Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-09-01

day by day he went to the Red House, as
day by day he recognized the perfect
happiness and rest which were to be found
there, and there only, and knew that it
was Theo's presence that wrought the
charm, that made the quiet drawing no ON
a very haven of peace to him, the solitary
life which he had planned out for himself
grew more and more distasteful, the future
with which he had been so well content.
and of which he had so often talked with
his godfather, unutterably dreary and
empty; for it was a future in which
Theo had no part, where wife's
help and sympathy, and children's
love, were all unknown. 1t was
Dollie's innocent question that first
opened his eyes to the true state OF his
feelings. He left the Red House, and went
home and shut himself up in his study,
feeling bewildered and excited, and as il
he had arrived at turning point in his
life. 1t seemed TO him as if he had sud-
denly come to where his path divided into
two, and that the moment when he should
make his choice had arrived. And he stood
and looked first at one and then at the
other; and there stood at one radiant.
white-robed figure, with smiling ewes and
outstretched hand, which pointed down a
pleasant path where loves roses were
I blooming and loves voices filled the air
with sweetness; and at the other dark
figure with grave, sorrowful face, and
shoulders bowed beneath the weight of a
heavy burden-a burden borne for others
and she pointed down a gloomy path,
and bade him follow her.
He looked and hesitated long. Long and
fierce was the struggle that ragged in his
heart. Love-this strange, new passion
whose very existence he had doubted be-
| foie-drew him one way with almost re-
sistless force; gratitude, duty-the graft
| tude he owed to the man who had been
more than father to him-another. How
could he bear to disappoint his benefac-
! tors hopes, to run contrary to his wishes?
| How could he confess that the scheme of
life which they had mapped out together
| had grown hateful to him; that the future
| Of which they had so often spoken with
such deep earnestness, which was to be de-
voted to the service of the Church they both
loved so well, in which self and self-seek-
ing had no part, was impossible to him
now; that he, having put his hand to the
plough, was already looking back, prov
ing himself unfit for his high calling?
No, ne could not do it, he told himself
1t was impossible. He must flee from
temptation before an honorable retreat be-
came impossible. There was no harm
done as yet, he had no reason to think that
Theo cared for him; now, if he suffered,
at all events he suffered alone He went
no more to the Red House; the chair
which they had been wont to call his re-
| manned empty now; no longer did Theo
listen for the well-known ring at the door;
/ the pleasant, frank face, which she Sc
cretly admired so much, was seen no more
In the pretty drawing room. They all
wondered over the sudden cessation of hIs
visits. Gentle Mrs. Farquhar, who never
thought i'll of anyone, attributed the rea-
son to pressure of work and lack of time.
and openly hoped that the Vicar was not
! oyerworking himself Dollie grumbled,
and wondered why he did not come, and
suggested it was because he had grown
tired of them; Theo kept her thoughts on
the subject to herself. 1t was her pri-
vate opinion that Amy Russell, who was
one of the greatest gossip in the place, had
! retalled Dollies question and the Wears
answer; that, IN consequence, some gossip
| concerning his frequent visits to the Red
House had arisen and reached his ears,
and that he thought it best to discontinue
these visits. The idea that he considered
the precaution necessary was intensely
CALLING to Theo; he need not have been
afraid, she told herself; she was not so
susceptible as all that. So, though she
missed him sorely, she put bold front
upon it, was as merry and bright and
played tennis as gayly as ever; and if
sometimes when she was alone, the long
ing in her heart for the pleasant COM
panionship, which had come into her life
| almost before the spring flowers were
faded, grew almost intolerably painful, no
one knew 1t or guessed what an aching
heart merry smile can hide.
She met Chetwynd occasionally in the
town, sometimes when she was alone, some
times in the company of others; if the
latter, he would generally stop and shake
hands and ask after Mrs. Farquhar, but if
| the former would pass her with merely a
bow and smile. The truth was-little as
Theo guessed it-that he could not trust
himself to be alone with her; eager words
rose to his lips, which must at any cost be
crushed back, and remain forever un-
/ spoken. The cold dignity of her manner,
SO unlike the sweet, gracious manner
which had won his love; the wondering
! glance which now and then he fancied he
read in her brown eyes, told him quite as
| plainly rs any words could have done that
she was disappointed in him, and seemed
to ask silently for the explanation he
longed, and yet dared not, give her. Per-
haps, some day, he told himself, when
I some worthier man than himself had won
her love, and she was a happy wife, he
might tell her, and, since love was denied
to HIM, ask for the friendship which-poor
substitute though it was-would, after ali
| be better than nothing!
CHAPTER II.
Chetwynd and Theo had not met, except
| by chance in the street, for some time !;
but early in August Lady Curtis, the
country members wife and the great lady
of the neighborhood, gave large garden
party, to which Maurice Chetwynd and
the Farquhars were invited. Lady Curtis
and Mrs. Farquhar were old friends They
had been school girls together, and had
continued their friendship ever since
Lady Curtis was Theo's godmother, and as
her own daughters were quite children,
she was glad to have a pretty girl like
Theo to make her house attractive, and
always invited her to her parties.
This garden fete was to be on larger
scale than usual. The Bishop had pro-
missed to be present, and several shining
lights in the social and political world
were also expected. Lady Curtis had
given Theo charming toilet for the oc-
casion. She had also invited DollIe to
spend the day with the children at the
Hall, so that she might also see some of
the grand doings.
For wonder, the weather was propi-
tious; the sky was bright and clear, and
the sun shone brightly all day long. Even
Theo, who seemed lately to have lost her
capacity for enjoyment, forgot her troubles,
and laughed and talked as gayly as the
rest. She looked her prettiest, too, in her
dress of cream surah silk and lace, with a
big hat shading her face, and many admir-
ing looks were cast at her as she stood by
Lady Curtis side assisting her to receive
the guests. Even the Bishops short
sighted eyes noticed her lovely face ap-
proyingly as with his arms through Chet-
wynd's, he approached his hostess.
Is that pretty girl Lady Curtis
daughter, Maurice?" he asked.
Chetwynd's face famed suddenly at the