Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-03
CHAPTER VI.


Philip Royden's recital concerning the
girl, Christina Uhlger, which had SO re-
PEELED Archer and Goodwin at the Rensse-
laer Club, happened TO be substantially
true. But he had not, as may be sup
posed, told the whole truth, especially
the part that reflected most severely On
himself. He had made every effort TO
undo her principle without success. ohe
had held out against all his entreaties,
wiles and Establishments; she had returned
his presents, as he had said, and had re-
fused for months to accept money from
him. Bat he was rnremitting in his at
tentions he made himself agreeable; he
taught her to connect all the happiness she
had known for years with him and his So
ciety. She was almost alone in the world.
Beside her mother, an invalid, and young
man, August Ehrlingen, a German by birth,
though, like herself, he had been brought
to this country as child, she had no as
sociates. Ehrlingen was good, an indus
trious and very intelligent mechanic
carpenter-and, with the thrift OF his ma
tionality, had saved some hundreds of dol.
lars. He was twenty-seven, nine years
older than Christina, and had known her
from childhood, having been intimately
acquainted with her father. Being good
deal with her he had grown fond of her,
and was cherishing, when Royden met
her. the hope, without expressing it, of
her some day becoming his wife.
Christina was unusually attractive,
brunette of ardent, romantic temperament,
with quick, vigorous mind, and consid-
cradle culture. Her ideas and feelings
were above her station; and when Philip
Royden, good-looking, refined in manner,
daintily dressed, carrying the air that easy
circumstances imparts, had evinced an IN
mistakabIe preference for her, she very
naturally felt fattered. He seemed to be
much more her peer than were the men she
was accustomed to, and she took pleasure
in his company-far more than she re-.
vealed. She was prudent, however-at
least she thought she was-and would not
incur at first any obligations which she was
conscious she could not repay. All Roy
denis offers of kindness were very deli
cately made, as if their acceptance would
be personal favor to him.
Unfortunately, Christmas mother grew
worse, and needed many things not in her
daughter'spowert opurchase. His purse was
rendered, for the hundredth time, and from
its abundance something was taken. Her
mother died, and the necessary expenses
of the funeral were supplied from the same
source. Poor Christina was in imminent
peril, as every young woman must be who
has tempter near her in the form of an
interesting man in higher grade of life.
Ehrlinger had put longer and longer inter-
walls between his visits, seeing that they
were less welcome than they had been. He
could see the change which she could not
He had deemed it his duty to warn her of
the pernicious influence of Royden, whom
he had distrusted and disliked at sight.
She laughed, and pronounced the honest
fellows warning the result of prejudice and
jealousy. This irritated him-all the more,
doubtless, because her words contained
modicum of truth-snd his irritation so
increased that it ended in enlargement.
1t naturally incensed the German to see
the girl he loved drawn away from him by
fashionable gallant, who, as he believed,
was only playing with her passionate heart
Thus she was left alone with what had now
become her love, and the INSCRIPTIONS man
who persistently declared himself her lover.
Without him were penury and bitter toll,
solitariness and an aching heart. With
him were comfort and ease, delightful COM
panionship and the realization of romantic
dreams.
Despite all these advantages, the whole
world, as it were, against one, Philip Roy
den would not, and could not have won
his ignoble suit, had he not stopped to the
last and vilest of duplicates promising
what he had no intent to perform. By this
time Christina had perfect faith in him.
She would have believed him against the
combined universe. He told her how
purely and devotedly he loved her that
he would marry her on the instant, but for
his entire dependence on his fathers
means. His father, he said, was very i'll ;
could not live long, and, at his death, he
would have his share of the estate. Then
he would formally make her his wife they
would go abroad to live, and their happi-
ness would be complete. If he should
marry without his fathers consent-for
which it was madness to look, should be
wed Christina-he would be disinherited,
and their future would be sacrificed.
"Only trust me, dearest" he said, as SO
many men have said under like circum-
stances and she answered, i trust you
absolutely, eternally, my beloved Philip
1 prove my trust by yielding all. /"
A man of Philip Royden's nature could
not long hide his baseness. He was fond,
ina way, of Christina Uhlger; but vanity,
more than affection, had prompted his
wooing. In few months he grew weary
of his conquest; for he could not appreci-
ate. with his gross selfshness, the better
part of her nature, and he was impatient
to be released from the bonds, lightly as
they rested on him, which he had been so
eager to assume. In this mood, he was
with her, one evening, in the comfortable
rooms he had engaged for her, in Thirty
sixth street. He was unamiable, having
had had an unpleasant scene with his
father, who had, for the hundredth time,
rebuked him for his extravaganza. He
seized the opportunity, as such fellows are
apt to do, to visit his anger upon some pa
tient. affectionate woman. The girl had
thrown her arms around his neck, as he Ell
tered, and would have kissed him, had he
not drawn back his head, with the words.
"Don't be quite SO fond, Christina; I'm
not in love making mood. +"
'.rm sorry I've offended you, Philip
I'm sure 1 did not mean to.
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