The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-09-13
A GREAT TEMPTATION.

Alice Arden was not woman one !
would select for heroine because of her
personality. She was neither large nor
small; she was beautiful, I think (beauty
is hard thing to define and limit) but
L was beauty of no wonderful or unu-
sual type, and was of that kind which
grows on one gradually, as his knowl-
edge of the posseesor of it. grows. There
was wealth of sweetness and purity
shining up in her eyes, which tears
could never wash out and the mouth in
dicated firmness and resolution, which
had it's beginning long before the nights
vigil which had left it 50 sternly ago.
nized.
The trouble which has come to Alice
Arden is of no unusual kind 1t is a sud-
den sorrow, Of a kind which has crushed
out all Of hope in life, many times in the
past, and will many tines in the future
as long as men and naidens are proud
and wnllful. One may say, "only l,v-
er's quarrel" but one should remember
that there are heart tragedies in this
world, under torture of which men and
women drag out long lives without tiud-
ing peace. To Alice Arnden it seemed
as though every thing worth having in
life was now forever utterly beyond her
hope.
She arose from the seat she had &C.
cupied for SO long, and moved slowly
around her humble room. She had not
known until she moved, how much she
was suffering physically. how cold it
was There was really little to do. Her
bed had not been used; her room was
in order. She had plenty Of time to pre-
pare herself for the task OF covering her
sorrow from the gaze of her friends-ii
she could.
She made fire, and into the fire she
remorsely Put all the fragments of the
paper which she mad spoiled in her ef-
forts to write simple letter long ago,
when her sorrow was new. Long ago?
last night! Happiness gives wings of
liRhtness to eternity dying about one
and so called time rather than eternity,
which We roughly measure and call min
utes and seconds but sorrow weighs
their noiseless feet with lead;
Mr. George Fenby was next among
the actors in this little fragment of hu-
man life.
He had sat at the window that morn
ing as Alice Arden sat at hers. His win
dow looked in the same direction, from
it he saw much the same scene she saw
The stars faded out for him as for her;
day brightened; the sunlight lell across
his face.
BIT he sat there with a cheerful fire
near him; he was strong from happy
sleep; his eyes were bright and cheer
full and looked as though tears had al
ways oeen strangers to them and his
lips were smiling.
The icy marshes seemed to him a
atype Of the future. Smooth, white,
pure-the light stretching warmly
across them-and with the ocean outside
standing to him, as to her, as type Of
eternity-an eternity whic be felt
George Fenby thought Of what be had
to be thankful for, this lovely morning.
small fortune. enough for himself
and one other, fair woman-and good
as tair-for his promised wife; health,
education, friends, influence, position;
it was indeed goodly prospect.
This man was strong and quick go I'd
looking, if not handsome. He looks like
man who would not do wicked thing,
or think it, while he might 10 a weak
or foolish one. He was man who
would be likely to win a woman's hear:
and hold it; q man whose love wo-
man might prize, and the loss Of which
abe might wisely mourn. Weak enough
to be man, he was strong enough to be
one hard to win from the life which had
once had him.
There was happy smile on his face
as he heard his little brother knock at
the door, and he answered "Come in''
in CHEEKY voice.
'Here's a letter for you, George"
"Thank yOu," said George, as he took
"You are welcome. By the hand
writing on the envelope I judge the
message will be pleasant one"
And the boy left the room.
A pleasant message! The smile deep
ened on the mans face as he lovingly
handled the letter little time before he
These were the words he read:
"Mr. George Fenby-I will not con-
cent to be any longer hinderer regard
ing your higher ambition l never
wish to speak with you again in all my
life. I give you back your freedom.
ALICE ARNDEN."
50 Mr.. Fenby's morning gilt was the
gift of his freedom. What should he do
with it? His cheeks and lips grew cold
and white at the thought. Merci.ul
heaven! What could he do with it?
The sky seemed darkened, the earth
seemed dreary and desolate, George
Fenby and Alice Arnden, bare quar-.
ter OF mile apart, could not have been
more widely separated had an ocean
stretched between them. And eac1
looked on the same landscape and saw
it alike at last.
The village of Marsham was a small
one and most of it was farther from the
the ocean than were the TWO houses at
the windows of which we have seen two
unhappy persons.
1t was a relief to 10th George and
Alice, that there was service in the lit
tie church that morning, and everybody
would he looked for there. Secret sor-
row finds certain abatement of it's in.
tensity in the effort of appearing uncon.
cerned, then there is q mournful pleas
ure in knowing what one has lost.
In place no larger than Marshau
every one knows the business of every
body else in some degree, or thinks so
and says so. So our two friends were
or we're known also. And 50 poorly hat
they played their parts. that when Ser
vice was finished nearly ali their friend
had concluded that their engagement
was over, and many were specializing Al
to the reason for It.
Ralph Warder was too shrewd mai
not to see what every one else saw. HI
said but little about it, as no spoke II
one and another after church, but b.
was deeply interested and very mucl
puzzled. The time had heen when the
Rossips had connected his name will
that Of Alice Arnden, and there were
those who had shaken their heads whel
it became evident that she had teeI
won oy George Fenby, instead of Ralph
Ralph had never spoken to Alice o
love, and we will respect his reserve
What he caced for her may remain I
sealed book.
George Fenby walked home alone
Ralph Warden came the same road
but quarter ola mile behind HIN,
Some distance out Of the village RalpI
suddenly came upon two papers, restin,
on the snow by the side OF tile road
Chax had most likely haan nullad frou