The Delta independent., 1893-11-29

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hand. 'you must not give me too warm
= welcome"
And now, having exchanged greet
ings with each member of the family,
Prudence again seated herself in the
chair at John Ingleield's right hand.
She was naturally girl of quick and
tender sensibilities, gladstone in her
general mood, but with bewitching
pathos interfused among her merriest
words and deeds, 1t was remarked of
her, too. that she had faculty, even
in childhood, of throwing her own
feelings like spell over her compan-
ions such as she had been in the
days of her innocence, SO did she ap-
pear this evening. Her friends, in the
surprise and bewilderment of her re-
left them, or that she had forfeited
any Of her claims to their affection.
In the morning, perhaps, they might
have looked at her with altered eyes,
but by the Thanksgiving tireside they
felt only that their own Prudence had
come back to them aud were thankful.
John Inglefield's rough visage bright
ened with the glow of his heart as it
grew warm and merry within him.
Once or twice he even laughed till the
room rang" again, yet seemed startled
by the echo of his own mirth. The
grave young minister became as frol-
icsome as schoolboy. Mary, too, the
rosebud, forgot that her twin blossom
had ever been torn from the stem and
trampled in the dust And as for Rob
ert Nj oore, he gazed at Prudence with
the bashful earnestness of love new
born, while she, with sweet maiden
coquetry, half smi ed upon and half
discouraged him,
In short, it was one of those inter
walls when sorrow vanishes in its own
depth of shadow and joy starts forth
in transitory brightness When the
clock struck 8, Prudence poured out
her fathers customary draught OF
herb tea, which she had been sleeping
by the tireside ever since twilight
God bless you, child!' said John
1nglefeld. as he took the cup from her
hand; ''you have made your old father
happy again. But we miss your
mother sadly. Prudence, sadly. 1t
seems as if she ought to be Eere
now."
"Now, father, or never" replied
Prudence.
1t was now the hour for domestic
worship, but while the family were
making preparations for their duty,
they suddenly perceived that Prudence
had put on her cloak and hood and
was lifting the latch of the door.
prudence, Prudence, where are you
going?" cried they ali with one voice.
AS Prudence passed. out of the door
she turned toward them and flung back
her hand with gesture Of farewell,
but her face was SO changed that they
hardly recognized it Sin and evil
passions glowed through its comeli-
ness and wrought horrible deformity |;
a smile beamed in her eyes as a trium-
phant mockery at their surprise and
grief.
Daughter" cried John Inglefield.
between wrath and sorrow, "stay and
be your fathers blessing, or take his
curse with you!"
For an instant Prudence fingered
and looked back into the fire-lighted
room, while her countenance wore al
most the expression as il she was
struggling with fend, who had
power to ize his victim even within
the hallowed precincts of her father 8
hearth. The fend prevailed and
Prudence vanished into the outer dark
ness. When the family rushed to the
door they could see nothing. but heard
the sound OF wheels rattling over the
frozen ground.
That same night, among the painted
beauties of the theater of a neigh Dor
ing city, there was one whose dissoluts
mirth seemed inconsistent with any