The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-06-16
THE JUSTICE OF TIE GODS.
I.


should you 60 to Irkham for Christmas, in
stead of spending it in London7"
He Was engaged to Ada Bennett, and was
a masterful lover, passionate-indeed, al
most too passionate for the shy-eyed, timid
girl at his side-but masterful and &C
customed to have his own way with men
and women. Yet, in spite of his strength
of will, little Ada might have had the firm
ness to Withstand his wishes and decline his
love if it had not been backed up by the
aunt who SO often assured her she had
been more than q mother to herr-yes, far
more!-and by her sister Helen.
Helen Bennett-no one ever thought of
calling her Nellie-was what is generally
termed a mice, sensible sort of a girl;D the
sort of a girl who docs not let romance or
caprice or thi~n-skinnedness of any sort in
terfere with her Advancement in life.
When the BENEFITS father died and left
them as near penniless as twenty pounds a
year each could make them, no foolish
pride. no dreamc of independence, made
Helen refuse the home which her aunt, Mrs.
Penrhyn, offered them. Helen and Mrs.
Penrhyn came to terms at once, without
even expressing the terms in so many
words. The girls were to make themselves
agreeable-that is, dust the d~rawing-room.
arrange flowers, entertain dull visitors,
make up for any deficiencies of ill-trained
servants and look always smiling, gratef nj
and we'll dressed on twenty pounds a year.
And some day, if all goes we'll" added
Mrs. Penrhyn. "Pn see you in good homes
of your own, / hope"
This was meant as an announcement that
III -.~l. vA- 90 onAnD< &h4 E--x IL
men who sought them. Helen saw this, and
did her duty nobly. Irkham-black, smoky
Irkham, where the jangle of machinery
was heard continually, and the air was
thick with smoke and cotton hue-might
not be her ideal OF a city; nor was John
Baggallay-rich in factories and vested
funds. but not overburdened with either
aspirates or a-spirations-her ideal of a huS-
band. But she accepted both. and was as
be.
Ada. though far the milder of the two,
was the fault of Laurie P~enrhyn-her
cousin Laurie. who fell in love. with her
without consulting the wishes of either his
mother or his cousin Helen. He seemed to
think that consulting Ada's was enough.
Herein he erred. for though last Christmas,
just q year ago. when he was home from
Glasgow on a brief holiday, he had asked
Ada if she loved him, and she had whis-
pered YES" that did not secure her for his
wife. When he had gon Helen treated
Ada to much common sense, to which Mrs.
Penrhyn added a little uncommon cold
ness, and finally Helen herself wrote the
letter which released him from "a hasty
and ill-considered engagement, the impulse
of youth and thOughtlessness," as she put
it, being herself five years younger than
Laurie Penrhyn, though certainly more
given than he to taking thought for the
morrow and the days succeeding.
"YOu little gOOsev she said to her sister.
Laurie has only two hundred a year, and
if you get engaged to him auntie Will turn
you out of doors: She means her handsome
son to catch an heiress. And there's Cap
wish / had such q chance"
For Helen had accepted her Baggallay by
this time. and, though prepared to swallow
him, could not refrain from a WY face or
two. -
Laurie is getting on very WELL" protest.
ed Ada: ,Lc .
got on, which is much more to the point.
What on earth do you want, Adaf He is a
gentleman; he has that look which a man
who has once been in the army never loses;
and if it is urue, as people say, that he made
his money in India by dabbling in opium
why. he's made his money, and that's the
chief point. don't see what fault you can
find with him."
Hes too old"
"Old! FOrty-fve or so; that isn't old.
You're a romantic little donkey, Ada; but if
you refuse George Walton I'll never forgive
you"
Ada did not risk angering her sister.
Captain Walton proposed in July. n was
duly accepted, which made Laurie Penrhyn
eyclaim, when in the beginning of Decem-
Der he was offered a good position in an
American ship building yard, that a fellow
never got anything he wante tiIlit was too
late to profit him.
Captain Walton did not think so. He
seemed to think that Ada Benefits love, or
at least her promise to be his wife. would
patient, and thought it hard that he must
wait till spring before he was allowed to
claim his bride.
81 shall be a new man when / have you
vor of passion which frightened Ada more
than it pleased her. You are everything
to me-streDgth, purity, happiness. be-
lieve in heaven when l look in your eyes,
even if never do at any other time"
Poor Ada might be forgiven for thinking
such wooing slightly blasphemous. and very
much too fervent to be comfortable. s.
At present Captain Walton felt deeply
aggrieved that his betrOthed was deter
mined in that mild, obstinate way of hers.
to spend Christmas at Irkham with her sis
ter Helen, now Mrs. Baggallay.
ut would seem strange not to go to
Helen the first Christmas after her mar
riage,o she said, land, besides, Laurie is
coming nome, so LIN Detter away.
What has that to do with 1T" cried the
irritable lover. n
Ada looked nervous, and equivOcated:
He is going abroad almost immediately.
and he and hismother won't want any third
person with them during his last few days
at home"
"H'ml Well, / wish you weren't going to
Irkham, that's all. It's a beastly hole!" :
DO you know it at all. Georgep asked
the girl bringing out her lovers name with
nm effort oS abe ALWAYS did .4rEfE q 3
Captain Walton looked as If hS did not
like the question.
II was there once. fifteen years ago, and
l had enough of it them
Fifteen years ago! All, that was lust
when you came home from Itdia, wasn't iti
Well; it may have improved since then.
And Helen SAYS her house is charming-an
old house with a large garden. once in the
surrounded. It's not the sort of house the
~Irkhamites like, she tells me. They prefer
brand-new plaster and stucco. and can't
understand her being so fond of Gore
House."
Gore House! It's an ugly NAME"
"Yes, isn't it'll / must ask Helen If any
one was ever Killed there. Or PHI let YOU
ask her; for you're coming mp for Christ
mas day. aren't yous Really, you needn't
grumble SO at my going"
Il wouldn't, if you weren't going a fort
night before me-. However. | must submit
for the present. But. after the first week
in March, your days of liberty are num-
Then / must make the most of those left
mo - che oo;H NTH a marianne lfflo opo;la