The Red Cloud chief., 1897-07-23
CiIf

swWI II Y Sfes 49,
WY v true lovers torn
asunder by a cruel
fate, q parting and vows OF consistency
and faithful love.
The man. Rodney Kirke, was a fine
looking young fellow OF twenty-eight.
who had been from infancy the ward
and darling Of his uncle, James Kirke,
believing himself always to be the GER
tain heir Of that gentleman and ever
his dutiful nephew from true, earnest
love and gratitude. His life had been
o Swallowed one, having little bright
ness, for his uncle for thirty years had
been an invalid-sometimes we'll
enough to move about In his own ex-
tensive grounds, but often. for months
together. confined to his room and bed.
suffering intensely.
When Rodney left school and would
have studied q profession or entered
upon some business career, his uncle
kept him bound to his chair. letting all
the management of his large estate fall
gradually into his hands, and taking
infinite comfort from his gentle care
when ne was suffering.
1t was a strange. gray life for youth.
n Rodney fretted sometimes at merg-
ing his W existence into that OF the
invalid, but the argument his uncle
used at such times was a powerful
one.
when die this whole property will
be yours. and you must care for It and
control 1t. 1t will never be necessary
for you to undertake any other BUSH
ness"
He was content. therefore. to let his
life narrow to the limits his uncle die
tated, until, about two years before the
date when this story opens, Mr.. Kirke
being ordered to the seaside. there met
Mrs. Olney, a widow with one son very
nearly Rodney's age. Looking back,
IL was all like a whirllng dream to the
young man to recall how tho handsome
widow took possession Of his uncle,
flattered him. petted him, coaxed him
and married him.
The return to Ferndale, James
Kirke's home, vas n wedding trip, and
from that hour every effort was made
by the bride to thrust Rodney out OF
his place In his uncle's heart and
home. Misrepresentation were made
at first In vain: afterward with more
effect. Keeping him out OF his uncle's
room, Mrs. Kirke made the old gentle.
man believe his absence was from vol.
untary neglect. At last a tangible
cause Of complaint was found. wher
Rodney, lonely and miserable, fell II
love with Bella Green, whose father
horror OF horrors! kept a small drink,
ing saloon, and whose mother was vul
garity personifed. The girl herself
had been educated in q good seminary
and came home to find all her sur.
roundings revolving to a delicate, sen.
sitive nature, refined by study and as.
sociations with companions above hei
In the social scale.
She was wonderfully pretty. consid.
ering what her parents were, and
Rodney's deepest sympathies were
reused by her miserable home life
That he met her In the shady lanes
and woods was from no desire for con.
cealment, but simply because her homo
was SO noisy. ill-ordered and vulgar
that there was no place for quiet OF
conversation.
The story of this low association
was SO told to James Kirke that hi
was furious with anger, and this, add.
ed to the other sins attributed to Rod.
ney, SO reused him that the young mar
had put before him the choice of Civ,
ing up his love at once and forever OF
leaving his home. All the chivalry o.
q sensitive heart, which a life OF seclu,
sion had made still more romantic, wa.
aroused, and Rodney refused obedience
to his uncle for the first time.
And SO. under the great tree in San
Green's garden. he was taking leave O
the girl for whose sake he was leavini
luxury and hope. to face a world who's,
bitterness he had never tasted.
you will be true to me. Bella?" h,
said, as he pressed a final kiss upoI
her tear-stained face.
II will wait for you II It Is for TWEEN
ty years." she said. clinging to him.
And, keeping that promise for com
fort, Rodney Kirke left Ferndale to tr!
to find employment in L.. a larg,
manufacturing town ten miles distaD,
where his uncle owned property. AM
every face that had smiled upon hin
for years was turned away; every doc
that had opened to him was closed
His uncle's influence. welded by hi
wife, kept him from ever the loves
position. and he suffered from posltiv
hunger more than once In the fra
three months Of his exile. The bite
regrets for the easy obedience to hi
uncle which had made him neglect a
preparation for a life OF se~lf-suppori
were unavailing. and there came
winter night when he stood In tn
streets, homeless and penniless an
battling the temptation to defy eve
his Creator by suicide.
Suddenly he reused himself froI
such bitter reverie and walked rapid