La Junta tribune. (La Junta, Bent County, Colo.) 1881-1939, 1898-03-19

heart. She tried
hard to do her duty. to school herself
IN the knowledge that for her life was
TO be without love. But 1t was hard.
She was young and impressionable: !:
the earl was handsome and fascinat-
1ng. There were times when an ire
#sistioie impulse came over her--an i'm
III pulse to beg him to love her She re-
sisted 1t, and every time she did SO re-
3ist her heart grew colder and harder.
II is dimcult for flower to blossom in
plighted cold-the buds droop. the per-
4nme dies. 1t requires the warmth
and brightness. the kisses and smiles
D 81 the sun to bring 1t to perfection. So
ssn is with half-formed character like
IL Hiidred's- the sunshine of love and
VI happiness would have brought 1t to a
Iair and blooming maturity. The chill
\ OF neglect and indifference changed It.
n Lord Caraven," said Hildred one
Il day. who is the person-gentleman, l
should say. perhaps-who comes here
so often?
" DO you mean John Blantyre. my
n faithful friend and steward!" he
# asked laughingly. He comes every
q #day."
rs that his name? do not like his
face"
Why not, Hildred?" he asked.
N 1t is not the face of an honest man.
II unless Nature has for once made q
mistake in her own handwriting"
1T is not handsome face, certain
ly." said the earl: far from it."
"T am prH ~ vpara ba,nty
OF feature-and perhaps l Judge him
( harshly." she replied. But 1t does
not seem to me an honest face would
not trust the man for-do you trust
him. Lord Caraven?"
Il trust him implicitly-indeed. 1 do
\ not believe l ever overlooked his ac-
counts"
She looked at him In wonder.
i Never overlooked his accounts!
How very careless of you!" she said.
Il am not careful by nature" he told
her. laughing.
But" she observed. earnestly, such
terrible temptation In his way by not
keeping check upon him."
Il suppose" said Lord Caraven. in
dolently. that l find 1t easier TO let
myself be robbed little than to look
after matters for myself
The dark. eloquent eyes. as they
were raised to his. expressed a great
deal.
What do you do with your life?"
she asked. 1T seems to me that you
have no idea of duty"
Nor have l. know well what to do
with my life-I enjoy It,"
There can be nothing more to add"
said Hildred. But II were you, Lord
Caraven. should look after my ac-
counts
She thought a great deal after that
conversation. 1t had opened her eyes
more fully to her husbands character
than anything that had passed before.
She decided to study him.
Was he generous? She thought at
first that she might say yes" They
were riding one day. and they met
poor woman begging with q little child
in her arms; she was poor. hungry, all
in tatters, with pinched face and sad.
weary eyes, a pitiful spectacle of want
and destitution. AS they passed by the
earl took out his purse and literally
emptied It on the ground at the wo-
mans feet. She looked dazed and be-
wildered 1t this sudden bounty Of for
tune. He did not wait for any thanks.
but rode on.
II WISH" he said. "that l could col
lec4 all the poor people In the world
together, and make them rich
was that generosity?" she said to
herself. "Yes. IT must be-"
They rode ON until they came to a
small cottage-one belonging to the
Ravensmere estate-at the door of
which stood . man still young but
crippled and bent double with rheu-
matism. A little cry Of pain came from
Hildred's lips n she saw him. but the
young mans eyes were Axed with an
evil light ON the earl's face.
Hildred stopped to say kind word
to him; the cripple came ont and stood
Ia front Of the earl's magnificent horse.
.Ny lord" he said in 4 hoarse
voice. II have you to thank for these"
pointing to his shrunken limbs
..and for these, also"-poincng to his
useless hands.
WnAI 90 you mean! Aotu N~ta
ven dsanandsd, his face flushing with
anger.
II mean this. my lord-that vas
strong young man when took this
cottage and brought my wife home
here; now" hs cried, in Z sudden pas,
sion q despair -"now look at me"
.What have / to do with that?"
asked tlie .earl. anSrily.
.This much. my lord-I spent al my
bit Of money on this land; I had none
lsft for repairing tie house-ycur
hours, ny 1otd. Tbs vstsrs0ame n ~,
ths roof and at the vindows-ths wind