Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1903-02-26
Ralph Marlowe
THE RISE OF BABYLON
by. .SSS, Copyright 1901
JAMES BALL NAYLOR The Saalfcld Publishing Co

|
Miss Barwood. you are cruelty I'M
just. ! came to you at the solicitation
of Morris McDevitt-came as his sin
cere friend and well-wisher. But |
| will not pursue the matter further"
Thank you" she replied sneeringly.
| For few seconds a painful silence
reigned. Then Ralph said chokingly:
Just one word more. Miss Barwood.
What answer shall carry to Morris
! McDevitt?"
None
He is expecting one.
HE has his answer from me"
You will not marry him-athough
! you confess you love hm2"
For one brief moment she appeared
on the point of breaking down--of
| yielding. Her lips trembled: her eyes
| glistened with moisture. But she
clenched her white hands, set her teeth,
and fairly Kissed:
NO! ] will not marry him"
Because of his religion?'
Because of his lack of religion
He is a Catholic
Catholicism is not true religion--true
christianity. | will not marry him
and have told him so, over and over
until he renounces his false faith and
embraces Professionalism"
Not TO save him. even?'
Save him." she laughed scornfully,
harshly.
Then rapidly-the fire of fanaticism
in her voice and eyes:
mo one can be saved unless he Is
willing TO pm. himself in the way of
salvation. When Morris McDevitt
feels the need of salvation, | will aid
him all ! can. But | will not risk my
soul in vain effort to save his. He is
in need of heavenly salvation--not
earthly salvation; and must first help
himself"
Then you do not give credence to
what have told youth regard TO his
habits?'
Il do not. "-Flatly.
Ralph smiled sadly hut attempted no
reply. Az the moment Dolly bounced
into the room, crying,
Let me have that morocco case |
told you to put in your pocket. Ralph
Or. Marlowe. And she blushed con-
fusedly. prettily. 1T contains my finest
present a new watch from daddy. |
want 10 show 1t to you And | thank
you ever so much for the books you
gave me. How do you like your tie?
It's the prcttiest one | could find. Julia
helped me to select It,"
All the time she was rafting on,
Marlowe was searching his pockets for
the tiny gold timepiece.
All" he said at last, here II is |
had forgotten which pocket put 1t in"
He drew 1t forth and placed II In her
| palm, AS he did so. an envelope came
out with ii and dropped to the floor.
There IL lay unobserved
few minutes later Ralph took his
departure, Dolly accompanying him TO
the outer door.
When the two had passed into the
hall. Julia discovered the envelope and
picked II up. II bore in a woman's
fine chirography-"Dr. Ralph Mar
lowe. Babylon. Ohio"
Julia made a movement toward the
door, intending to restore the letter 10
its owner. But at that moment she
heard him descending the steps and
Dolly returning along the hall to the
sitting room.
SO, hastily thrusting It into her
BOSOM the elder sister made her exit
by the rear door and went to her room
Several days elapsed ere Ralph be-
came aware of the loss of the letter
Then, of course, he made diligent
search for II, and. Of course, did not
find it--and was greatly worried in CON
sequence
Christmas day was cold and clear
Must of the business places were closed,
AID a Sabbath-lke stiffness prevailed
in the village There was skating upon
the backwater north of the town. and
many of the children and young people
weer enjoying the exhilasating pas
time Sportsmen were abroad in the
fields and woods The midde-aged and
Old gathered around their own hearths
and softly, sadly talked OF the past SO
the streets were practically deserted
The black smoke rolled heavenward,
from time-racked crumbling chimneys,
gliding sleigh, or solitary pedestri-
an were the only signs Of life. The
silence was broken only by the rever-
berating roar Of a shotgun In the dis
lance, the musical Jingle Of sleigh bells,
or the faint. far-away shouts and
laughter OF the skaters upon the CLASSY
pond.
At o'clock in the forenoon, Dolly
Barwood was at work In the upper
chambers Of the big brick house she
called home, caroling like a bird. Sud
denly she threw down the dust cloth she
was using, passed from the room she
was putting to rights. and tiptoed soft
ly 10 the front end Of the hall There,
with her warm breath, she melted a
space upon the frost -incrusted pane OF
the window, wiped II dry with her
apron and peepei out She gaw 10 one
abroad A brief time she stood gazing
down the wide street-in the direction
OF the drugstore. which she could not
see Then. with a little futtering sigh,
she returned to her work; and minute
later her clear young voice was again
Ringing through the old house -
Down in the warm. spotless kitchen.
Mrs. Barwood and Julia were preparing
the Christmas dinner. Sayory odors
pervaded the place The table was
laden with pie dough, Jars Of mince-
meat and open cans Of fruit A turkey
was roasting In the oven Of the big
steel range, and upon its top a number
Of vessels simmered and danced Dol
lys merry voice fioated down tie back
stairway
Mother Julia said suddenly. brush
ing a spot Of -four from her apron and
LAYING down the spoon with which she