The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-31

lie turned slowly. came to the portrait
on the wall. and compared it with that
in his hand. Then with troubled face
he said: You have much talent. but
II is-it-is too old-much too old-and
very Sorrowful "
Il intended the face to show age and
sorrow. Mr.. Bachelor Would not the
original of that have both?''
she had sorrow-she had sorrow,
but" and he looked sadly at the sketch
again, ''it is too old for her. Her face
was very young, always very young
But has she not sorrow now, sir?'
tho other persisted gently
The gray head was shaken sadly, and
the unsteady voice meditatiVely muir
INJURED such beauty. such presence. l
was but fve-and-thirty then" There
was a slight pause, and then with his
hand touching the young mans shout
der. Louis Bachelor continued: you are
young: You have "A good heart; i know
men. You have the sympathy of the
artist-why should ! not speak TO you!
] have been silent about il so long You
have brought the past back. know not
how. so wildly I dream here, | work
here: men come with merchandise and
go gain: they only bind my tongue; L
am not Of them; but you are different.
as il seems to me. and young. God gave
me a happy youth. My eyes were as
bright as yours: my heart fond. You
love--iS it not 500 All, you smile and
DlllSn ike an honest IlrHs W Flif ~
much the more | can speak now! God
gave me then strength and honor and
love-blessed be His name, and then He
visited me with sorrow. and If l Still
mourn I have peace too and busy
life Here he looked at the sketch
again. Then [ was a soldier. She was
my world. All true love is "A great
thing, a great thingi She had a brother
They two with their mother were alone
i'm the world. and we We're 10 be married.
one day at Gibraltar / received a let
ter from her saying that our marriage
could not he. that she was going away
from England. hat those lines We're her
farewell. and that she commended me
to the love Of heaven Such a letter IT
was-So sanity. 50 unhappy, so mys-
tertpuSi When / could get leave / went
to England. She-thcV-had gone and
none knew whittier; o.. if any Of her
friends knew. none would speak l
searched for her everywhere. At last L
came TO Australia. and am here now, no
longer searching. but waiting: for there
is that above usi' His lips moved as II
in prayer And this IS all ! have left
Of her" fondling the portrait, except
memory"
Tho young man reioined warmly vet
with discreet sympathy: Sir. / respect,
and ] hope ] understand, your conf
dence." Then little nervously. Might
I ask her nance
Tho reply was spoken to the portrait:
'Barbara-Barbara Golding.'
With Louis Bachelor the young squat
ter approaCh ed WandenonE homestead
in some excitement. He had said no
word to his companion about that Bar
bara Golding who played such a Era-
ciOuS part i'm the home of the Osgoods.
He had arranged the movement Of the
story to his fancy. but would it occur
i'm all as he hoped? With an amiabilitv
that was almost malicious in its adroit
l.
honest. ne had induced the soldier to
talk Of his past. His words naturally
and always radiated to the sun whose
image was now hidden. but for whose
memory no SupersCription on monument
or Cenotaph was needed Now il was
a scrap OF song. then a tale. and again
a verse, by which the old soldier was
delicateIy worked upon; until, at last,
as they entered the paddOcks Of Wan
denong. stars and telescopes and even
governments had been completely for
gotten in the personal literature of SEN
timentl
Yet Field Osgood was not quite at his
ease. Now that it was at hand he rather
shrank from the renewal of these
ancient loves. There was Barbara Gold
ing's story not yet fathomed; yes. his
plot had some flying threads which he
had not Yet gathered. Apart from every
thing else he knew that no woman's
nerves are to be trusted. He hoped
fortune would so favor him that he could
arrange for the meeting Of these two
alone, or, at least, in his presence only.
He had so far fOstered this possibility
by arriving at the station at nightfall.
What next? He turned and looked at
the soldier, a figure out of HOgarth
which even dust and travel left un-
spoiled. 1t was certain that the two
should meet where Field Osgood.
squatter and romancer, should be
prompter, orchestra and audience.
and he alone Vain lad! When they
drew rein the young man took his COM
paniOn at once TO his own detached
quarters, known as the barracks, and
then proceeded to the house. After
greetings with his family he sought
Barbara Golding. who was in the school
room piously employed. Agnes said, IN
putting the final touches TO Janet's trOus-
Seau He went across the square to the
school room. and, looking through the
window. saw that she was quite alone.
4 few moments later he stood at the
schOOl-roOm door with Louis Bachelor.
With his hand on the latch he hestated.
Was it not fairer TO give some warning
TO either? Too late! He opened the
door and they entered She was sewing,
and a book lay open beside her. a faded.
but stately little figure whose very gar
ments had an air. She rose, seeing al
first only Field OsgOOd, who greeted her
and then said, Miss Barbara, 1 wish to
lulIOuuNG " 9bu al olu AlItltN. Ilich
he stepped back and the two were face
TO face. Barbara Golding's cheeks be-
came pale, but she did not stir; the sol
der with an exclamation of surprise,
half joyful half pathetic. took a step
forward. and then became motiOnless
also This was not quite what the young
man had expected. At length the sol
der bowed low and the woman respond
ed gravely At this point Field with
drew to stand guard a the door, that
the action in his strange. little play
should not be interrupted.
Barbara GOldings eyes We're dim with
tears. The soldier gently said, II re-
ceived--'' and then paused. She raised
her eyes To his. Il received a letter
from yOu-fve-and-twenty years ago"
Yes, five-and-twenty years ago"
Il hope you cannot guess what pain
it gave me-
sir" she answered family. Il can
conceive it, from the pain it gave 10
me-"
There was a pause, and then he
stepped forward and holding out his
hand said. "Win you permit me?' He
kissed her fingers courteOusly. and she
blushed. Il have waited" he added
''for God to bring this TO pass" She
shook her head sadly, and her eyes
sought his beseechingly, as though he
should spare her; but perhaps he could
not see that You spoke of a great OBJ
stacie then; has it been removed?"
1T is still between us
us it likely ever to vanish?'
Il do not know"
you cannot tell me what it is2"
a. -