The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-09-28

wa uHNltI lllt@t IllttiIiSltl
were certainly no logical grounds for
hi; vague fears. Still there was the
haunting possibility that the bishop
might raise objections. Remote this
possibility Wa. to be sure, but none the
less potent. Van Ruyvcu remembered
the time there had been Il case pending
against him IN the courts. 1t was sill
~ ease, trumpcd 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 portiere, and
Van Ruyven entered the big, dim
study. \ fire cracklcd chcerfully upon
the hearth and sent flickcring shadows
dancing up and down the rows upon
rows of books. Near by a green shaded
lamp threw soft light upon a table
Uttered with books and papers.
As Van Ruyvca crossed the threshold
Il fin" figure of Il man rOSc from his
seat Ivy the table and came forward
with outstrctchcd hand.
"Artllur. I'm glad to see YOU" said
the bishop, with Il smile that left no
doubt as to the sincerity of his words.
a. Il hnro tI,p fir nn1 Oirn an
account of yourself. | count myself in
luck that you take the trouble to come
up here to see re when Edith IS in the
house"
He drew two comfortabI" chairs be-
fore the fire and motioned Van Ruyven
to one of them.
"NOw. then. what sort Of dissolution
do YOU want this time" the bishop
went on lightly. "or perhaps you came
up here because you knew I'd let you
smoke"
Van Ruyycn smiled Thanks. l will
smoke if you don't mind" he said,
drawing out his cigar case. He selected
a cigar with as much care as If the
fate Of an empire hung upon his choice,
clipped the end and slowly lighted it..
He smoked abstractedly for IL moment
or two before he turned to the bishop.
The fact is Van Ituyven began, Il
have come TO you tonight with a very
delicate mission"
"Ah. | see" The bishops words
were formal noncommittal. but his
clean shavcn. kindly face lighted up
with Il smile of understanding. and
there was Il hint of mischief IN the
gray eyes. Van Ruyven was looking
into the fire again. He pulled nervous
ly at the cigar.
"And this delicate mission?' the bish-
op suggested mildly.
81 came. sir" said Van Ruyvcn.
speaking very slowly. ito ask you If
you would have any objections to me
as-as Edilh's husband-that IS" he
amended quickly, IF Edith herself has
no objections. You see. I 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 decid-
Nul.N iIp~iiI- lll'RIh' puNt NOV nv -
garled his guest with an odd express
sion. half of affection, half of amuSe-
ment.
so YOU came 10 me first" he said
quietly Rather Il rare procedure in
these degenerate days. You show a
delicate Difference. sir, to certain ideas
that l inherit from my ancestry on the
other side of the Mason and Dixon line.
l think | shall have to index you as a
master tactician,' he ended playfully.
"Thcn You have no objections in the
natter" 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 confde to YOU
lie said, something that no one alive
knows save I, myself. Under the cir
cumstanceS. Arthur, you should know
it too. | disclose it under the seal Of
tie 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
a pans. rs not my own child"
Van Ruyv2n sat up in surprise. Not
your child?" he repeated incredulously
NO" said the bishop. Years ago,
when was in charge of very humble
country parish. she was left OH the
steps of the rectory one night, II 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 We're never any
children of OUr own, and she came to
fill the vacant niche in our lives" He
paused Il moment and smiled reminis-
Gently II thought you ought to know
Of this, even if
"N1y dear bishop" Van Ruyven inter
rupted. Il doubt if she could have been
really lllbl I N''lH iifiNa Hii' ''''h '''i' ~
you. Why. she has your ideas and your
traits. She even has your penetrating
way of looking ut one"
az don't think the accident of her
birth has made very much difference
with hrr or with me-" the bishop said,
"My own daughter could not have been
more to me. Arthur" The bishops
eyes wcrr moist In his earnestnsss
"Shc has never once disappointed me,
Even her intentions seem TO be NINE"
There was Il commotion downstairs,
then the sound of footsteps on the pol
ished stairs and Il vigorous knock on
the Intel. The porticre was whisked
aside, and an excited maid came into
the room-so excited that she gave nc
heed to the bishops frown of mild re-
proof Ut her unseemly entrance.
"Plaze, sor," she gasped. Miss Edith
do be wantin' yer downstairs at vance