The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-02
Written for the Indianapolis Sentinel.
META WOODRUFF.
By Mrs. Addfe Deitch Frank
cnAPrER XXI.

to be another funeral at Woodruff bau. 6od
grant this may be the last for many years.
His body wss also to be taken to New York
to b placed beside his father and mother.
Lima bah ner revenge. bat greater lar than
hers is the revenge OF the Almighty. MIR.
Woodruff and Meta accompanied the remains
to the station, bat were compelled to return
home "a their presence there was needed.
Eugene returned home with the funeral
party. When he said good bye to Mr..
Woodruff. before leaving the Hall, the latter
was touched By the sad expression of his
face. Eugene also said good-by to Meta.
''Can you not forget and forgive the past,
Meta" he asked.
81 can forgive, bat not forget" she an.
swered.
Think o. what you are saying, Meta.
Have you no word OF hope for me?
81 have nothing more to say to you now
except that wish you q long and happy
life with the woman you have chosen to be
your wife"
Meta, never intend to marry. Since
have seen you once more, l see BIO " utterly
imr oss Bile ii is for me 10 ever marry another.
All oow little you knew me and how little
/ knew myself until came here. You can
give ms life OF happiness or a miser ID ex-
KS eDce
why did you not think OF this before
gave me up; 10 the days when you knew
I was watching. waiting and longing for one
line or word from your
Il have sworn to you that never tailed to
wriie to you until you ceased to answer my
Forgive me il do wrong in saying can
lot believe what you say. You believed liz
my guilt when Madam Rumor SAID had de-
eiyed my father and friends; while the
lran, whose body lies In yonder room and
who was nothing to me, believed in my in
BoceDce."
Even il he had not you loved him so
dsvotedy that you could l1ok over his
faults"
1T was his great. pure and everlasting
love for me which wonld not all W him TO
think evil OF ne"
81 see need not expect either justice
mercs az your bands. Miss Woodraf, good.
bye aud the parting was over.
How her heart ached; how she wished she
could tell him her hearts secret: yet sne
wonld not because he had DOUBTED her sim
cerity, and who knows bat what he might
do the same sfter they were married. No,
she would b ar her great burden In silence,
for shs could lot, would not marry a man
who bad no more faith in h,r than Eugene
misery III work, in studying fathers
happiness and tryit m alleviate the suffer
ings of the poor and afflicted.
Life at Woodruff Hall seemed dull and
< oomy. February had passed by and the
isI of March came roaring in like lion.
string was fast approaching Spring. wei.
come spring. with her soft bslmy air, her
gentle rains ana wild flowers. Who is not
clad TO see this glorious season approaching
alter long. cold winter?
M bad cd tha in NH fba
terrible tragedy was com United until q week
or more after the funeral Meta ordered the
carpet, which was dyed with blood OF the
uf fortunate victims, removed from the
room. In order 10 do this il was necessary
t. first remove the furniture. Meta stood by
while each piece was carried out. The bed
clothing was being removed from the bed,
VIXEN TO Metas surprise a large bundle OF
aper fell to the floor, and upon unwrapping
the outside paper, bundle of letters was
disclosed bearing q familiar handwriting,
which she at once recognized Eugenes
and her own. They had all been torn open,
Where could they have come from and how
did they get there? Could Eugene have
placed them there?
Meta carried them down to the library to
her father, who was as much puzzled as she
Ms to bow they got into the folds OF the bed
otbing.
Eugene must have brought them with
him and hid them there until he should find
u. Il.
woodruff said.
Il think You are wrong. papa. for see, my
letters have never been stamped The truth
OF the matter is, they never left Woodruff
Hal"
You are right Meta, yet who could have
csptured them. and of what value could
they have been to anyone except Eugene?"
"God alone knows Only think of the in
justice have done Eugene; he, the man /
love ABOVE all Others"
you may have wronged aim in refusing
20 believe be had written to you; but. child,
do not allow that 10 worry you, for he did
VOC . greater wrong than that. You both
rad cause 70 distrust each other. | hope
this may some day be forgotten and you
VIII make each other happy"
How strange il sounds to hear you talk
so; for well 90 / remember the day Eugene
ASKED your consent to our marriage, how
you refused, and OH how sad IL was to part
with him." said Meta.
Child was angry that day at the way
IN which you treated-you know who /
mean. | soon after saw the folly OF my
actions. Meta, am able to say TO you that
which many fathers would hesitate in say
Ing to their daughters Whatever you wish
to DO to promote your happiness do. / have
no lear OF your doing wrong after the trials
ana temptations you have passed through"
Thank you. dear paps. As to my hsppi-
ness The entrance OF Flo put sn end to
the conversation for the present
mir. woodruff, heah am letta dressed TO
you, al on course il sm yos.n
Where did you find it?''
"In one OBJ de books in dat horrible room.
/ tells you what sab, | Is afeard on dat
room. sho as you is born, l see ghost of
some IN dsr."
''Nonsense, Flo; 60 finish your work. and
IL you find anything else of any importance
bring II tn me-" answered Mr. Wood inf
taking the letter from the shiveriug eirl and
= breaking the seal.
ut is from Lima, written by her on the
day of her DEATH" and the great bsads of
cold perspiration stood on his forehead. and
bis hand trembled.
"kead il sioud, papa, must hear what
she hsd TO say; for no doubt it is full