The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-08-01


answered that no words of his should have
| any weight-Only his actions She con-
| sented 10 his plans: and q fortnight later
mother and daughter left for Windsor.
The meetings of the masters son and
Rhoda had not been unnoticed by the
| neighbors; and the departure of the
| Brightons gave food to much malicious
| gossip. "A proud, saucy baggage, was
the verdict; them stuck-up uns as looks
| down on the like Of us are sure to come
to that good honest woman as works
| for her Twin is worth a hundred o their
| soort" Happily. Rhoda and her mother
were not there to blush.
Two years have past. years big with
happiness TO the lovers. Bertrod has just
| left college TO get a little insight in the
working of the mill. Old Legion is about
to give up the mill, and has proposed that
| Bertrod should try it for six months. If,
then. he should choose to follow the bust
ness. he may. If not it will be sold TO a
company, and Bertrod can play the gem
tleman.
But a week after his homecoming. the
bomshen explodes in the Legion break
fast room, and blows father and son
apart forever.
Never! neverr' shouts the father
"Give her up at once. or I've done with
you forever
mo. sir; as an honorable man. I can
not-Will not
sympathy, murmur. "A factory girl" and
show Enthusiastically that they are on
their fathers side.
"Hark you, my ungrateful son." said
the father after pause. You know
me. 1 give you a night to sleep on it.
If you do not obey me you leave here in
the afternoon, and never penny Of mine
or a word of mine shall you have again.
Bertrod had inherited something of his
fathers stubbornness, and there was love
also to keep him unyielding. At break
fast next morning he said to his father:
Are you still determined TO disinherit
me because choose TO marry a girl who
once hOnOred your mill with her pres
ence?"
Are you going to give her up?"
Certainly not. father. / should not be
your son if 1 yielded in a matter of life
and honor"
Then l give you till o'clock this aft
ernoon TO clear out And you only take
your personal belongings, please; don't be
d thief"
4 shall take nothing that does not be-
long TO me-" said BertrOd calmly. in
spite of the taunt; you may rest as
sured l shall not take all that does be-
long to me, for it seems your love and
my sisters will be wanting"
Old Legion kept out of the way till
Bertrod had gone; and the tips of his sis
tiers fingers, grudgingly given, We're his
only farewell.
Rhoda ard her mother were in terrible
distress when they heard but Bertrod,
with cheerful optimism, chased the shad-
oWS away. and a fortnight later he made
Rhoda a wife. They had a quiet honey
moon at Bournemouth which ended trasi-
caily and abruptly, for they were sum-
moned back by telegram to close Mrs.
BrightOn's eyes and receive her blessing
Under such cheerful auspices their mar
ried life began in a Chelsea fat.
Bertrod, soon finding that an Oxford
graduate was not a unique article in the
market, got engaged as traveller for
firm of wholesale chemists at ESQ a year
The worst Of ii was 1t took him good
deal from home. But they were all the
happier a the weekend. when they were
able to spend a few hours together in
peace.
Bertrod took to literary work, as he
rushed about country in the train, and, TO
his unspeakable satisfaction several ar
ticles and sketches were accepted by an
evening paper. He as delirious with
joy as RhOda herself. He was destined to
be a famous author, the idol of the read
ing pubic! He got rs for seven articles
and the money put by to feast their
eyes upon. They were not eight paltry
gold coins, but riches; and when either
of the twain was depressed, they would
go TO the precious box and toy with the
coins, and under their potent influence
care and depression took wings.
BertrOd was so elated and so proud of
the sympathy and help of his wife that
he worked early and late. and after a
days travelling would often sit up the
whole night working hard on the novel
that was to bring him fame and fortune
He delighted in work, for ii was for her
sake, and he often quoted Carlyle and
others who had written on the dignity of
labor. RhOda copied for him and talked
over the characters with him till he de-
clared that the story was as much hers
as his. and ought to be issued in their
joint names. What was better, the liter
airy atmosphere they had created had it's
effect on Rhoda, who wrote two or three
short tales, full of a gentle unobstrusive
pathOs, which were accepted and paid for.
At last the novel was finished. written
out in RhOda's clear-cut hand What a
labor of love it had beent How she had
tOiled till her eyes ached, destroying
every sheet that was the least blotted or
on which she had made a mistake or cor
rectiOn. till it was copy clear enough to
merit the encOmium Of the most fastidious
cOmpositOr!
heart, and many little ripple of laugh
ter at nothing in particular was daintily
packed. and without any due sense of
fitness, was sent to one of the great
London publishers. They pretended not
to be castle-buildng: but all the same
they counted on what was to come in the
next twelve months; not a shop did they
see but BertrOd pointed out what ne
would buy her when-when they were
better off"
A fortnight of buoyant hope. and the
manuscript came back with a very Do
lite Declined" 1t was a shock. and
Bertrod laughed a cherries little laugh.
'Of course IL would not be accepted At
first. If ii had been, / should have given
up in despair; genius, even talent
has never succeeded at the first ATTEMPT
Mark my words, Rhoda-that same pub
fishing house will in few months be
asking me for a story-anything from
my pen I'll be magnanimous and for
give them"
Time after time the manuscript came
back. 1t was getting shabby and frayed
at the edges. IT had been everywhere.
likely and unlikely and the best they
had received was: eff this story were
twice as long. we might consider It,"
Nothing, but hope had kept Bert
rod from sinking under the great strain
he had undergone. Now he sank. and
sank deeply. CHASTITY paleness great
circles round the eyes, sleepless nights.
irritable temper, had long warned him
At last he fell. and Rhoda's nights and
days were spent in nursing him.
1t was six months before he was ont
in the street again Brain fever Had left
been very kind; they had paid his salary
for two months. and then reluctantly
had filed his place. Bertrod had no
pleasant prospect Here he was weak
and helpless, but a few pounds in the
house. his occupation gone, and with a
wife Who would soon give him another