The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-11


out with a sudden thrill OF remembrance
to the face of the girl in whom he had
seemed to see Alan once again
"But it's perfect nonsense" the rector
had said to himself peevishly; '.and there's
not the slightest reason for me to think
that that girl was Alan's daughter. Of
course. poor Dick would have no chance If
1t were found that Alan had left a child;
and what would Maggie say?'
The vision of his wife's anxious. sensible,
little face and the womanly commonsense
which would be outraged by the sugges-
ton that the circus girl could have any,
thing to do with old Mr.. Haywood came
very strongly before his mind, and sup
piled him with very good reasons for think
ing himself fanciful and overnervous. Ger
tainly his nerves and temper became a lit
tie uncertain in consequence of the battle
that was always raging in the secret re-
cesses OF his mind. For the forces that
urged him on in his chosen path were COM
batted, by the sense of right and duty, and
Paul Haywood was not accustomed to be
the sport of two such widely hostile camps.
He left old Mr.. Haywood one night in
very depressed and suffering state. The
doctor who had been with them had ex-
pressed a fear that the old squire was
breaking up" and said that he needed
acknowledgements in life-or some re-
viving pleasurable hope. He is sound
enough" he had said. There's no disease.
and with care he might last ten years
longer, or even more; but these melancholy
fits are sapping his very life. and unless
L see a change for the better very soon 1
shall think very seriously of him."
The rector was fond of his uncle, and
went home in bad spirits. Almost before
he reached the house, the door was opened
to him by his wife. and he saw that her
face was flushed and excited. with look
of recent tears about the eyes She seized
him by the ARM and chung to him as he
came into the hall, and she told her story.
"Oh, Paul, the girl that you told me
about at the circus is here. poor child! She
has run away from that dreadful man
whom you saw that day, and she says that
you told her to come to you if ever she
wanted help. The man has been beating
her most cruelty, and wanted her to marry
one Of the clowns-just fancy, child like
that And she is half-starved and wet
through. so have been getting her into dry
things and giving her good meal"
THAT was right Maggie" said Paul,
turning shade paler as he heard, land
where is she? In the Kitchen"
NO." said Maggie. hesitatingly. "She Is
I'm your study now, and / wanted to speak
to you before you went in, because 1 think.
PAUL. think we are on the verge Of
great discovery. 1 am afraid 1t will be
rather a shock to you, dear, but do you
know. 1 am almost certain that this is poor
Alan's child!'
The rector did not speak He looked into
his wife's clear eyes and wondered to see
in them no shade of the perplexity, the
trouble and the care that had SO long dis
turbed his own mind.
''She has been telling me all her story"
said Mrs. Haywood. taking her husband
by the lapels of his coat and looking eager
ly into his face. land she has shown me
some papers which cannot help thinking
quite genuine, and if so. Paul, her real
name is Laura Haywood, and she is the
'Squires granddaughter. Think how pleased
the dear old man will be-
But Maggie. Maggie" said Paul Hey
wood. recalling all His own doubts of the
future and all his doubts of her, "have you
thought-what a difference it will make--in
Dicks position?''
''Dick will have to work for himself"
said Maggie. decidedly. "And after all
that's better position for him than wait
ing to step into dead mems shoes. 1 am
sure, Paul, that that consideration would
never trouble you for one moment; and
although / was mean enough just for one
minute to think of it, yet when L remem-
bered ali you have said to me so many
a .at1r haip for
1 could lot help thinking that Providence
itself must have taken you to see that
girl and brought her afterwards to our
very door. and indeed l cannot think of
anything just now except how glad the
squire will be-
For moment Paul Haywood put his
hand over his eyes and murmured a few
words which seemed to Mrs. Haywood
strangely inappropriate. "A good wife is
from the Lord" he said. and then with a
little moisture in his eyes. but smile upon
lis lips. he kissed his wife very tenderly.
Take me to the girl dear. and let me
hear her story. Then If 1t can be SUBJ
stantiated will go UP to the hall as soon
as possible with the news. 1 think it will
save my uncles life."
And he was right. The discovery that
'the girl in red," as Dick had always called
his favorite lady rider. was indeed no other
than Laura Haywood. daughter of the
long-lost Alan, seemed to bring the squire
back from the brink Of the grave. In the
new interests that were afforded by her
presence in the house. by her training and
education, and by the affection that she
lavished upon him and all his relations
In full measure, he found occupation and
variety enough to keep him well and happy
for many a lorg year.
And it was Laura who ultimately found
a way to help the rector and his family out
of their difficulties; it was Laura who be-
came in after years steady and gener-
Gus friend to Dick and to his younger
brothers. and it was Laura who paid
debt of everlasting gratitude, which always
made Paul Haywood deeply ashamed of
his cowardice in the past and fully re-
solved to do his duty more fully in the
future. Indeed, the rector of Little Sedg-
ington always dated his greatest advance
mental as well as material, from the day
when Maggie made him ashamed of his
hardness in acknowledging a kinswoman
In 1.-The Girl in Red"
If Christ Should Come To-Day.
II Christ should come to-day,
~ H-L-