Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-01

| until the uSeu was UdOe Wnlcn conveyed Ii 10
| George Fenby. Estella Kingsley, the daughter
| of Bertrand, was beauty and something of a
| fiirt.
| More than one lady in Marsham had quarreled
with her lover on Estelta kingsley's account.
| And last night there had been a gathering of
| young people in the church, and circumstances
| had done their worst-seemngly. In the first
| place. George Fenby came with Estella Kings
| ley: the meeting was not of character to make
it unkind for him to leave his promised wife to
| come with her father, as she had, but his COM
| ing with Miss Kingsley had been noticed by
several. With the deed before him. Ralph War
der 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 young man
! living where the Kingsleys had formerly re-
sided, and through him he knew of the engage
ment OF Miss Kingsley to gentleman living
| there. he had known this for long time: and
Knowing it. had thought little of events which
might otherwise have deeply affected him.
Last night, for instance. laughing group of
| gentlemen had spoken OF Miss Kingsley. One
| had said: 'She is beauty and an he!ress
| 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 every
one had counted at its true value the answer
| which Fenby had made. Indeed. his devotion
to Alice Arnden was so absolute and complete
| that no One save her own modest self, would
ever have doubted it tor moment.
1T is my highest ambition to be the master
| OF that estate" laughed George. "and have
made an offer which think will be accepted I
| am to have an answer tonight. If | succeed
. shall be supremacy happy. If not-why I will
be as other men have done-failing of what l
want, will take what can get
| Ralph could not remember where Alice Arnden
| had been when these innocent words had been
| spoken. That she had been near enough to
hear them was evidenced by her letter, which
was before him.
He could only dimly imagine how she must
have suffered in trying to evolve the truth Cas-
she had believed the truth to be) from what she
| had heard. When human idol falls from the
place it has filed in the heart not the least of
| the pam comes from what we see, or believe we
see, OF its unWOrthineSS.
To find our gold but gided CLAY is sorrowful
| thing. SO he sat there, and pitied Alice Arnden
| tor the faith in man which she had lost, as well
| as Tor 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 tel 1t; 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 obstinate Young
| creatures had been parted by fate. And he
muttered with white compressed lips: II
alone understand it all. ], alone, of all the
world, can set it right. What temptation"
| y.
What man does should be the basis of our
! Judgment. not what he would do Ii he
thought OF the curative effects of time on suf-
ierIng hearts we can forgive him: if a possible
future. III which 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 were really scoundrel-but he is truly
O noble man.
The band of sunshine rested on his head, like
a golden crown. His face was almost glorjfied
as he raised it to the light again. And surely
the angels made record of a second gift that
! day. coming to the lot of those whose lives fall
a little time within the lines of our story. when
! he said aloud: Il will do right! Alice Arnden
Snail have her lover back again."
Evening service at the little church was over.
Ralph Warder stood on the steps as the congre-
CATION came out. He looked happy
If it be true that coming events cast their
| shadow before, and that virtue is its own re-
ward, ne was happy. He spoke cheerfully to
TINS one and that when they passed. lie did
! not look IKE consprator One would have
dreamed that he had made a plan which for
! audaclty would find few rivals While for sim
! pllcity it might find fewer.
! Its better to have it over as soon as poss-
| BILE he said to himself; better for them and
! for me-
Alice Arnden was passing him. He leaned
! forward
win you come for little drive with me. Miss
Arnden! The night is perfect. and you look as
| II 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 War
der had counted on that. One DESTROYS of WIDEN
inc the breach between Alice and George would
nave found 1t an easy task to make a beginning
| that night.
Ralph Warder's lips moved slowly as he seated
| himself beside Alice. but we will not try to de-
terrnine what he said to himself in that crisis in
more lives than one.
81 admire your cloak and hat" exclaimed
Ralph, Though the saying it 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 noticed what your lady friends wear"
81 don't very often. did to-day. Would
the masculine eye detect the dilference?"
Il think not. But it is pity to talk of dress
on such night as this What strong and
helpful sermon we had this evening""
YES. said Ralph.
George himself only a few yards ahead. Alice
| pat down her veil at once. Surely fate was on
the side of Ralph Warders plans that night.
Get in. George l won't take a refusal"
| "Who is with You? Your sister,"
''Yes," said Ralph, with promptness which
should be admired and pardoned. ''Sit on this
side" said Ralph. as George got in; Il will sit
! between you. The night is beautiful, isn't it,"
| Very beautiful" said George, who really had
| not thought of 1t before.
| "I0u needn't go home at once will turn
| here, and we will drive over towards the shore"
He had turned his horse down the road lead
! Ing in that direction before either of his COM
| panons could say word. The two lovers were
gazing again at the scene they had looked upon
| In the morning. The moonlight NAV have
softened the harshness of it little but the man
! between them heard a sob from the woman at
his lett, and saw the moonlight sparkle suspic-
| lousy On the eyelashes of the man at his right
And he thought grimly of himself as the image
of fate-fate, with the destiny of two human
| beings In his hand
81 found paper of yours this morning" said
| Ralph. slowly, land here it is. could hardly
help seeing what it was. congratulate you on
your bargain. You have bought the finest
estate about here, George. 1t is remarkably
cheap. at the price. l believe the deed was
signed last evening""
Eyes"
"Mr; Kingsley had not fully decided to sell it
until them had he3"
Not fully. He told me his daughter might
decide to want it herself when she is married.
Mr.. Kingsley will. OF course. give her a hand
some residence somewhere when that event
takes place. for Mr.: Jones, who is to marry her,
has no fortune of his own"
ut has been your highest ambition to own
that estate, hasn't it,"