The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-06

Lord Willard is all at once seized with
anxiety about his shower-beds-the boys are
so careless. it would seem.
Presently he leaves the window. and sits
down again, q little embarrassed now.
The next question" ho says. lis per-
sonal. and first wish you to believe that
only the strongest possible reasons induce
me- to ask 1t. have made the acquaint-
ance of q Mrs. Dorothea De Ia Poer; her
husband was De la Poer. of Chester. Do
you know herf'
Yes; know her." Every word seems to
be dragged forth. when, after lengthy
pause the reply comes. my only brother
Lord willard breathes again. After all.
il Is not so bad! He so evidently "asks for
more with eager eyes and brows that De
la Poer resumes In q tone studioueIy cold
and impassive:
HE fell among bad company. and mar
Tied beneath him. 1t Was an unfortunate
marriage, and ended in utter ruin. All that
he had went; all that l s had went to sup
was lost. and the old home had to be sold.
nv brother sent for me. and committed his
child to my care"
He stops here, wiping some moisture from
his forehead. Lord Willard looks down.
Il am sorry" he says, deeply sorry. to
pain you. Don't tell me any more. | in
tended asking Mrs. De la Poer to be my
wife, and think she has encouraged me.
hope You consider that sufficient to justify
my inquiry"
De la Poer stares for q moment or two,
then colors deeply.
Perhaps l had better finish my story,"
he says. my brother left his child to my
care because be knew his own fate and
that shortly he would be dead to the worId.
He did not look upon his wife as fiS
guardian. 1t was arranged privately among
us. She has been q little premature in her
announcement of you. since Bertram is
still living. though HIS days are mum bered."
Are you sure'" cries Lord Willard,
springlng up.
II should be. since maintain him in the
asylum. As this is of vital Importance To
you, am willing to show you the latest
letters from the doctorsn
"But-she-does she know"
That he il so near deathl / should say
that she does. and that may explain her
conduct to you."
question in that way, having hope thet
Mrs. De la Poer may have believed her
husband dead. He shudders with o sudden
sick losthing.
should have entire care of her soni" he
asked at last. Has she left you to main
tain husband and child alikep
why not" says Della Poer simply. II
am man. she is woman. and as l under
stand she is in comparative poverty her.
SELF 1t may tax her power sufficiently to
support herself, but she has never sought
help from me, as she has washed her hands
OF u.s. one and all"
The autumn flowers and the smooth
lawn and the winding path are melted into
one blurred mass before LORD Willard's
eyes. The voices of his children sound dim
and remote. He cannot understand this
seif.abnegation. this patient bearing OF so
many burdens. half SO clearly as he undor-
stands what he has escaped. The little
bijou house and tho dainty mistress are
hideous In his eycs. What is she but a
basil plant. f1ourIshing wonderfully on the
brains of q murdered mani Well. her pre-
sentiment Is fulfilled, she will never see
him again. He feels that he should ''go
down on his knees aud thank heaven fast
inG' that he was not carried by impulse
and passion TO his own destruction.
A week later Phillippa. walking home
ward from woodland ramble, laden with
overtaken by Mr. De la Poer, and thus sho
is the first to hear of and TO congratulate
him on his new appointment They are at
the rectory gate when he takes leave of
her. excusIDR himself from going inside.
Il suppose IL is always to be noD, she
says. ith resi- gnation.
Il will not refuse when next you ask me-"
he tells her.
''Very well. then. / will hold you to
your promlsew she returns, and they part.
At some distance along tho lane he looks
back to her still standing at the old
gate. her face. In It's sprlng-like bloom and
beauty, turned towards him. Thus much
he sees, but not the day " hen its brightest
smile, Its f0ndest W elcome Its loyeliest
glow, shall be for him alone. Ye, even
now snch day is dawning. and out of dark
ness shall como the light.