In the daytime, and been
admitted 10 the New York bar. Robert Trux-
ton bitterly hated him for his success, aud
also because Ella Marpell, beautiful heiress,
seemed to prefer Frank TO himself So he
| plotted with o detective named Tom Lipp to
ruin Frank by inculpating him in n robbery
of the safo Of Truxton & Son. Robert aud
| Rachel were also plotting 10 secure all tile
! Truxton wealth to themselves, and for that
purpose intended, with the aid of a worthless
physician named Badger, TO have their father
incarcerated MS y lunatic in case he showed
| signs of becoming reconciled with his wife
aud her children. Ella MarpelPs mother, in
order TO break off her daughters preference
for Frank, suddenly took her to Europe.
| Frank was informed of this sudden departure
| by Ella in n brief note written without time
for an explanation, which note was handed to
him on Sunday morning, as he was going to
| church at Truxton's Mills to lead the choir
and play the organ.
After reading the note that told him Of
Ella Marpell's departure, Frank Bell turned
| TO the organ. The members Of the choir no.
tced that he was very pale, and that ho
seemed to have aged oflate
Yet Frank played and led the choir that
morning without q tremor of hand or voice.
So high was his sense of duty, so fine his self.
control, that he would have concealed tho
anguish IN his heart and gone on with the
work that lay before him had the messenger
brought him the news of Elias death, under
the same circumstances
But he could not conceal from his mothers
anxious eyes the new trouble. He told the
news to her and his aunt when they reached
home; but he had never told them--for he
thought of 1t only in whispers--0f his love for
the beautiful girl.
The mother had long since discovered his
secret, and Mrs. Truxton, who with Kate still
made her home at the cottage on the hillside
frequently assured her sister that ELLA loves
Frank, ifa woman ever loved a man."
But to Frank the blow of Elias departure
was lightened by the thought that her very
last act before sailing was to write to him, and
the hope that she would explain her sudden
departure at the very first opportunity.
Until now he had never fully realized the
depth of his affection for Ella Marpell, MOI
appreciated how much his happiness depended
on the knowledge that she was near him
Until now be had never believed that hard
work and a busy mind could be so efficient nj
antidote to great aflliction. If he had hat
leisure TO think of his troubles they woult
have been magnified, as troubles ever are, by
dwelling OH them; but tho resstless impuls'
, of high resolve still kept him true TO duty
} to himself, and to the secret idol for whom n
, fact, all this herculean effort was being made
, OF lato his opinion Of Mr. Thomas Truxtor
, had undergone change. Under the hard ex
} terror and the rigid business manner he dis
} covered the remnant of heart that had moi
lost its freshness nor affection. He saw tha
the intense admiration--it might be the low
! that induced him TO wed the fascinatin
school-tcacher remained, and that it neede
n only judicious management on tho part Q
y some interested friend to bring tho separates
0 husband aud wife together.
. Iu this object he was encouraged by th
. knowledge that Mrs. Truxton-who nigh
have married from interest-bad learned I
regard her husband with wifcly atfectio
that would have warmed into tho most vi
selfish and selfsacrificing love had not other
found it, or imagined it to be, to their interest
, to bring about the present state Of affairs
81 will bring them together" he said to hi
= mother.
"And will aid you my son." responde
Mrs Bell.
SO Mrs Bell, by gradual approaches, bega
4. to reason with her sister. So Frank Bel
with the tact and delicacy of gentle, mani
heart, took advantage of his many interview
} with Mr.. TruXtOn to impress ON him th
). necessity of II speedy reconciliation to hi
wife.
, The inclined heart Is easily persuaded. On
/ night Mr.. Truxton went down TO the machn
!, shop where Frank was working alone, and h
u sat down and appeared to be much intereste
= in the drawings and the mechanical plans O
(; the young man. But in truth Mr.. TruXtor
! for the once, had lost all interest in looms an
factories. He had come to give expression
4 tho long yearnng at his heart, and to sa
!, with n bowed head and in voice the tremo
of which was not the result of age;
Frank, have been wrong"
"Wrong, sir !" repeated Frank, stopping il
his work, aud pushing the green shade u
from his eyes
;, ~ want to tell her SOL want to see her tC
night"
Frank took off the shade and put on h
}, coat Ho extinguished the lights in the shol
l. and drawing Mr.. Truxton's arm through hi
. own, he said
l. ~ thank heaven for your resolve, Mr.. Trnl
u ton. Come with me-"
II was a very unusual thing for Mr. Tru,
ton to be out at that hour, though it was II,
near midnight 1t was rare thing to see an
one moving about the vicinity of Truxton
. Mills after the o o'clock gun doomed at Co
a ernors island.
= Lean on me, sir" said Frank, us the
faced the hill ut has been freezing aud tn
roads a bit slippery"
The old man did lean on him, but il was ~
from any physical necessity, for he was sti
hale aud strong despite his sixty years.
They did not know that they were beil
followed-dogged-b Tom I.pp.
Shading the lamp with her hand, Mrs BE
opened the door in answer TO her sons wei
known knock The light fell on tho old man
anxious face, aud she heard him saying husl
lily, and with u strange intonation Of kin(
ness:
"IIow do you do, Mrs Bell"
"Well, sir, thank you. Come in. Con
in."
Mr.. Truxton preceded Frank into the lit
sitting-roOm, aud the face of his dead fellow
apprentice beamed on him from its place ov,
the mantel.
"You are surprised to see me2' he SAT-
looking at Mrs. Bell, and with his hand on Il
back OF tho chair she had placed for him.
81 was sure you would come," she al
swered.
at is better that the one who has errc
most should be the first to seek forgiveness
and reconciliation. Tell-tell Ida | hay
come, and let me see my dear child Ka
again"
He sat down, and Mrs Bell left the room.
~ think sir" said Frank, coming neart
LIE atYhr ha ho