The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-08-26


what was in Mr.. Hardens mind. The rich
fur-lined cloak in which he had so tenderly
envelOped her Just an hous ago, lay on the
ground. In her startled surprise, il had
fallen from her shoulders. She now saw
him pick il up, and, with gesture not 20 be
mistaken, lay II, carefully folded, on his
wife's favOrite chair at the extreme end of
the room. That cloak she was not to touch
again. Then he left her in a moment more
to return. Constance Emery looked up. and
once more her heart stood still. He had re-
pented of this cruel abruptnesS, this unde-
served GOODNESS, and was come to whisper a
tender word in her ear, 10 console her for
what he had perhaps been forced into by
death scene. He came back to the table,
leaving the door ajar.
Take good care of the piece of paper"
was all he said as he pointed to the check.
Again the door closed. and this time he
was indeed gone, She heard him go to his
closet on the same floor and locked himself
in: that was a sign also she had learned to
understand. Nothing remained but 20 do
she was bid. After all, he was master in his
own house She might weep, demonstrate,
implore, she could not stay against his will.
Humiliation, mortified vanity and dismay
were succeeded by other feelings. On the
whole, perhaps, her sudden departure would
not create much talk in the neighborhood
and in the kitchen. She was young and nc
relation Would it not be quite natural for
Mr.. Harden. in the eyes OF the world, be her
benefactor only, to send her away? And
certainly, as far as her own feelings and in
clinations were concerned. she would rather
be anywhere than in a house with the blinds
drawn down, and the hush OF death reigning
over it, In herheart of hearts, but Tor the
errand, she was really glad to go.
And lastly, that check, when she grew
calm enough to think about il, altogether
altered the aspect of things. She had no idea
Of III,
had Just given her in lieu of a wedding-ring
seemed to her simple eyes enormous. What
ever happened, she was a great parsonage
now. 1t was characteristic of the girl. as she
deposited the check at the bottom of her
trunk, and sullenly made her preparations
for departure, that she never for single
moment regretted the affection of this man
or what had passed muster for his affection.
She only thought of his rough batteries,
his unfgurative compliments his homey
admiration. But all these. and much more
surely. awaited her in the triumphant
future Why should she shed tear for one
who could part from her then without a
handclasp, q smile, fond look? She almost
felt that in time she should learn to hate
him.
True enough, punctual to the moment,
William waited in the porch with the
brougham; a moment later and a woman's
trunk was placed on the top, a slender, girl
ish figure wearing a small crimson hat with
a white feather. and tight-fitting crimson
mantle bordered with fur, stepped in, the
door was shut, and, as if divining his mas
ter'S wishes. the old man-seryant drove the
carriage swiftly toward the lodge gate.
".
What the rich man did with his inner life
from that time none knew. Outwardly ii
was clear for all to see, a model of austere-
ness, rectitude and rigid adherence to duty.
Mr.. Harden made no affection of piety, of
conversion. as the phrase goes. He did not
take to reading his Bible or excessive church
going. The exactiOns OF conscience and Gus
tom in this latter respect had ever been full
filled by him.
But in his lonely, remorse-stricken widow
hood he took to good company. Alike in
look, dress and manner, he affected the air of
a gentleman. As if to challenge the world,
moreover to say syllable against his char
acter, he generally had TO reside with him
some needy clergyman, or young man pre-
pairing for holy orders, with whom he took
his meals and spent his evenings over chess
and backgammon. He gave clerical dinner
parties. too, delighting to assemble round
his luxurious board all the clergy of the
neighborhOod, well pleased also, in turn, to
accept invitations to their houses and be ini-
tiated into what is called good society gene
rally. The world of course welcomed the
millionaire into their ranks He might have
married half dozen times, to his social and
moral advancement, had he pleased. From
the first, however, il was evident to all that,
whatever John Harden might do for the
church and society, he would never
marry again. Clerical ladies might
get money out of him. No woman wou
ever persuade him 10 purchase a wedding
ring. These distractions relieved the tedium
of solitude. and if he did not look cheerful,
at least he invariably wore an expression of
satifaction. He might well look satisfied
He was satisfying himself; in other words, as
he thought, balancing his moral affairs. and
putting himself on the right side of the
banking book.
Nor was the widower forsaken in moments
of sickness or when mfrmities overlook
him. The devoted Anna, whose heart had
once turned wholly against him, whose very
feminine instincts had revoted against the
sights put upon her mistress, now testified
even affectionate solicitude for the changed,
repentent man. And if there was one per-
son in the world to whom he ever opened
his lips on the subject of the past il was to
his wife's faithful servant and only friend.