The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-05-11

make out exactly how it is, and she
was much excited. Suppose it was Sco-
vile, couldn't you do something for
them then, RobertF
81 might" replied Mr.. Hardy briefly.
"But l can tell you l have more calls
for my money now than 1 can meet.
Take the church expenses, for example.
Why, we are called upon to give to
some cause or other every week, be-
sides our regular pledges for current
expenses. It's a constant drain. l
shall have to cut down on my pledge.
We can't be giving to everything all
the time and have anything ourselves"
Mr.. Hardy spoke with touch of in
dignation, and his wife glanced around
the almost palatial room and smiled
Then her face grew a little stern and
almost fOrbidding as she remembered
that only last week her husband had
spent $3.50 for new electrical appa-
ratus to experiment with in his labora-
tory. And now he was talking hard
times and grudging the small sums he
gave to religious objects in connection
| with his church and thinking he could
not afford to help the family of a man
who had once saved his lifei
Again she turned to the piano and
played awhile, but she could not be
rested by the music as sometimes she
had been. When she finally rose and
walked over by the table near the end
of the lounge, Mr.. Hardy was asleep,
and she sat down by the table, gazing
into the open fire drearily, look Of
sorrow and unrest on the face still
| beautiful, but worn by years Of disap-
pointment and the loss Of that respect
| and admiration she once held for the
man who had vowed at the altar to
make her happy. She had not lost her
| love for him wholly, but she was fast
| losing the best part of 1t, the love
which has its daily source In an Unborn
respect When respect Is gone. love is
not long in following after.
She sat thus for half an hour and
was at last aroused by the two girls,
Clara and Bess coming in. They were
laughing and talking together and had
evidently parted with some one at the
door. Mrs. Hardy went out into the
hallway.
"Hush. girls, your father is asleep!
You know how he feels to be awakened
suddenly by noise. But he has been
waiting up for you."
1 .tThen guess we'll go up stairs
without bidding him good night" said
Clara abruptly. Il don't want to be
lectured about going over to the Cax-
tons"
"No; want to see you both and have
a little talk with you. Come in here"
Mrs. Hardy drew the two girls into the
front room and pulled the curtains to-
gether over the arch opening into the
room where Mr.. Hardy lay. Now tell
me, girls. why did your iather forbid
your going over to the Caxtons'? did
not know until tonight. Has it some
thing to do with James2"
Neither of the girls said anything for
a minute. Then Bess, who was the
younger of the two and famous for
startling the family with very sensa-
tional remarks, replied, James and
Clara are engaged, and they are going
to be married tomorrow"
Mrs. Hardy looked at Clara, and the
girl grew very red In the face, and
then. to the surprise of her mother and
Ress, she burst out into violent fit of
crying. Mrs. Hardy gathered her into
her arms as In the olden times when
she was little child and soothed her
into quietness.
''Tell me all about it, dear. l did not
know you cared for James in that
way"
"But do" sobbed Clara. "And ia.
ther guessed something and forbade us
going there any more. But l didn't
think he would mind it If Bess and
went just this one night. l couldn't
help it anyway. Mother, isn't it right
for people to love each other"
"'Tisn't proper to talk about such
things on Sunday" said Bess solemnly.
''Claraw said Mrs. Hardy. why
you're only child yet! Is it true that
James is Why. he Is only boy"
HE is 21, and am IS, and he's earn
ing $40 month In the office and is one
of the best stenographers In the state
We've talked 1t over, and l wish W.
could be married tomorrow, SOP Clarf
burst out with 1t all at once, while Bess
remarked quietly:
Eyes, they're real sensible, and
think James is nice. but when l marry
want more than $40 month for can
dy alone. And, then, he isn't particu
larly handsome"
''He is, too," cried Clara "And he'
good and brave and splendid, and II
rather have him than a thousand sucl
men as Lancey Cummings. Mother,
don't want money. 1t hasn't made yo,
happy"
) flush, dearm Mrs. Hardy felt as 1
a blow had smitten her in the face
She was silent then.
; Clara put her arms around her moth
er and whispered: "Forgive me, moth
am so unhappyr'
: Unhappy! And yet the girl was jus
beginning to blossom out toward th
facesof God under the influence of tina
most divine and tender and true feel
ing that ever comes to girl wh'
, knows a true, brave man loves he
with all his soul. And some peopl
, would have us leave this subject to tn
, fippant novelist instead of treating |
as Christ did when he said, "For thi
cause"-that is. for love-"shall a mai
leave his father and mother and cleav,
| unto his wife"
Mrs. Hardy was on the point of say
ing something when the sound of pc
Il culiar steps on the stairs was heard
and shortly after Alice pushed the cur
tains aside and came in. Alice wa
| the oldest girl il the family. She wa
? a cripple, the result of an acciden
, when a child, and she carried crutcI