The morning news., 1889-03-31
tALL RIGHTS RESER VEDl
A N o V E L.

She opened the door and went in smiling
ly. white shining vision of loveliness, and
both tire men looked at her for a moment in
silent admiration.
"What do you think of me in my war
paintp she said, in her bright gay way F;
and Col. Kenyon rose as she spoke, and
went toward her and took her hand.
"Well, asked Frances. with her brilliant
hazel eyes fixed on his face. as If demand
ing some tribute from his lips.
Don't fiatter her, Kenyon" said her
father from the table.
81 could not tiatter her, he answered, =,
looking at her with such tenderness, such
chivalrous devotion in his expression, that
Frances drooped her eyelids with little
conscious blush.
Don't look as if you thought I was an
angel" she said, half in earnest, half in
jest; remember, | am only frivolous
young woman" and before he could pre-
vent her she had left the room.
''She is a grand creature" said Col
Kenyon, as he returned to his seat, with q
look of great content on tis fine face.
'She's handsome girl. there's no doubt
of It," replied her father; "but don't you
spoil her, Kenyon; always remain master in
your own house."
81 could not spoil her, just as could not
fatter her," answered Kenyon, loyalty;
and as he spoke, SO the man felt in his in
most heart.
And the next day, when they mslt side
by side on the very same spot where Ruth
had made her false vows two weeks ago.
there is no one in all the world with whom
G |. Kenyon would have Changed places.
And after all, was he not to be cnvieAs
Great happiness often ends in bitter pain,
for the old primsvd curse tToads still on
the heel of MAJ. and if we drink the cup Of
joy, there is sorrow In the dregs, But in 1t
not something to be very happy, even for a
short time? To rise above the d al level of
our daily life, and touch that higher sense
of existence, that expansion of the soul
which maybe is but foretaste of eVerlast-
ing joyl
And Hugh Kenyon felt this as he alighted
his troth to the beautiful woman he loved
with such entire faith and trust that no
shadow nor d jubt rested for a moment in
his heart. He knew his life had stolen on to
middle age, while she was in her bright
prime; but even this did not disturb him.
Love is immortal, he believed; therefore,
what were few years more or less between
two who hoped and trusted to share an
existence together which time could not ap-
proach!
And the bride? She glanced at her
bridegroom more than once, with even a
sort of pity in her wayward and luxurious
heart.
Poor mani" she was thinking, as she
saw the rapt look in Col. Keuyon's face as
he made his vows to her; VOWS which he
thought to be binding forever to his soul
and hers.
And there were others in the church who
in their secret hearts also thought Poor
mauw as they looked at the gray-haiged
bridegroom and blooming bride. But they
discreetly kept this mental appellation to
themselves, or only murmured it in some
trusted ear. sit was splendid match for
her." they said; and her fathers heart
echoed this, and with no small pride he re
membered as he saw her rise from her
knees Col. Kenyon's welded wife, that
Frances was now rich woman, aud that
he had done well for his children, and tn at
they ought to show him no end of graft
tude
And he shook his old friends hand warm
ly, and even expressed his pleasure in not
il-chosen words.
"If / had sought the world over, should
have chosen you for her, Kenyon" he said,
wi h an unusual warmth and glow in his
sour being.
II pray God may be worthy of her."
answered Kenyon, with the ,lemnity of
deep feeling, returning his baud clasp; and
both thought at this moment of the old life
tie between them, the tie which now had
grown so close.
Yet the day did not pass before Col.
Forth had his grumble, for it was his nature
10 carp and find fault with fortune, and
look out for specks and BILE nishes where
ever they could be found
The bride and bridegroom were gone, and
so were most of the wedding guests, bat the
vicar still fingered, for he loved good
cheer, and did not often taste sucn cham
pagne as Col Kenyon's generous hand had
provided
Therefore, he was in no haste to go, and
began again touching on the many excel
lent gifts possessed by the bridegroom.
"Yes, that's all very well, " said Col. Forth,
in that crusty way of his. "pve nothing
to say against Kenyon, certainly not; but
here am left alone"
THAT is certainly so, answered the oily
voice of the vicar; ''the marri sges Of your
two beautiful daughters are at once a bless
ing and trial; a symbol as it were, of the
mixed nature of our existence, in which
joy and sorrow are SO strangely intermin-
gled."
That's true enough" answered Col
Forth, remembering how anxious he had
been for the two girls to marry, though
now that they had done so he was beginning
to be afraid he would feel very dull without
them.
"Stll we must prepare our minds for
these, l may say, happy partings; as our
children grow up around us they naturally
take wing like the birds"
"Humph!n grunted the colonel.
"And. my dear sir, why do you not take
10 yourself a second wife, a second help
mate9 l am sure there are many charming
ladies whose first youth perhaps has
gIided away, VINO would be too happy to
share your distinguished name, and might
even bring little grist to the mill"
And Mr. Appleby smiled benlgnly.
mot ~ answered Col Forth, with de-
cision i've had enough of that kind of
thing, can tell you, and making love TO
old women for their money is quite out Of
my way. No, Imust just put up with it ; it
will be confoundedly dull without the girls.
and this is a dull place at the best, but l
must try to get along somehow, for What
can a man do, forced to retire by those
beastly regulations, as / was, in the very
prime of lifel But I'll tell you what it will
end in--the service will go to pieces, and
where will the country be thenp
CHAPTER Xxx.