Daily Republican., 1888-12-24
HIS oUARDIAN ANesL.
BY GuIARvERB.

Good morning, Aunt Frances
why, how grave you lookl What has
happenedR'
And the trim little figure In brown
tricot stepped briskly across the room,
and placed her hands upon the shout.
ders OF the elder woman.
"C0me, Confess" said the giFllsh |
voice. 'Sit down here beside me, and
tell me all about it,"
"Venie, scarcely know how to OK.
press my feelings" said Mrs. Jordan,
with slight tremOr in her voice. ut
lit Is about Remsen."
Tho young girls face grew serious,
and her eyes dropped.
There had been a time when the
mention OF Remsen Jordan's name
would have sent the dimpling smiles
and hushes to radl6te her features, but
now all was changed.
Her aunt's handsome adopted son no
longer assumed the attitude toward her
that had raised hopes within her youth.
full heart that some day the title Of
cousin" would be changed to one
sweeter and dearer.
He had grown strangely Indifferent
Of late indeed, his very nature seemed
to have changed, for he was capricious
and moody, reserved where he had
once been frank, tacliuTn where he had
once been joyial.
For time the young girl persuaded
herself that business cares engrossed
him, but gradually the conviction
dawned upon her that his love had
Waned.
Now, when his name was spoken,
she only looked away with sigh.
II would tell no one bot you, DEAR"
said hrs. Jordan. "You have always
shared my interest in him--indeed, 1
hoped you would be his wife when
! -
eyes, l know" interrupted Venie,
hastily. "But we can never plan for
others; you understood his manners as
las did"
Nonsense, Venie, he did love you;
he has changed. know Remsen ex.
pected to WOO and win you before this
! spell fell upon him-he seems like one
bewitched.'
"You mean he loves some oneS" fall
tered Venie.
II believe he is possessed by a mad
passion; that the spell OF some Roman's
arts is upon him-not a woman like
you, dear child, with pure, guileless
heart, but one Of those base, beautiful
creatures who win mems hearts but to
wreck them. l have long suspected
this, and to-day l know. See-lhis
letter"
She gave Venie wrinkled, per-
fumed sheet Of paper, written upon in
pretty, fancy chirogTsphy.
'DEAR REMsEE," ii read, 1t Was
so good Of you TO remember my little
request; have looked at the Jewels
dozen times, but only your dear hands
shall clasp them about my neck Como
toDight il you can. With love,
"VIoLET.'
Venie thrust the paper aside with
trembling fingers.
found that to day." said Mrs.
Jordan. ''Who is this ViOletY Why
did he never tell me of herr Perhaps
she is some proud beauty but using
his heart Tor thing OF sport; perhaps
she is some adventures, who prizes
only the gifts he makes her. Venie,
: you know Remsen cannot afford to
: purchase jewels--there is something
wrong here"
perhaps moi, dear Aunt Frances, 4"
said Yenie. "ViOlet may me be a
lovely girl, and tle jewels but a sim
pie token; Remsen would confess his
love, but that no fears il may displease
you"
why, then. does lie act so strange
ly, so restless aud disturbedP His
conscience is not easy; but l will ques-
ton him to night"
That night, however, Remsen JOr-
dan did not return to his home at the
usual hour.
The two women dined together,
and then withdrew TO the little parlor,
where Venie sang few ballads. The
latter retired at an early hour, think
ing that Remsen would soon appear,
and Mrs. Jordan had best meet him
alone.
II was nearly midnight when she
heard her aunt enter her room to seek
rest.
Somehow Venie was strangely
restless; she tell into light, uneasy
! slumbers, from which she awakened
with start.
With every nerve strained, she fan
cied she heard 4 stealthy footstep on
the stsirs.
Wrapping long cloak about her,
= she stepped 10 the door and listened;
J again that faint, mutfied sound, She
softly crept out into the hallway, and
between her vision and the patch OF
moonlight that fell through the side
lights OF the lower door, she saw q
. dark form psss.
"Remsen," she said In low tones,
0 ST knew 1t was you. felt that all
= was not right. Where are you going2''
He did not answer her-only stood
Q mutionless till she bad closed the dooI
, and raised the low fame of tho lamp
: which he had lighted when he came
I. In. She saw that he was white and
haggsrd; Ia one hand was satchel,
J. and he wore his hat.
'.You are going away like thief in
the night-what does this mean?" she
n asked.
s II did not want mother to know, u
y he answered, in the same hush0d
tones. II knew would not wakeI
: her easily.
!, "But why arc you going-whereP
His head dropped and his lipI
twltched. Venie went to him and tool
his hand.
10 "Remsen, something is wrong,
10 she said; "but you shall not go like
this; you win break your MOTHER