The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-13


/ had formerly resided, and through him
he knew of the engagement of Miss
Kingsley to gentleman living there.
He had known this for a lon4 time; and
knowing it had thought little of events
which might otherwise have deeply af.
fected him.
Last night, for instance, laughing
group of gentlemen had spoken of Miss
| KINGSLEY. One had said: ':She is a
beauty and an heiress. Whoever wins
her will have a beautiful home. The
Kingsley estate is the finest one in
Marsham.
! Now, every gentleman in the group
knew that the Kingsley estate was for
sale, and everyone had counted at its
true value the answer which George
Fenby had made. Indeed his devotion
to Alice Arnden was so absolute and
complete that no one, save her modest
self, would ever have doubted it for a
moment.
'.It's my highest ambition to be the
master of that estate, laughed George,
land 1 have made an offer which |
think will be accepted. / am to have
an answer tonight. If succeed
shall be supremely happy. If not
why, l will do as other men have done
failing of what l want, will take
what l can get"
Ralph could not remember where
Alice Arden had been when these inno-
cent words had been spoken. That she
had been near enough to hear them was
evidenced by her letter, which was be-
fore him.
He could only dimly imagine howshe
must have suffered in trying to evolve
the truth Gas she believed the truth to
be- from what she had heard. When
human idol falls from the place it has
held in the heart, not the least of the
pain comes from what we see, o. be-
| lieve we see, of its unworthiness. To
find our gold but gilded clay is ; sor-
rowful thing. So he sat there, and
pitied Alice Arden for the faith IN the
man which she had lost, as well as the
man himself who had been put from
her. With what pain beyond that
which would come to her from belief
that her lover would think and do what
his words seemed to imply, must she
face the added shame of his stopping to
tell it; nay, more, to boast of it
Ralph raised his head The time had
not been long since he sat down to think.
But he knew it all. Two proud and OBJ
stinate young creatures had been parted
by fate. And he muttered with white,
compressed lips: Il alone understand
it all. l alone, of all the world, can set
it right. What a temptation"
We will not seek to follow his
thoughts. " hat a man does should be
the basis of our judgment, and what we
would do. If he thought of the cura-
tive effects of time on suffering hearts
we can forgive him; if possible future,
in which a happy home of his own was
the central figure, rose up to meet him,
we can do no less than pity him.
If she only had the slightest reason
for what she had done-but she has
none. If George Fenby was really a
scoundrel-but he is truly noble man.
The band of sunshine rested on his
head like golden crown. His face was
almost glorifed as he raised it to the
light again. And surely the angels
made a record of second gift that day
coming to the lot of those whose lives
fall for little time within the lines OF
our story, when he said aloud: 81 will
do right! Alice Arnden shall have her
lover back again ~
Evening service at the little church
was over. Ralph Warden stood on the
steps as the congregation came out He
looked happy.
Ii it be true that coming events cast
their shadows before" and that Virtue
is its own reward" he was happy He
spoke cheerfully to this one and that
when they passed. He did not look like
a conspirator. One would not have
dreamed that he had made plan which
for audacity would find few rivals, while
for simplicity it might find fewer.
Its better to have it over as soon
as possible" he said to himself; ''better
Tor them and me"
Alice Arnden was passing him. He
leaned forward.
'Will you come for little drive with
me, Miss Arnden? The night is perfect
and you look as if fresh air would do
you good
She accepted at once, hoping as she
did so that George Fenby would see
her. He was not there to see. however,
and Ralph had taken good care to know
that He was already half way home.
But Miss Arnden was in no mood to
refuse. She was in reckless temper,
and Ralph Warden had accounted on
that. One DESTROYS of widening the
breach between Alice and George would
have found it an easy task to make a
beginning that night.
Ralph Warden S lips moved slowly
as he seated himself beside Alice, but
we will not try to determine what he
said to himself in that crisis in more
lives than one.
81 admire your cloak and hat" ex-
claimed Ralph, though the saying may
be as much a compliment to my sisters
as to your own taste. Hers are like
them, are they not?'
Every nearly; not quite. But didn't
know you ever noticed what your lady
friends wear?"
81 don't very often. 1 did TODAY.
Would the masculine eye detect the diff
ferencesPn
Il think not. But it is pity to talk
OF dress on such night as this. What
a strong and helpful sermon we had
this EVENING""
yes" said Ralph.