The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-17


MIR. Baker. One word from you would
have been enough; would have done
anything for you that l could. But he
has never written to me at all. Tam as
much deserted as any of you, and l have
felt it as deeply as any father can, but
never have felt it as now. What The
father TO die, and his sons hand not in
his; no look of love and forgiveness to
pass between them as the poor old man
leaves this world, its ambitions and its
quarrels, and perhaps sees for the first
time how small they all are compared
with the love of those that love us. and
the peace of Cod Then this ardent
girl stretched out both her hands. 20
God, if my frivolous life has been in
nocent, don't let me be the cause of this
horrible thing; don't let the father die
without comfort, nor the son without
forgiveness, for miserable girl who
has come between them and meant no
HARM"
This eloquent burst quite overpower-
ed poor old John Baker. He dropped
into chair, his white head sank upon
for the first time showed his age.
What on earth is the matter?" said
Mr.. Bartley's voice, as cold as an icicle,
at the door. Mary sprang toward him
impetuously. "Oh, papa!" she cried,
Colonel Clifford is dying, and we don't
know where Walter is; we can't know"
wait little" said BARLEY, in some
agitation. "My letters have just come
in, and 1 thought saw foreign post
mark" He slipped back into the hall,
brought in several letters, selected one,
and gave it to Mary. "This is for you,
from Marseilles."
out the least agitation or the least loss
of time returned with book of tele-
graph forms.
Meanwhile Mary tore the letter open,
and read it eagerly to John Baker.
''GRAND Hotel. NoAmLEs,
MARsEILLES, May 10.
MY Own DEAR LovE,-I have vowed
that L will not write again to tempt you to
anything you think wrong; but it looks like
1uarrelling to hide my address from you.
Only do beg of you, as the only kindness
you can do me now, never let 1t be known
by any living creature at Clifford Hall.
Yours till death,
WALTER"
Mr.. BARLEY entered with the tele-
graph forms, and said to Mary, sharply,
"Now where is he?" Mary told him.
well, write him telegram. 1t shall
be at the railway in half an hour, at
Marseilles theoretically in one hour,
practically in four"
Mary sat down and wrote her tele-
gram: "Pray come to Clifford Hall.
\ Your father is dangerously ILL.,"
SHOW it to me-" said BARLEY. And
On perusing it: "a woman's telegram.
Don't brighten him too much; leave
him the option to come or stay"
He tore it up, and said, Nov write
business telegram, and make sure of
the thing you want"
Come home directly-yOur father is
dying"
Old Baker started up. God bless you,
sir" says he, "and God bless you, miss,
and make you happy one day. I'll take
it myself, as my trap is at the door. He
hustled out, and his carriage drove
away at great rate.
Mr.. BARLEY went quietly to his study
to business without another word, and
Mary leaned back little exhausted by
the scene, but smile almost of happf-
ness came and tarried on her sweet face
for the first time these many days; as
for old John Baker, he told his tale
triumphantly at the Hall, and not with
out vanity, for he was proud of his
good jugdment in going to Mary Bart
ley.
To the old housekeeper, most SUI
periOr woman of his own age, and al
most lady, he said something rather
remarkable which he was careful not to
beStOW on the young wagS in the ser
wants hall: Mrs. Milton" SAYS he, II
am an old man, and have knocked about
at home and abroad and seen a deal of
life, but I've seen something to-day that
| never saw before"
"Ay, Joon, surely; and what ever was
that"
I've seen an angel pray to God, and
/ have seen God answer her."
From that day Mary had two stout
partiSanS in Clifford Hall.
Mr.. Bartley's views about Mary now
began to Wayer. 1t occurred to him
that should Colonel Clifford die and
Walter inherit his estates he could east
ly come to terms with the young man so
passionately devoted to his daughter.
He had only to say: Il can make no al
lOwance at present. but | will settle my
whole fortune upon Mary and her chill
dren after my death, if you'll make q
moderate settlement at present." and
Walter would certainly fall into this,
and not demand accounts from Mary's
trustee. So now he would have posi-
lively encouraged Mary in her attach
menc, but one thing held him back a
little; he had learned by accident that
the last entail of Clifford Hall and the
dependent estates dated two genera
tons back, so that the entail expired
with Colonel Clifford, and this had en-
abled the Colonel to sell some of the
estates, and clearly gave him power now
to leave Clifford Hall away from his
son. Now the people who had begun
to fetch and carry tales between the
two magnates told him of the lawyers
recent visits to Clifford Hall, and he had
some misgivings that the Colonel had
sent for the lawyer to alter his will and
disinherit, in whole or part, his absent
and rebelliOus son. All this taken to-
gether made Mr.. BARLEY resolve to be
kinder to Mary in her love affair than
he had ever been, but still to be guard
ed and cautious.
"Mary, my DEAR" said he, 81 am sure
h L