Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-06-01
"UntO One OF the
Least of These
Bu RICHARD BARKER SHELTON
Cn1l1nfdhk 1905. hm Rubu DoiiaLds

Ill
Van Ruyven followed the butler up
the wide stairs, inwardly amused at his
own trepidation. 1t was most absurd,
he told himself, for man to feel as he
did under these circumstances. There
We're certainly no logical grounds for
Lis vague fears. Still there was the
haunting possibility that the bishop
might raise objections. Remote this
possibility was, to be sure, but none the
less potent. Van Ruyven remembered
the time there had been a case pending
against him in the courts. 1t was q sill
ly case trumped up by an ambulance
chaser. His lawyer had told him from
the first it was nothing to worry about.
And yet he had been more or less dis
turbcd until The jury had brought In Its
verdict in his favor. His position now
as he mounted the stairs in the wake
of the solemn butler seemed analogous.
At the head of the stairs the butler
drew aside the leather portlere, and
Van Ruyven entered the big, dim
study. A fire cracked cheerfully upon
the hearth and sent fiickering shadows
dancing up and down the rows upon
rows of books. Near by green shaded
lamp threw q soft light upon table
Uttered with books and papers.
As Van Ruyven crossed the threshold
q fine figure OF man rose from his
hyr 10 forward
with outstretched hand.
arthur, I'm glad to see you" said
the bishop, with smile that left no
doubt as to the sincerity OF his words.
"Sit down here by the fire and give an
account of yourself. ] count myself in
luck that you take the trouble to come
up here to see me when Edith is in the
house" N
He drew two comfortable chairs be-
fore the fire and motioned Van Ruyven
to one of them.
"Now, then, what sort Of absolution
do you want this timer the bishop
went on lightly "or perhaps you came
up here because you knew I'd let you
smoke"
Van Ruyven smiled. Thanks, will
smoke IL you don't mind" he said
drawing out his cigar case. He selected
a cigar with as much care as IL the
fate of an empire hung upon his choice,
clipped the end and slowly lighted 1t.
He smoked abstractedly for moment
or two before he turned to the bishop.
1.-THE fact is" Van Ruyven began, II
have come to you tonight with very
delicate mission
"Ah, | sec" The bishops words
were formal, noncommittal, but his
clean shaven, kindly face lighted up
with smile Of understanding and
there was hint of mischief in the
gray eyes. Van Ruyven was looking
into the fire again. He puffed nervous
ly at the cigar
"And this delicate misslon2" the bish-
op suggested mildly.
"I came, sir" said Van Ruyven,
speaking very slowly, 'to ask you If
You would have any objections to me
as-as Edith's husband-that Is" he
amended quickly, "if Edith herself has
no objections. You see, l haven't ascer-
tanned that as yet"
The bishop Strengthened himself in
his chair. With his broad shoulders
and his iron gray hair he was a decid-
edly imposing man. Just now he re-
| garded his guest with an odd express
| sion, half of affection, half of amuse-
| ment.
80 you came to me first" he said
| quietly. Rather a rare procedure In
these degenerate days. You show a
| delicate Difference sir, to certain ideas
| that inherit from my ancestry on the
other side of the Mason and Dixon line.
! think | shall have to index you as
master tacticlan," he ended playfully.
"Then you have no objections in the
matter?' asked Van Ruyven.
| "Bless my soul, no." laughed the bish
| op, "and if | read Edith rightly she has
none either"
He leaned forward In his chair and
regarded the younger man intently.
His face became suddenly grave.
"There Is something about Edith,
however, that ! must confide to you,"
he said, something that no one alive
knows save l, myself. Under the cir
cumstances, Arthur, you should know
| it too. l disclose 1t under the seal Of
tle confessional as something you must
never mention at any time nor under
any stress"
Van Ruyven bent his head slowly in
acknowledgment of his obligation.
Edith" said the bishop very gently
as if even the confession Of it cost him
q pang, sis not my own child"
Van Ruyven sat up in surprise. "Not
your child 2" he repeated incredulously.
mo" said the bishop. Years ago,
when was in charge Of very humble
/ country parish, she was left on the
steps of the rectory one night, tiny
mite, wrapped in an old horse blanket.
We intended at first to send her to an
asylum, but there was something
about those big dark eyes and those
tiny arms even then that cried out to
us. You know there were never any
children of our own, and she came to
fill the vacant niche in our lives" He
paused a moment and smiled reminis-
Gently. 81 thought you ought to know
Of this even if''-
"My dear bishop" Van Ruyven inter
rupted, 81 doubt If she could have been
really more yours had she been born to
you. Why, she has your ideas and your
traits. She even has your penetrating
way of looking at one.'
81 don't think the accident Of her
birth has male very much Inference
with her or with me-" the bishop said.
"My own daurhtor could not have been
mona 10 y,,a rth1rv Tho hichop'o