The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-05

AS Mrs. Graham said this the clock on the
mantle struck the quarter of twelve, and
Elsie arose from her kneeliDg posture bY tae
bed In q startled manner. It was only nj
teen minutes bsfore sims for her to meet her
lover. Should she 20 10 him after hearing
what her father had said short time be-
fore? "Forewnrned, forearmed; yOu must
not disobey me, were his exact words. Must
she go and leave her dying mother? After
she had said goodnight aud kissed her moth
er good bye forever, she went to her room
like one in p dream.
The quarter vas almost up; n a few
minutes more the clock would strike tee
hour. Yes she would %, for she could d.
her mother no good. Pathng On heE greas
heavy seal CLOAK and cap, ana tying a vale
over her face. she pesped into the hsll % see
that no one WIS IN sight then hastily de-
scended the broad stairway. oieled the
outer door, rsn lightly down ihe S.cne steps
and passed ont into M darkness; passed cut
from her fathers hO1se, the fst1er tbs. mad
loved her 80 deTotediy, into the crest world,
ID link her life with mat of a gambler; passed
out from toe home which she would moi en-
ter again for many long weary months per-
hsps years. Ste bad not gone bEt B lew
steps, vhen Ciarancs Marin appeared; he
kissed her lip, Fhich were now icy col1, sad
ttea they entered cab, which was waiting
near by, and were cnVens toward the great
Brooklyn bridge.
He took her 10 one Of New Yo-k's first
class hotels and there n ths
presence OF the c'sTk and several other wit
nesses, the marriage ceremony was performed
By q minister. Can it be that one VINO
claims to bs ordained by God to preach the
Gospel TO his children will so Ia forge. 70
"Do unto Others as you would TIA; they
SD ould do uDto your Would h have bean
willing for some 0ne 20 say the words which
would uUite his dAugatsr for lie 10 . Scum
drel like Clarancs Martin? Perhaps lie did
-.
marriage solemnizsd at two Ocl0cS IN the
morning, under such peculiar circumstances,
be all rlghtY
Scarcely an hour after Elsie had left her
home he ather y ut 20 hsr 90 u &c Us1mon
her 10 her mothers bedside, for Mrs Graham
was at last near the end Of her scj0urn in
this cary world, and wished once more to
have her family around her. L9uiss auCs
Ralph were still with her. On knocking at
Elsie's door and receiving 10 answer he
opened the door and found the room empty.
He went 70 tire kitchen, where all the ssrv-
ants were gathered about the stove awaiting
the dreadful news from tbs chamber above,
and inquired for her; but Elsie was not
there. nor had they seen her.
On hearing a crg OF despair 10 his wite's
room, he fastened back aod found her dead.
Her pirit had departed from her weary.
sching body without struggle; away from
the husband who had neglected her 50 often
=
Louise in mis- strong, loving srms, ende3vor-
ing to soothe aud comfort her. For the FIRST
time in several years Mr.. Graham realized
his neglect for his wife. Now that she Was
dead, be knelt by the bedside and wept like
a child. How long he remained there he
knew not, and now long he would have re-
manned in that position God alone knows,
had he not been interrupted By the entrance
of the under,skers.
Louise took her fathers hand and led him
to his room, followed by Ralph. It was
then he first learned how pure and true and
Rin6-hearted bis youngest daughter was.
Taking her in his arms and pressing her pas
sionstsly to his bosom, be asked be- forgive
L ess for his past neglect.
"Cau it be that you love me- after ali,
psps?" she asked through her binding ears.
Yes my child, and you snail % douoly
dear to me row, FOR you are so much like
the vile l so neg. ected IN the days when /
should have been her support aud comfort.
And Ralph, wish also to ssk your pardon
for speaking so hSrshly 10 you last night, !"
he said, extending his hand to the one whom,
a few short hours before, he had ordered
from his house
Indeed, sir. I have no desire whatever to
entertain bad thoughts or feelings toward
the father OF my bstrothed; and now / hope
you will not refuse 10 bestow your blessing
upon US"
IF my blessing is worth anything TO you,
forgotten to mention that Elsie is not in her
room, and you hAd-What is it. Dsnr Mr..
Graham asked the servant who had Just en-
tered the room. BE handed Mr.. Graham q
letter which he said he had foGnd on the
hall floor. It was the letter written 20 Elsie
by her lover; she had evidently dropped 1t
when leaving the house.
Mr.. Graham read the letter aloud, then
fell back into his chair with grosn Of de-
spair. Elsie, the child he had loved even
more than the mother who gave her birth,
had eloped with man whom ne knew 10 be
gambler and wicked man.
"You will try to find her, paps, and bring
her bone" said LO1ise.
mo; will curse Der with my last breath,
! for my whole life seemed 10 be wraps up IN
her," he answered, angrily.
Dear papa, think Of what you are
saying; think OF the miserable
existence she will be compelled to lead, with
such man. Oh, papa say that you will
forgive her"
Never; che has chosen the kind Of life abe
wisht TO live, LEI her abide by that choice.
! on, God! my punishment is Just but Sc
vere."
Louise saw that it was useless to remon-
/ strate farther VITA him Ia his present coEdl'
| ton: she TOO YVES unhappy at her sister dis
appearance; better would II have been for
| her TO be lying in the room Ct death beside
the cold still form or her mother than out
in this great world with such q man as Ciar-
euce Martin Tor q husband. During the re-
mainder OF the night Mr.. Graham paced the
floor, bowed down with grief; Louise and
Ralph remained VITA him How & adly
thew welcomed the first glimpse OF day.
The funeral was over and every one and
everything seemed much changed st the
! Graham mansion. Six months glided slowly
by and there came letter from Elsie, but 1t
was returned unopened; eli her letters were
/ okaH IN he
were married a. home. quietly, snc they
were very happy. Mr. Graham haa'tl
failed very 70 Didig, and at the ese Of an
other year be dieo. leaving mis- e..lre IOr-
tune except q lev dollars 20 Louise, whom
he had learned to love as mch IS he had
Elsie.
Not long after Mr.. Graham's death Car
j L.. n.