Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-07-13

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la; and always said | would marry
a rich man."
"Not without loving him p
"Bah it's enough if be loves me-
How do love matches end? Either
one dies and the other is wretched, or
they quarrel and are divorced in a
year or two. Better not love say L."
| sighed. She was half right after
all.
Hes mystery, toe" says Grace.
"No one knows anything about him,
except that he is enormously rich. He
has bought the Elms- the finest place
here, you know-and they are max
ing great pet of him-all for his
money. He saw me home-to the
envy of every girl in the room, and
he'll probably call tomorrow to ask
how | am. Will you shut me in my
room and send him away, cruel sis
ter ?"
| tried to smile, and the thought
came upon me that it might be better
never to know the height of happiness
if one must be plunged from it into
the depths of misery.
"I shall not turn the Cuban away,
If he is a good man and my sister
likes him." l said, and Grace laughed
and went to bed.
The Cuban did call the next day,
but | was out and did not see him.
The neighbors spoke well of him, how
ever; and he had bought the great
place called "the Elms," and intend
ed to be a resident of the town. In
a worldly point of view it seemed a
good match for any girl, and waited
anxiously to see the man himself
Three days after had the opportuni-
ty.
Grace had been to church in the
evening; my boy was i'll, and | had
staid away. When it was time for
service to be over | sat by the win
dow watching for her. The bedroom
was dark, and the moon shone out
side very brightly; consequently [
could see the garden plainly. Soon
Grace came up the path on a mans
arm. At the gate she bade him good
by, and stopped to say few words.
She STOOD inside, swinging the gate
in her hand. He leaned with both
arms folded on the fence outside.
} | had seen the picture before
Where! With leap my mind went
back to the night before my husbands
murder saw Jane, the mulatto
cook, auu her companion; and oh
mercilul heavens the mans face was
tne same! This was shadowed by a
: fashionable hat-a fashionable collar
,and cravat, and an elegant overcoat
, finished tue costume, while the first
a face was set off by ragged and ruffian
; ly garments, but the persons were the
2 same. | could have laid my hand up
q Oh the Bible and sworn to that fac
Oh the spot. As | grew positive of
this my senses departed, and my sis
ter, when she entered, found me in {
swoon upon the floor.
t When l recovered I doubted ny
e own sanity. ! laid what | had seel
o to illusion of moonlight and distance
It | argued with myself that until | ha(
h again seen this Cuban, | must regar(
the whole affair as delusion. | wait
ed, not patiently, but silently. Sool
It | met him lace to face in my own par
= lor. The moment was terrible one
n knew | had made no mistake.
e There had never been the faintes
f doubt in my mind that this companion
OF James had been at the bottom Of
2. the dark deed of that horrible night
e There was no doubt now that thi
l. was the man yet my own common
d sense told me that to accuse a wealth
III gentleman on such slight grounds a
s. the memory OF lace seen once b
y moonlight, would be absurd. shoul
~ be called insane. But, if were, thi
was bold, bad man, and Grac
I'd should have no more to do with hin
ID | told her so that night, and she turf
| ed on me angrily.
ne "You should have spoken sooner,
it she said. at has gone too far. | al
as half engaged to him. 1t is a splel
did match for a poor girl, and L
yh marry him."
id "Do you love him? ?" SAID |.
Vn She lausntd. No; but, as sal
* once before, he loves me. That
nd enough. | shall get used to his way
ch and looks, no doubt; and | shall
mistress of a splendid house: carriag
ne horses, etc, and shall enjoy myself
'p- 1t is only for his ugly face you ha
. my Cuban. Don't you rememb
he Shakespeare: "Mislike me for my COZ
en- plexion," etc. To be sure, he is su
rs, piciously dark; but it IS Cuban
ry.. nothing else"
ed And changing at once from ang
lst to gay, she kissed me.
af- "He has horrible face" | sal
s.but that is not all. Grace, this mu
ne, not 60 on. | will tell you secr'
ith The face | saw over the gate on tn
= awful night talking to Jane. I
We face of one connected, am sure, wi
ew this murder was this mans face, al
Ill he, Grace, is the man himself"
ter Grace answered with laugh.
ost "You are Wild" she said. 9TH
you have always said, was a raggt
)ne wretched fellow"
ray ayes; but still the man in 9th
! | clothes"
md "a millionaire has no need to tn
burglar"
cen "How did this man make his me-
ace ey? can you answer that ?"
rry "Nonsense-of course not. G.
ON ton or sugar, / suppose. l hope y
the are not going to have another brs
fever, my dear"
IT." "My brain is steady, Grace. he
me-"
nTbat can't. Yon will ace We