The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1883-12-16
. GREAT TEMPTATION.

WAS BEAUTIFUL, i tnink lDfautN Is "A nAru tninR
to define and limit, but it was a beauty Of no
wonderful or unusual type, and was of that
kim which grows on one gradually, ashis
knowledge OF the possessor oft grows. There
was n wealth Of sweetness anil purity shining
up In her eyes which tears could never wash
out: and the mouth indicated firinness and
resolution, which had ib4 beginning long he
fore the nights vigil which bad left II so
Sternly agonizcd.
The trouble which has come To Alice Ann
den Is OF no unusual kind. One may say,
"'only a lovers QUARREL" but one should re-
member that there are heart tragedies in this
world, under the torture Of which mon and
women drag out long lives without finding
peace. 70 Alice Arnden IL seemed as though
everything worth having in life was now for
ever utterly beyoud her hope.
She arose from the seat she had occupied
for 50 long and moved slowly around her
humble room. She had not known until she
moved how much she was suffering physi-
callys how cold it was; how cramped she
Was.
She made a fire. and into the fire she re-
morselessly put all the fra ginents OF the paper
which she had spoiled in her efforts to write
a simple letter, long ago whenher sorrow was
new. Long agoi Last night Happiness
gives wings Of lightness to eternity dying
uDDul bul Drlhk III ~ NhiHoa VIZ" ihth'A
than eternity. which we roughly measure.
and call minutes and seconds; but sorrow
weighs their noiseless feet with lead.
Mr.. George Fenby was next among the
actors In this little fragment of human life.
He had sat at his window that morning as
Alice Arnden sat ut hers His window looked
In the same direction, From 1t he saw much
the same scene she aaw. This stars fadsi our
for him as for her; day Frightened; the sum
light fell across his face.
George Fenby thoug hit OF what he had to be
thankful for this lovely morning. A small
fortune. enough for himself-and one other, 9
fair good as fair-for bis prom
ised wife; health, education, friends, in
duence, position; it was indeed a goodly pros
pect-
There was a happy smile on his face as he
heard his little brother knock ut the door. and
he answered "Come' mr. In a CHEEKY voice.
Heres a letter fer you. George"
Thank you u said George, as he o it
"You are welcome. By the handwriting on
ths envIope judge the mssIagJ will bs o
pleasant one"
Aud the boy left the room
A pleasant message. The smile deepeDci
on the mans face as he lovingly handled the
letter q little time before he broke the seal.
A pleasant messagel
These were the words he read:
Mr. GEoRoE FENBY:-I viii not consent to
be any longer a hiDderer regarding your
higher ambition. l never wish to speak with
you a .aln in all ny life. l give you back your
freedom, ALIcE ARNDES
So Mr.. Fenby's morning gift was the gift
of his freedom. What should he do with It'll
His cheeks and lips grew cold and white at
the thought. Merciful heayensi what could
he do with it,
~ a-la -.
dreary and desolate. George Fenby and
Alice Arnden, a bare quarter OF a mile apart,
could not have been more widely separated
had an ocean stretched between them. And
each looked on the same landscape and saw 1t
alike at last.
II was a relief to both George and Alice
that there was service in the little church that
morning, and everybody would BE- looked for
there. Secret sorrow finds a certain nbate-
ment Of Its intensity In the effort of appearing
unconcerned. Then there Is IL m~ournful
pleasure in seeing what has lost.
In a place no larger thai Marsham every
one knows everybody else. Every one
knows the business OF everybody In some de.
gree, or thinks so, or says so. So our friends
were known, and their relations 10 each
they played their parts nat when service
was finished nearly all their friends had con-
cluded that their engagement was over, and
many were specializing as to the reason for 1t.
RaIph Warden was too shrewd a man not
to see what every one else saw. He said but
little about 1t, as he spoke to one and another
after church, but he was deeply interested
and very much puzzled. The time had been
when the gossips had connected his name
with that OF Alice Arnden, and there were
those who had shaken their heads when it
became evident that she had been won by
George Fenby, instead of Ralph.
Ralph had never spoken 10 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 sane road, but a quarter
OF a mile behind. Some distance out of the
village Ralph suddenly came upon two pa
pers, resting by the side Of the road. They
had most likely been pulled from the pocket
of the owner In removing his pocket hand
kerchief The smaller paper bad blown apart,
II lay upon the other, and its contents were
so brief that Ralph had read IL before he had
taken 1t into his hand, and before he was
aware of what he was doing. We have seen
the paper before. 1t was the brief letter in
which Alice Arnden had dismissed George
Fcnbv.
Ralph Warden stood for a long time with
the letter in his hand.
1--WE read II once; it can do no harm TO
read it again. be said.
And he read IL aSain-not once only, but
a dozen times 1t seemed as If he wa trying
10 draw something from the bit OF paper
which he did not find there,
After a time he stopped and picked up the
other paper-a long, folded document; but
the action was merely a mechanical one. He
did not open II TO see what Il 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 some-
times stopped and talked to himself from
time to time.
He read Alice Arndsn's letter again. Then
for the first time he looked at the other. He
turned It over and saw at once whit II was
q deed from Bertram Kingsley, conveying
certain lands aud buildings TO George Fenby.
Suddenly he stood still, and a hot, fierce
flush crept into his face.
Il wonder II 1t is true that hearts are ever
caught in the rebound ss they sometimes
say they arof l will"
And he clenched hts hands and buried on
his way.
lie did not stop until he reached bis homs,
where his mother aud sister were waiting for
him, nor did be think his thoughts aloud any
more, With q few words of greeting and a
few more of excuse, be put his mother aud
sitter aside for the present. and went up to
his own room.
Ralph Warden drew a long breath, and the
light faded slowly out OF bis face. In o single
moment te had seen the whole secret OF the
misunderstanding. Down went his head upon
his h7nis on the table-the winter sunshine
sbone that day on no nobler bead and from
his lips came those words of which frafl hu-