The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-04-20

iicI all her acts, all her hOD- lnSs and fearlngs were tinged by it Dreams need a physical basis some where; and whatever is the outward condition of man or woman so will be
 the mind. Whatever the inward. so will be the outward: each is the true index tu the other. Her father though
 an acute enough man in other respects
 was subllmely unconscious of any change in his little girl; indeed he held her in his mind as but a child to whom the realities of life had not yet pre- sented themselves. And yet even as a father he was feeling the effects of her developed affection. All the sweet ness of her childhood had ripened. somehow her nature had become more puoyant, more elastic. Sweetness and thoughtful understanding of his wish es seemed to breathe from her. Now
 and again were languorous moments
 when her whole being seemed to yield
 itself 1nVoluntarily to a wish outside
 her OWL. To a woman these are times
 of danger. For when the will ceases
 passlvity is no longer negative; it is simply a doubling of the external
 domination-as though an active spirit had breathed into inertness. There are many readings to any of the Parables
 When certain devils have been cast out and the house has been swept and garnished may it not be that spirits other than devils may find place there ln- May it not also be that there is virtue in even selfishness: if only
 eAihI Ito pi OlSCtlNe presence Keeps out devils that would fain enter the house where it abides
 With a spirit of meekness Joy wait ed the coming of the friend who had been bidden; She had every confidence that he would come. True that he had not written to her: but she had seen his unsigned letter to Judy, and into It's barrenness had read meanings of her own. How could he not come to her when she would have so gladly flown to him? Besides there was al- ways with her the memory of that rapturous moment when he had spok- er her name: Joy look at mei'' It was not hard to remember that: it was the only time she had heard her name upon his lips. As the weeks had gone by. that little sentence impulsively spoken had arrived at the dignity of a declaration of passion. It had grown in her mind from a request to a com mand: and she felt the sweetness of being commanded by man she loved Tn that moment she had accepted him as her Master; and that acceptance on a Wonan's part remains as sacred outy of obedience so long as love lasts. IE1s is one of the mysteries of love- Like all other mysteries. easy of ac- ceptance to those who believe; an ac- ceptance which needs no doubting in veStgation, no proof. no consideration of any kind whatever. She had faith in him. and where Faith reins Patti ence ceases to be a, virtue.
 Tier 1athef waited also, though not in the same meel1ness of spirit In deed his feeling was fast becoming an exasperation in which the feeling of gratitude was merging. He felt that he had done all that was right and correct with regard to the young man, He had gone out of his way to be nice to him; but with only the result of in sult-that was the way in which he was beginning to construe the silence of MT. Hardy. Insult to his daughter hat thing which could not be brooked from anyone no matter how strong or how numerous were his claims for Ieniency! Joy saw that there was some cause of d1SpleasGre with her father and with a sinking heart had to attribute it to the real cause. She knew-which her father did not-from his letter to Judy that Mr. Hardy would have to be away from London just at the time of their visit; but she was afraid to speak lest she should precipitate catastrophe. It was not that she had fear in the or6i- nary sense. Much as she loved her But she felt that it would be unwfse to force the issue prematurely; her rather was man of such strong pre- ju5ices-he called them convictions:- that once they were aroused they mas tered his judgment. What might hap pen if he should give them scope on this occasion! Her heart sank more deeply still at the very thought.
 
 probably the wisest course; she kept him perpetually busy trotting about with her to see the sights of London This was a pleasure which she had long promised herself with-since the adventure with the runaway horse the added interest of having present a nice Engllshman to point out and ex- plain. This special charm had now to be foregone; and the denial made her secretly sad. However, the best ano- dyne to pain is pain; her anxiety re- garding her fathers case was a coun- teractant to her own. Father and were so busy morning noon and night, and the girl appeared to be SO tired when the days programme as laid down had been exhausted that oc- casion was lacking for consideration of ! disagreeable subject. Towards the end of the first week. however Colo | nel Ogilvie's patience began to fail. He felt that he must speak of his annoy ance to some one, and there was no choice. Joy felt that the moment had | come. and she did not finch. She had | grim foreboding that there would De something said which would give | ler pain to hear. Her hands were tied. | She could not even mention that Mr | Hardy was away; her father would be | sure to ask how she knew it. If he did | SO. she would not dare to tell him; for | she knew well that if he learned that | he man who had not even answered | lis own letter was in secret correspon- !
  ly-that is how he would put 1.-the | act would add fuel to the flame, would ] change chagrin to fury. And so she | steeled herself to the quiet endurance | )f suffering. l
 The blow fell at breakfast time when l ,er father had looked through the few | letters which lay beside his plate.
 well. I do think that the young | mans rudeness is unpardonable,,'
 Joy looked up with a pleasant smile ! which belied the chilly feeling about 1 Ter heart. She felt that she must pre- -end ignorance: her father might. la 1 ter on. hold a too ready acceptance as suspicious:
 What. Daddy? Who? Whose rude | less ?"
 ''That-that gentleman whom I asked ! o dine with MT. Hardy
 Perhaps he may not have got your | etter.''
 How do you mean. daughter? He must have got it: I directed it to the 1 he gave me himSelf.
 he Inc |