The Indianapolis journal., 1892-11-06

CROSS,
Copyright, 1892, by the Author.)

noart; ne Is carried away Dy passion, ana
Is Just on the point or ciAsping his arms
about her-claimlng for present and for
future the right to share her SORROWS, II he
cannot altogether shield her from them
when the tenor, whose songs beneath the
waning stars" have been charming the ear
of night. comes out with u train OF admir-
ers and the tere-a-tete Is broken up. M-s.
De lie Poer snatches time to whisper plain
lively, but you will como back again.
won't youi" before other guests claim her
Lord Willard presently takes his leave.
departing less with the feelings of o lover
who has been baflied or deprived of his
chance than those of man who has es-
fades. how the witchery of voice and look
loses potency In absence, and how. much
more clear and distinct is the memory of
the girl whose heart kept time and tune
with his from tie first dawn of love until
its last throb on earth.
For it is true that he is q widower. His
majority and his marriage were celebrated
on the same day, and five years of perfect
happiness were his. Then has young wifo
died, and he has meurned her these seven
years without thought OF replacing her,
until his meeting with Dorothea De Ia
Poer-if then. He has been introduced to
her by the genial vicar. on whose heart her
liberal, unostentatious charities have made
q good impression. and she seemed to him
of the type angelic. Still. why is 1t that
when he thinks of his two sons the thought
OF them under her care repels himf Why
is 1t that when in his most infatuated me-
ments he pictures her In his old homo
vision will rise before him of the fair. pure
face once smiling there. of the fresh young
voice so long silentf Why does it seem as
II from the quiet grave she extended her
hand TO hold him backf Can the dead be
jealous OF the livingi Do all men who
have loved the first wife with all youths
feryor and devotion feel thus when con-
templating tho taking of q secondf
He has asked himself these questions Of
ten during the last few weeks, and the an
be asks himself what he shall do. Shall
he, as lover should, offer himself to her,
without doubt, or fear, or Questionsf' Or
shall he be influenced by the coarse gossip
of two half-tipsy men, and probe into the
sorrows OF her pastf 1t Is impossible that
what they have said can bs true
Shall he ask her to be his wife. OF shall he
notf Well, be will write to her from home
within the next few days and the question
will forever be settled.
The rectory garden inclines rather to the
wilderness style, but is lighted mp we'll
with big dahlias aud flaming gladden.. and
ever-fragrant old wall-howera. Mrs.
Rector" sits on rustic bench. bamboo
tea table beside her. and merrily from the
tennis lawn come her children. small stars
circling round the newly.risen planet of
cousin from London, fresh from the joys of
her first season. She Is dainty figure in
q sun-hat and muslin, ''fair-hRired, blue
eyed. her aspect blithe," adored by the Dar-
radales--cousins, aunt and uncle alike. She
says herself that her life Is simply record
of "favOrs received and it Is true that to
her, at least, fortune has como with both
hands full-perhaps captivated by natures
handiwork in her-and so she lacks neither
money, nor good looks nor pretty ways.
AS they move to the tea table, O gay
group, a man slowly passes, carrying on
his shoulder little boy. who looks eagerly
over the private hedge, then laughs and
who are signaling with their racquets. The
man turns a pale. thiA face, with dark eye
and aquIllne nose. IN the same direction
and raises his hat with long shadowy
hand as he passes on.
"Who is the phantom? asks Cousin
Philippa, and the eldest Miss Dsrradale,
who is Just at the romantic and susoepti-
BILE age, turns sigh into pOur as.she re-
plies:
''That is Mr.. De la Poer. the new organ
ist. Isn't he handsomew
HIM. Isn't he little bit like q ghost
out for an airingY
'sOh, hate fat. red, beefy men, says
Kate. with warmth. Il think Mr. De la
Poer is so interesting. Papa says no 10 sure
there is story connected with him. If We
only knew"
By this time they have arrived at Mrs.
Darradale, who has begun to pour out the
tea. which the boys busy themselves in
handing about whilst Kate presides oyer
some tempting fruit. In the midst OF their
enjoyment the rector appears. claiming
share of the refreshment, and his wife puts
her diurnal question:
did you hear any news. dearp
Lord Willard is expected home; that's
one item. For another. L am sorry to say
"Oh, dearw says Mrs. Darradaie. glanc-
ing at her steps and stairs" with
anxiety; and there is little silence.
BY and BIZ one of the rosy boys breaks it,
Papa, BERTHE DE la Poer is coming to play
with us tomorrow: may L give him one of
the young rabbitsr
.'Why, yes. Joe. if he likes to have IL. By
tho way the rector goes on, addressing
his nlece. you Will be pleased when you
hear our new organist. consider him q
very able musician"
I'VE saw him pass iust now,D says Phil
lippa. He looks melody in the minor
Il daresay he is anxious about the child"
says the kindly mother; "a dear little fell
low, but not very strong"
lis he widowerW Philippe asks. and
there is perceptible pause before the rec
"N-no: In fact can hardly say. The
boy calls him papa and uncle indiscrim-
inately. and never asked which ally was
the relationship. In fact De la Poer is not
man whom one can question:; be is ex-
tremely reserved and tacitnrn. His refor-
ences were unexceptionable, though. and
he is q gentleman. He has class at the
High-school, and they tell me he is quite O
musical genius. But he is very distant
He receives no visitors and systematic-
ally declines every invitation. He is less
popular than dare cay he deserves to be.
and people are very anxious to know what
he did before he came here"
1.-The little boy must have lively time
of IL behind such q high wall of mystery !"
says Phllippa. whose life is clear and open
and SUNNY as her eyes.
"Oh. as to that De Ia Poer's whole heart
is in the boy; he is devoted 70 him and de-
MES him nothing. feel that he is smiling
self here with our youngsters. And as to
the wall OF myst my dear. think others
have built 1T. Mr.. De la Poer simply a
reserved. silent man who declines to talk of
his own affairs and who may merely be
suffering from artistic hatred of gossi D."
Phiilippa feels rather more interested in
"the phantom q sensation which deepens
when she hears the waves of music rolling
through the gray old church, rising and
falling beneath the long, thin fingers of the
that he had not quite such neyer-smile-
again face. and Is anxious to see the boy at
closer quarters. to know il he is In any way
shadowed by the paternal gloom.
But he Is q bright. LAUGHING little fellow
who flutters into the rectory garden like a
butterty-such winsome. happy miro, so
easily pleased, so loving, with mona of
childhood's unconscious selhshness-rhat
Phlllippa falls In love with him at once:
and he, becoming her slave with equal rap
idity, Is nicknamed her little sweetheart
land with unauestioning belief when they
flow from her Inns: trOts beside her when