The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-10-19
tors BLOOMSBURY, Pa, FRIDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1883.

and very much puzzled. The time
had been when the gossips had con-
nected his name with that of Alice
Arnden, and there were those who
had shaken their heads when it be-
came evident that she had been won
by George enby instead of Ralph
Ralph had never spoken to Alice Of
love, and we will respect his reserve.
What he cared for her may remain a
sealed book.
George Fenby walked home alone.
Ralph Warden came the same road,
but quarter of a mile behind him.
Some distance out of the village
Ralph suddenly came upon two pa
pers, resting by the side of the road.
They had been most likely pulled
from the pocket of the owner in re-
moving his pocket handkerchief. The
smaller paper had blown apart, it lay
upon the other, and its contents were
so brief that Ralph had read it before
he had taken it into his hand, and be-
fore he was aware of what he was
doing. We have seen the paper be-
fore. 1t was the letter in which Alice
Arnden had dismissed George Fen
by.
Ralph Warden stood for long
time with the letter in his hand,
'Tve read it once; it can do no
harm to read it again." he said.
And he read it again-not once
merely, but dozen times. 1t seemed
as if he was trying to draw something
from the bit of paper which he did
not find there.
After while he stopped and picked
up the other paper, long, folded doc
ument, but the action was merely a
mechanical one. He did not open it
to see what it was, but with his head
bent forward on his breast, and with
a very grave face he went on his way.
He walked more slowly than before ;
he sometimes stopped, and he talked
to himself from time to time.
'If this is fnal," he commenced
aloud and then relapsed into silence.
"'A hinderer.' ;
"Then, after standing and thinking
for awhile, he went on; "She never
was that to him. And she never was
moody and self distrustful."
He thought for many minutes now.
81 don't understand what she means
by his higher ambition His highest
ambition lately has been to win her.
1t has cost her great deal to give
him up-any one can see that with
half an eye. And his freedom is not
welcome to him; he neither wanted
it nor expected it
The MONDAY sun was shining and
making everything pleasant. There
was a glow in the wintry air which
seemed to have promise of summer
in it.
He seated himself at his table, plac
ed Alice Arnden's letter upon it, and
read it again. Then for the first time
he looked a. the other which he hat
picked up. He turned it over and
saw at once what it was--a deed from
Bertram Kingsley, conveying certain
lands and buildings to George Fen
by.
Suddenly he stood still, and hot
fierce flush crept into his face.
81 wonder if it is true that hearts
are ever caught in the rebound,' a
they sometimes say they are?
will"
And he clenched his hands and hur
ried on his way,
He did not stop again until h
reached his home, where his mothe
and sister were waiting for him, no
did he think his thoughts aloud an,
more. With a few words of greetin,
and few more of excuse, he put hi
mother and sister aside for the presen
and went up to his own room
Down went his head upon his hand
on the table--the winter sunshin
shone that day on no nobler head
and from his lips came those words G
which frail humanity has deepes
need-'Lead us not into temptation
| He thought it all out. Bertrai
Kingsley owned the finest place in a
Marsham, or had until the deed wa
made which conveyed it to Geore
Fenby. Estella Kingsley, the daugl
ter of Bertram, was beauty an
something of flirt.
More than one lady of Marshal
had quarreled with her lover on f
tella Kingsley's account. And la
night there had been little gatherir
of the young people in the churc
and circumstances had done the
worst, seemingly. In the first plac
George Fenby came with Estel
Kingsley. The meeting was not of
character to make it unkind for hi
to leave his promised wife to cor
with her father, as she had, but
coming with Miss Kingsley had be
noticed by several. With the de
before him, Ralph Warden had
7 difficulty in deciding why George h
, been at Mr.. Kingsley's, and con,
!, quently why he had come as he ha
Ralph was well acquainted with
young man living where the Kin,
leys had formerly resided, and throu
! him he knew of the engagement
. Miss Kingsley to a gentleman livi
: there. He had known this for 10
% time, and knowing this had thong
little of events which might 9th
. wise have very deeply affected him.
Last night, for instance, a laughi
. group of gentleman had spoken
# Miss Kingley. One had said: 's
y is a beauty and an heiress. Whoe
- wins her will have beautiful hon
|, The Kingsley estate is the finest (
in Marsham." "
a "Now, every gentleman in
er group knew the Kingsley estate ,
70 for sale and every one counted at
,e true value the answer George Fel
had made, Indeed, his devotion
ID Alice Arnden was so absolute
it. complete that no one, save her mo,
w. self, would have ever doubted it f,
@. moment,
e. "It's my highest ambition to be
of master of that estate laug
re George, sand | have made an G
at which / think will be accepted.
to have an answer tonight. If l
I'M ceed, shall be supremely happy.
Sc. not-why, | will do as other men |
of done-failing of what / want /