The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-10-17

smaller paper had blown apart, il lay upon
| the other and its contents were 50 brief that
Ralph had read il before be had taken it into
| MS hand. and before he was aware of what he
was doing, We have seen the paper before
/ II was the brief letter in which Alice Arnden
had dismissed George Fenby.
Ralph Warden stood for long time with
| the letter in his hand.
I've read it once, it can dos no harm to
read ii again" he said.
And he read il again-not once merely, but
dozen times 1t seemed as if he was trying
10 draw something from the bit Of paper
which he did not find there.
| After a time lie stopped and picked
up the other paper-a long. folded docu-
| ment; but the action was merely mechani-
cal one. lie did not open it to see what it
was; but. with his head bent forward on his
on his way. He walked more slowly than
before. He sometimes stopped and talked to
K himself from time TO time
| He read Alice Arden's etter again. Then
| for the first time he looked at the other. He
| turned il over and saw at once what il was
i deed from Bertram Kingsley, conveying
| certain lands and buildings TO George Fen
| by.
| Suddenly he stood still, and a hot fierce
| flush cTept into his face.
| Il wonder If it is true that hearts are ever
| caught in tke rebound as they sometimes
| say they are? | will
And ne clenched his hands and hurried on
/ his way.
He did not stop until he reach ed his home
/ where his mother and sister were waiting for
| him, nor did he think his thoughts aloud
| any more. With a few words of greeting
| and a few more of excuse, he put his mother
and sister aside Tor the present, and went up
1 to his room.
Ralph Warden drew a long breath and the
| light faded slowly out of his face. In
single moment he had seen the whole secret
| OF the misunderstanding. Down went his
| head upon his hands on the table,, the win
1 ter sunshine ShOne that day on no nObler
| head--and from his lips came those words of
| which frail humanity has deepest need,
| Lead Us not into temptation"
He thought it all ont. Bertram Kingsley
| owned the finest place III all Marsham, or
| had until the deed was made which conveyed
| IL 10 George Fenby. Estella Kingsley the
| daughter of Bertram, was beauty and
| somewhat OF tiirt.
More than one lady OF Marsham had quar-
/ relied with her lover on Estela kingsleys
| account. And last night there had been a
| little gathering OF the young people in the
! church, and circumstances had done their
worst--seemingly. In the first place George
| Fenby came with Estella Kingsley 1.-The meet
| ing was not of a character TO make IL unkind
for him 10 leave his promised wife to come
with her father, as she had, but his coming
with Miss Kingsley had been noticed by sew
eral. With the deed before him. Ralph
/ Warden had no difficulty in deciding why
| George had been at Mr. kingsley's and
| consequently why he had come as he had.
| Ralph was well acquainted with'a young
man living where the kingseyS had former
| ~ resided. and through him he knew of the
| engagement of Miss Kingsley 10 a gentleman
| living there lie had known this for long
time; and Knowing this had thought OF
events which might otherwise have deeply
affected him.
Last night, for instance, laughing group
| OF gentleman 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."
Its my highest ambition to be the master
| of that estate" laughed George, "and | have
made an offer which think will be accepted.
l am 10 have an answer tonight. If lsuc-
ceed l shall be supremely happy. If not
why, will do as other men have done
failing OF what want, will take what
can get
Ralph could not remember where Alice
Arnden had been when those innocent
words had been spoken. That she had been
near enough to hear them was evinced by
her letter, which was before him. So he sat
there, and pitied Alice Arnden for the faith
in which she had lost, as we'll as for the man
Ralph raised his head. The time had not
been long since he sat down TO think. But,
he knew it all. Two proud and obstinate
| young creatures had been parted by fate.
| And he mutterod with white, compressed
| lips, II alone understand it all. ! alone, OF
| all the world, can set il right What
| temptation"
We will not seek to follow his thoughts.
| What a man does should be the basis of our
| judgment, not what he would do. Ii he
| thought of the curative effect OF time on SUI
| fering hearts we can forgive him. ii posi-
| BILE future, in which happy home of his
| own was the central figure, rose up to meet
| him. we can do no less than pity him.
The band OF sunshine rested on his head
| Ike 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
| line of our story, when he said aloud: "a
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 hap
| Ply.
| If it be true that coming events cast their
| shadows before" and that virtue is its own
| reward" he was happy. He spoke cheerfullv
| TO this one and that when they passed. He
| did not look like a cOnspiratOr. One would
| not have dreamed that he had made a plan
| which, for audacity, would find few rivals,
| while for simplicity it might find fewer.
| Its better to have il over as soon as possi-
| ble," he said to himself; better for them and
\ for me-
| Alice Arnden was passing him. He leaned
i forward.
| "Wil you come for a little drive with me,
| Miss Arnden? The night Is perfect, and
/ you look 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 toEsee, however, and Ralph had taken
/ good care to know that. He already
half way home.
But Miss Arnden was in no mood to refuse
| she was in reckless temper, and Ralph War
| den had accOuntedOn that. One DESTROYS of
widening the breach between Alice and
George would have found il 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 todetermine What he said to himself in
that crisis in more lives than one.
Il admire your cloak and hat" exclaimed
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?'
VERY nearly: not quite. But ! didn't
know you ever nqticed what your lady friends
wear"