Year: 1875

WAS HE RESPONSIBLE.
BY r. B. LEWIS.


"Is this your firm, unalterable decision ?"


The words came from this great, strong man
as though wrung from him in bitterest agony.
at is, Arthur. don't deny that love you,
for do, as much as my tickle nature is capa-
BILE of loving anyone; but | cannot be your
wife. | take back the promise gave you some
months ago, and you are free. You know how
poor you are and likely to be for years to come,
and / cannot bear the thought of poverty.
must have silks and satins, laces and diamonds,
and live in sumptuous style, with plenty of
servants to anticipate my lightest wish. All
these Mr.. Fenwick can give me, and mean to
accept him when he asks me as know he in
tends to do tomorrow night. These words
came from the lips Of a beautiful girl seated by
the side of the man, and her tone of voice show
ed that ne persuasion would alter her decision.
To gaze into the face of Stella Denton one would
have imagined naught but purity, goodness and
truth Scarce q woman, with face and form
rivaling the Venus de- Medci, it is not to be
wondered that hssts of the sterner sex had cast
their naked hearts at her feet, butall proclaim
ed her heartless until Arthur Lake, with his
hsnest manlness, offered her the strength of his
unbounded love, and then fora time, the deeper
nature of the beautiful coquette owned allegi-
glance and she felt that there was such thing
as true happiness upon earth But the bliss
full ecstacy of the impassioned lover was but
short lived.


A wealthy sutor, more than twice her years,
presented himself. and bowed at the shrine of
this proud, imperious beauty. Poor Arthur
saw the ground gradually slipping from be-
meath his feet, and finally unable longer to en-
dure the torturing suspense, he asked her where
her encouragement of this millionaire was to
end. Her reply struck like poisoned dagger
into his vitals. "In my marrying him." This
was the woman for whom Arthur Lake would
have esteemed the world we'll lost, and now he
was to lose her.


"But Stella, Oh God, pity me; Stella de you
consider the horrible pain you are causing me.
Don't you know, would sacrifice all the bless
cd gifts of Heaven for you. Can you be blind
TO such love this, ana VIII you sCanU Deroro
the altar and swear to love, honor and obey a
man for whom you scarcely have respect? Do
you net know that my life will be utterly blast
ed if YOU leave me, and are you willing to de-
stroy my happiness forever and render your
self miserable for life for the sake of gold ?"-
Thus plead he, loving this cold, calculating
woman with love amounting to idolatrys A
cynical smile curved the lips of the girl.
Could it be possible that she was insensible to
his suffering and the enormity of the act she
was about to commit, but her answer was light
and 1ippant enough, and if any emotion there



| in her face, or was betrayed in her voice.
"Arthur have told you l intended to marry
| Clarence Fenwick if he asked me, which l am
sure he will do tomorrow night. l pity you
| (hew cold the tone), and knowing that you love
me better than ever expected or deserved to
| be loved, am fully aware that this confession
| is causing you untold suffering. l believe
nsthing could ask of you to do for nae would
| be toe difficult Of accomplishment, and / am
| willing to "say" to minister that l will love,
| homer and obey Mr.. Fenwck. But you will
| get over this. expect you are "hard hit'' now
to find your idol SO suddenly shattered, but a
few years hence l expect to see you the happy
husband of happy wife, one who has more
heart than l, and who will prove truer and
better woman and in the end render your path
through life easier than would, or ever could.
| "I tell. you Arthur Lake." she CRIED desper-
| ately in an excited, intensified manner, 81 can
not be denied in my least desire. l expect to
live a life of gilded misery, but will load my
self with all the gorgeous apparel that un-


bounded wealth can afford, and the outside
| world. shall not know that there is canker


worm eating out my very life. Should you be-


come elevated to sudden wealth and ask me be-


fore the altar to wed you, would leave Clar-


ence Fenwick's side and come to yours, but


without that we must live apart. Oh +! you may


call it selling my soul for gold,-half hysteri-


-"but,"-recovering herself with mighty


effort-"I care not. I only know l will be rich,


and can, if I wish it, flash the Koh moor upon


my hand"


With a voice of utter, despairing sadness
Arthur Lake spoke.


"And you care not then, Stella, that you will


blight my life, render your own base hypoc-


rsy, but think you that Mr.. Fenwick will not


discover why you have married him, and turr


from you with loathing at the revelation? ?"


"He will have ne opportunity to reproach


me assure you, for shall tell him that love


him not, although if he wishes to marry me


I will not withhold my consent. Then if he


is willing to run the risk he can have no enc tC


blame but himself. But Arthur, let us cease


this very distasteful conversation. He may MOI


propose to me, after all, and want you to come


and see me and be just as attentive as ever i


will do me good to have you by me sometimes


for you know how frightfully addicted am to


the blues, and you are the only one who can


drive them away"


"Stella, darling, you know / can refuse yor


nothing. | would to God, could 60 away from


here and forget you altogether, but no, no,


cannot, cannot Life is useless to me with


out you, and while have the slenderest thread


of hope to keep my head above the waves,


will cling to it."


'Now that's a real good fellow and spoken like
: your own generous self. Come let US take s


walk and the silent influences of the voiceles'


stars and gentle moon will make contentment


reign again"


Nine men out of ten reading this sketch viii


say "what fool, to allow any woman to 81


gain the mastery" and nine women out Of ter


will lock with glowing eyes upon this aban


donment of devotion and cry, "Heaven send mi


such lover" To the former can only answer


fool or not such was Arthur Lakes nature
If he made friend it was for life; no matte
what evil reports might meet him, no mstte
how unkind fortune might have been to the re
cipient of his regard; no matter ever, how
! reaeherous this friend himself might have
proved his heart remained true to its first allie
glance If his friend was slandered, he weuls


ferret it out and sift The charge to the bottom


If found false his regard was strengthened; i


true he would say, $50 much more need for me
to help him now that he is on the downward


road" If poverty had trodden on him with irol


heel, his kndest sympathy was given and hi
| manly aid not withheld, and if this frient


showed treachery, Arthur Lakes charitable


soul would appeal for a merciful sentence.
Such was the man who had given up his wealth


Of love to woman who had declared that sh


would sell ber soul for wealth.


Arthur Lake endeavored to shake off tn


deep dependency which pervaded his entir


being, and the light, joyous laugh and witty
| bon raots of his comp panon aided him much II


his efforts, SO that their moonlight .promenad


was rather pleasant one. Upon leaving he


fer the night, however, the dead agony fell up
on his heart again and clasping her shapel,


white hand in his he said. "Stella, this ma.
be the last night of happiness l am ever t.


know but whilst hoping, trusting, praying 10


the best shall prepare for the worst. me da.
, after tomorrow is Thursday. l will call IN Tn


evening at my usual hour. If Mr.. Fenwick Ii
to wrest from me the prize would sacrifice m.
hopes Of hereafter to win, must then know