The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-21

asunder by cruel
fate, parting and VOWS of constancy
and faithful love-
The man, Rodney Kirke. was 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
q 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 a 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 he was suffering.
1t was strange, gray life for youth
and Rodney fretted sometimes at merg-
ing his own 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 it, 1t will never be necessary
for you to undertake any other bust
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, widow with one son very
nearly ROdneys age. Looking back,
it was all like whirling dream to the
young man to recall how the handsome
widow took possession of his uncle.
tlattered him, petted him, coaxed him
and married him
The return to Ferndale. James
Kirke's home, was 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. KiTke made the ole gentle
man believe his absence was from vol
Untary neglect. At last a tangible
cause of complaint was found, when
Rodney, lonely and miserable. fell in
love with Bella Green, whose father
horror of horrors! kept small drink
garity personified. The girl herself
had been educated in a 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 her
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 home
was so noisy, ill-ordered and vulgar
that there was no place for quiet or
conversation.
The story of this low association
was so told to James Kirke that he
was furious with anger, and this, add
ed to the other sins attributed to Rod
ney, so reused him that the young man
had put before him the choice of Civ
ing up his love at once and forever OF
leaving his home All the chivalry OF
a sensitive heart, which life of secIu-
sion had made still more romantic, was
aroused, and Rodney refused obedience
to his uncle for the first time.
And so, under the great tree in Sam
Green's garden, he was taking leave Of
the girl for whose sake he was leaving
luxury and hope, to face a world whose
bitterness ne had never tasted
you will be true to me, Bella?" he
said as he pressed a final kiss upor
her tear-stained face.
"I will wait for you if it is for TWEEN.
ty years" she said, clinging to him
And, keeping that promise for cora
fort, Rodney Kirke left Ferndale to try
TO find employment in l.. a large
manufacturing town ten miles distant
where his uncle owned property. AnC
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 even the loves
position, and he suffered from positiv,
hunger more than once in the frs
three months of his exile. The bite
regrets for the easy obedience to hi
uncle which had made him neglect al
preparatiOn for a life of self-support
were unaVailing, and there cane