Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-23
A GREAT TEMPTATION,

to define and limit, but it was beauty of no
wonderful or unusual type, and was of that
kind which grows on one gradually, as his
knowledge Of the possessor OF it grows. There
was wealth of sweetness and purity shining
up in her eyes which tears could never wash
out and the mouth indicated firnness and
resolution, which had its beginning long be
fore the nights vigil which had left it so
sternly agonized.
The trouble which has come to Alice Arm
den is of no unusual kind. One may say,
f'only lovers quarrel but one should re-
member that there are heart tragedies in this
world, under the torture of which men and
wcmen drag out long lives without finding
peace. ToAlice Arnden it seemed as though
everything worth having in life was now for
ever utterly beyond her hope.
She arose from the seat she had occupied
for SO long and moved slowly around her
humble room. She had not known until she
moved how much she was suffering physi-
cally; how cold it was; how cramped she
was.
She made fire, and into the fire she re-
norselessly put all the fragments of the paper
which she had spoiled in her efforts to write
simple letter, long ago when her sorrow was
new. Long ago? Last night Happiness
SlNCo Va ht5ht4lccS> W SISi Wy ing
about our being and so called time rather
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 at hers. His window looked
in the same direction, From it he saw much
H. f>lo
for him as for her; day frightened; the sun
light fell across his face.
George Fenby thought of what he had to be
thankful for this lovely morning. A small
fortune enough for himself-and one other, a
fair woman-and good as fair--for his prom
ised wife; health, education, friends, in
fuence position; it was indeed a goodly pros
pect.
There vas = INV e7>..-e ri. lis fare as ne
heard his little brother knoc'c at the Gocr, III!
be answered ''Come in' in CHEEKY voice.
'Heres letter for you George"
''Thank you," said George, as he took it.
''You are welcome. BY the handwriting on
the envelope judge the message will be a
pleasant one"
And the boy left the room.
A pleasant message. The smile deepened
on the mans face as he lovingly handled the
letter little time before he broke the seal
A pleasant message!
These were the words he read:
Mr.. GEORGE FENBY:-I will not consent to
be any. longer q hinderer regarding your
higher ambition. l never wish to speak with
you again in all my life. 1 give you back your
freedom. ALICE ARNDEN.
So Mr.. Fenby's morning gift was the gift
Of his freedom. What should he do with it,
c1I,o Il -
the thought. Merciful heavensi what could
he do with it?
The sky seemed dartened, the earth seemed
dreary and desolate George Fenby and
Alice Arnden, bare quarter of a mile apart
could not have besn more widely separated
had an ocean stretched between them. And
each looked on the same landscape and saw it
alike at last.
1t was relief to both Georgeand Alice
that there was service in the little church that
morning, and everybody would be looked for
there. Secret sorrow finds certain abate-
ment of its intensity in the effort of appearing
unconcerned. Then there is q mournful
pleasure in seeing what has lost
In place no larger than 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 to each
other were known also. And so poorly had
they played their parts that 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 it,
Ralph Warden was too shrewd a man not
to see what every one else saw. He said but
little about it, 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
knose WHO had shaken their heads when it
became evident that she mao been won by
George Fenby, instead of Ralph.
Ralph had never spoken to Alice of love,
and we will respect his reserve. What he
cared for her may remain sealed book.
George Fenby walked home alone. Ralph
Warden came the same road, but quarter
of 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 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 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
Fenby.
Ralph Warden stood for long time with
the letter in his hand.
I've read it once; it can do no harm to
read it again. he said.
And he read it again-not once only, 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 time he stopped and picked Up the
other paper-a long, folded document; but
the action was merely mechanical one He
did not open it to see what it was; but, with
his head bent forward on his breast, and with
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 Arnden's letter again. Then
for the first time he looked at the other He
turned it over and saw at once what it was
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.
81 wonder if it is true that hearts are ever
caught in the rebound as they sometimes
say they are! Twill"
And he clenched his hands and hurried on
his WaV