The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-12-28

reside nee, 80 IA rs tie eyes of his unmar
ried lady friends are concerned; but then
Mr.. Elsley's house was new and elegant,
with marble vesti1ulcs, floors of inlaid
wood, and furniture patterned after the
most modern anl approved styles.
Eyes" said Mr. Elsley, looking COM
placently around his library, where the
dark oak cases full Of Turkish leatherand
Russia bindings contrasted exquisitely
with the costly green carpet, the silken
hangings and the violet IN amber tints
of the stained glass oriel window; Il
think myself it isn't so bad. All | want
now is II pair of illuminated texts over
the doorway"
"Oh, let me make them for you" said
Clara Wexford, altles,ly. Il am sofond
of illuminating texts. | should be de-
lighted to.havc some little memory of my
insignificant self woven in among those
pretty things. May II"
Il couldn't think of troubling you,"
said Mr.. Elslcy; but at the same time he
noticed Low pretty Clara's eyes were lifted
in the shy appealing manner.
81 am sure Clara would he charmed"
said Mrs. Wrexford.
s'I1l have them all ready by the end of
the week." said Clara. "Oh, shall be
so proud"
And she clapped her little dimpled
hands like q Child.
Mr.. Elsley sat down and meditated in
the great velvet cushions of the easy chair
after his lady guests were gone.
He was Il b;tcielor. That We, II foregone
conclusion. But then again that was no
reason that lie should always remain a
bachelor. 1t WAS Il lonely. unsatisfactory
sort of life. He knew within himselfthat
he had become Disguised with it long
ago.
He had not marie as n young man,
because some intangible, butnone the less
impossible, barrier Of pride and offense
had risen up between him n the girl
who was his first sweetheart. Old Mr..
Barringer had refused to allow Stella to
marry a young man who opposed him di-
rectly in politics as well as in sundry Soc
ial matters. Stella lad declined to set
herself in opposition to her grandfatiIer's
will.
"Wait, Ralph, watt she had said, with
tears in her eyes. at will all come right"
mo, it will not all come right" said
Ralph Elsley, with all the impatiencc of
q youthful and intolerant lover. ''It
comes to this, Stella, you have to choose
between your grandfather and me-"
"Oh, Ralph"
at is just as you choose. | do not urge
you one way or the other."
but grandpapa is so cid and feeble"
''In other words, you prefer him to me.
l thought you loved me, Stella"
Stella's only answer was Il flood oftears
and Ralph Elsley left her in anger. The
next week old Simeon Barringer sailed
for Europe.
That was the end of it. Old Barringer
died-as he ought to have lone long ago,
Elsley uncharitably reflected. No news
came from Stella-of course she was mar
ried to some wealthy Londoner; and
Cupid folded his wings and laid aside his
CULVER at the threshold of Ralph Elsley's
heart.
Love is over, so far as I am concerned"
said he to himself. And he really thought
so.
But that was all in the past. Noreason
now that he should not marry. 1t was
the thing to do, he supposed. And Clara
Wexford vas nice girl enough. Notlike
Stella, to be sure; but where was there
one in all the world who could ever .ake
Stella's place? Clara was true and gentle
and innocent, and Clara lovedhim. That
should be enough.
Well, the illuminated texts came, dain-
tily mounted and framed, in the courseot
q few days, and critic though he was Els
ley could not but acknowledge that they
were perfect. One was Faith, Hope and
Charity, ?" the large letters in gold, over
hung, well-twisted festoons of lilies of the
valley, the silver bells and glossy green
1on1rog a~o1,i~i+o1- tfp+o1 Tho o+har sEOr
He Is Our Peace, " in crimson and gold
medieval letters wreatiled around with
myrtle and wild v%iolets.
"What do you think of thcse?" he ex-
ultingly asked of Mr.. Clymer, the rector
of st. Aramis's, and his only intimate
friend, when that gentleman sauntered
in, as usual, for his evening cigar. Mr..
Clymer put up his eyeglasSes-he was
rather near-sighted-and took Il good look
before he answered:
very pretty" said be. Where did
you get thcm?"
"They were n present"
"From Gyoung lady?'
Yes. How did you know" IT. ely
mer smiled.
Il saw her making them"
"You saw her making them:"
eyes. Is there anything extraordinary
in all that"
mo; but yoa seem to know every
body"
C!ymer smoked n puff or two and thea
responded:
well, | do know n great many people.
It's n part of my profession, you know, to
become acquainted with the world il
general"
"What did she say"
"She has said II good maay things since
I first met her"
"Then you have Lrorn her Il long
timer" questioned NJ. Eleley, beginning
to feel II sensation which was not exactly
jealousy or annoyance, but : comln.mg-
ling of both.
That depends upon what you call a
long time retoyted the clergyman. 81
have known her for about six months"
six months! And never to tell me?''
"Nhy should she tell you? Are you
her father confessor;"
"No," rather crustily, "but I've spoken
of you at least u dozen times"
Mr.. Clymcr turned himself around in
the depths of lis Sleepy Hollow chair.
81 should like TO know 'hc said, slowly
and meditativeIy, where on earth you
have seen her. She lives q quietand most
secluded life and receives no visitors.'
81 don't know what your ideas of o
secluded life may be" said Mr.. Elsley.