Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-08-03
THE JUSTICE OF THE GODS.
CHAPTER 1.

should you go to Irkham for Christmas
instead of spending it in London ~
BE was engaged TO Ada Bennett, and
was masterful lover, passionate indeed
almost too passionate for the shy-eyed
timid girl at his side-but masterful and
accustomed to have his own way with men
and women. Yet, in spite of his strength
of will, little Ada might have had the
frmness to withstand his wishes and de-
cline his love if it had not been backed
up by the aunt who so often assured her
she had "been more than mother to her.
yes, far more and by her sister
Helen.
Helen Bennett-no one ever thought oil
calling her Nellie-was what is generally
termed a mice, sensible sort of GIRL" the
sort of girl who does not let romance Oh
caprice or thin-skinnedness of any sort in
terfere with her advancement in life
When the BENEFITS father died and left
them as nearly penniless as twenty pound.
year each could make them, no foolish
pride, no dreams of independence, made
Helen refuse the home which her aunt
Mrs. Penrhyn, offered them. Helen and
Mrs. Penrhyn came to terms at once, with.
out even expressing the terms in so many
words. The girls were to make themselves
agreeable-that is, dust the drawing-room
arrange flowers, entertain dull visitors,
make up for any deficiencies of ill-trained
servants, and look always smiling, grateful
and well dressed on twenty pounds a
year.
"And some day, if all goes WE'LL" added
Mrs. Penrhyn, 'Fll see you in good homes
of your own, | hope"
This was meant as an announcement
that the girls were to accept the first eli
gible 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 city; nor was
John Baggallay-rich in factories and
vested funds, but not oyerburdened with
either aspirates or aspirations-her ideal
OF husband. But she accepted both, and
was as happy as a woman of her nature
needs to be.
Ada, though far the milder OF the two,
proved the more rebellious. Perhaps it
was the fault of Laurie Penrhyn-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 year ago, when he was
home from Glasgow on brief holiday, he
ad Oh A do H. j
had whispered "yes," that did not secure
her for his wife. When he had gone
Helen treated Ada to much common
sense, to which Mrs. Penrhyn added a
little uncommon coldness and finally
Helen herself wrote the letter which re-
leased him from "a hasty and ill-consid-
cred 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
than the days succeeding.
You little goosep she said to her sis
ter, Laurie has only two hundred pounds
a year, and if you get engaged to him
auntie will turn you out of doors. She
means her handsome son to catch an heir
ess. And there's Captain Walton evil
IDENTIFY attracted by you / wish / had
such a chancep
For Helen had accepted her Baggallay
by this time, and, though prepared to
swallow him, could not refrain from wry
face or two.
Laurie is getting on very we'll" pro-
tested Ada.
perhaps he is, but Captain Walton has
got on, which is much more to the point.
What on earth do you want, Ada? He is
gentleman. He has that look which a
man who has once been IN the army never
loses, and if it is true, 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. l don't see what
fault you can find with him ~
''He's too old"
"Old Forty-fve or so. That isn't old.
You're 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, and was
duly accepted, which made Laurie PEN
rhyn exclaim, when in the beginning of
December he was offered good post in an
American ship-building yard, that fellow
never got anything he wanted until it 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 profit him very much, though he
was impatient, and thought it hard that
he must wait till spring before he was
allowed to claim his bride.
Il shall be new man when have you
Il il, L IL =
yor of passion which frightened Ada more
than it pleased her. "You are every
thing to me-strength, purity, happiness.
i believe in heaven, when look in your
eyes, even if l never do at any other
time"
Poor Ada might be forgiven for think
ing such wooing slightly blasphemous,
and very much too feryent to be comfort
able.
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
sister Helen, now Mrs. Baggallay.
1t would seem strange not to go to
Helen the first Christmas after her mar
riage," she said, and, besides, Laurie is
coming home, so Pm better away"
What has that to do with it % cried
the irritable lover.
Ada looked nervous, and equivocated:
He is going abroad almost immedi-
ately, and he aud his mother won't want
any third person with them during his last
few days at home"
"Hm! Well, wish you weren't going
to Irkham, that's ALL It's beastly hole"
Do YOU know it at all, Georgeg' asked
the girl, bringing out her lovers name
with. an effort, as she always did
Captain Walton looked as if he did not
like the question.
was there once, fifteen years ago, and
/ had enough of it then"
Fifteen years ago All, that was Just
when you came home from India, wasn't
it? Well, it may have improved since
then. And Helen says her home is charm
ing-an old house with a large garden.