Wichita eagle., 1888-09-23

the true friend succeeded in drawing from
him the whole story.
''Dadmun, there is no truth in woman.
was fool to think she ever loved me for my.
self Had been poor and lonely she would
have passed me by with utter contempt. But
| ali! did love her deeply, truly"
| For full minute Carter witnessed his
friends great agony in contemplative, pity
| ing silence.
| At length he spoke.
''Stephen Langdon, I had not thought you
SO weak and unjust. l had thought you a
man true and earnest in your friendship, not
man to desert his duty at the first cry of
| the wolff
'Dadmun Carter! are you adm
81 madl Stephen, you are the mailman.
Look at it. As between an angel and O ser
pent, you side with the serpent. As between
an angel and a serpent. AS between Laura
Dempsey and Matilda Stark, you jump to
faith in Stark Oh, Stephenl'
"But, man alive, did you not understand
what told you!-what she, Matilda Stark,
told meg'
well. there you have cause in trial be
tween Stark and Dempsey. Have you seen
the defendants Ola, man, man, have you
lived all these years with the need. at this
late hour, of hearing from me that the case
never was between man and man that had
not two sides to it. But beyond that, in this
case who is the complainant First, what
is Ler character. Do need to tell your"
Ldngdon shook his head blankly, but in
dicatiye of negation.
Next" went on Carter, "what interest, if
any, has she il the matter! Stephen. are you
blind! Don't you know that Matilda Stark
sought your smiles, your society, your hand,
so open and so unblushingly, and SO persist
entity, that everybody smiled IL disdain! And
do you know that she has since labored to
bring about union between yourself and her
youngest sister.'
Stephen looked up like q man trying to find
the light
Come, Stephen Langdon, have you the
courage to follow this thing upF'
"What! go TO Laura. Go TO her with such
I'm afraid I've been a fool; but you don't
know how it hurt me-"
Il do not doubt it; but don't fancy the
hurt will long remain to give you pain. If
there were need of going to Laura, should
hope you would have the courage and manli-
nesS-to say nothing Of good faith-to go to
her; but, thank fortune, there was third
party present, and one whom | know you
will credit; though, be sure, Miss Stark did
not know she had another hearer. Your old
nurse, Betty, was in an adjoining room, and
heard every word. Let US go to her. She
will be circumspect where you are COLI
cerned."
But, Dadmun. how came you to known
because | CHANGED to call on Laura very
shortly af flor. Mics SfarC had nd
l found her in tears, confess to the weak
ness of curiosity, and, SO far, of informed
ding. waited until l could speak with old
Betty apart, and from her l learned the
truth. Let us 90 now. Laura is absent this
afternoon"
Stephen Langdon went with his friend.
They found Betty alone, and to her Carter
stated the business in hand.
''Oh the falsifying, mischief making
thing.' snapped the old lady I'm tell you,
Master Stephen, just how it was-for heard
every word-every word, just as plain a.
though Id sat right before her."
And then she went on and told the story
Matilda Stark had come on purpose to sow
the seeds Of discord and unhappiness if she
could.
She had told Laura, directly and distinctly,
that Langdon cared no more for her than he
cared for many others; and she tried to i'm
press it upon the girls mind that she was
doing thing dangerous to her peace, and, it
might be, dangerous to her reputation, in
suffering the frequent visits of such man, q
man, she said, old enough to he her father
And SO the evil woman had gone on, until
she had goaded the poor girl almost to mad
ness.
But" said Stephen, "Miss Stark told me
that Laura distinctly told her that she cared
not for NE, but that she did care for my
The old woman put out her hand
"Oh, the wicked woman! Ii she had told |
you all that the dear girl said, it would have |
sounded very different; here is what Laura
said l can give her very words: Miss Stark
had told her that people accused her of hunt
ing for rich husband, and that she never
would have looked with favor upon Stephen
Langdon had it not been for his wealth. Aud /
then Laura said-I care not for Stephen |
Langdon wealthy! never cared for him as |
owner of vast estates, never And then the |
serpent said to her in her wheeling way.
And SO You wouldn't care for wealth. and |
Laura answered to that, Yes she said, in
her sweet way, L should care for wealth,
because with wealth | could make SO many
people happy. l should love to be able to
lift the burden of sorrow from every human
heart; and the possessor of wealth can do so
much! Oh, SO muchr That's what she said,
stephen"
The sunlight had come, and Stephen Lang
IONS heart bounded up.
And that very evening he sat by Laura's
ide, with her hand clasped in bis, and listen
d 70 the story from her own lips; and before
re went away he had set the day for their
for he knew that the girl loved
iim truly and dcvotedly.
Years have passed since that time. and
stephen Langdon has never had occasion TO
loubt the love of his wife.
And, moreover, the forecast Of Dadrnun
Jarter had been fulfilled in every particular
Stephen had been raised to plane Of
ealthful, happy life before unknown; and,
nder the guidance Of his wife, entering into
er schemes Of love and blessing, ne has
armed the love and blessing, in rich return,
f all who have the heart and the will to ap-
recIate true Christian goodneSs-New York
.vening World.