The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-08

the most eminent"
For moment she was silent.
"Rupert," she observed presently
''the way is open for you at last. NJ,
money is left untouched. In no wa,
would its use give me so much joy a
to know it was aiding you to Obtain
your ife's desire. You shall 90 t,
England, France and Germany. Qnl,
return to me as pure as you leave me-
For a time he opposed such a sug
gestion. He could not accept her mon
ey. But in proportion to his unwil
lingness to receive become her eager
ness to bestow.
At last he consented. He would on
ly consider it Il loan, to be repaid al
some future day. He would send tc
her, as to a banker, for what he re.
quired, and remain away some four O,
five years.
Her sister was very much opposed
to it when informed of what Estelle
proposed to do.
"You are exceedingly unwise, Es-
telle," she said, angriIy, "to draw from
your capital to give to him. 1 doubt
his goodness doubt his ever return
ing"
Estelle was wounded, but not dis
conraged. She made him present of
a very handsome gold watch and chain,
and money enough to defray all ex-
penses incidental to his journey and
first admittance to a medical school,
Then he was to write to her, and she
would send him more.
His first two years were passed in
and he received money from
her every quarter. He lived in style,
even luxury, surrounded himself with
everything he could wish for; and
though sometimes she thought he must
be very extravaganza in his habits, she
made no inquiries, no comments.
Her sister married and went to Cali
fornia, and Estelle was left alone to
watch and wait the still remaining
three years of his absence.
He went to Germany. He remained
there two years longer. The last year
of his proposed absence, he wrote to
Estelle thus:
"My love, do not know how to say
what l wish. My five years have near
ly expired. l have tried to improve
them-I conscientiously believe have.
| am nearing the goal, which, save for
the goodness of your true and noble
heart, 1 never could have hoped to at
tain, but yet I am not satisfied
wish to see you SO much, my poor, love
birding, that betimes I am ready to
drop everything, give up every future
hope for this world or the next, to fly
to you. But restrain myself. 1 wish
to be entirely worthy of you, and all
you have done for me, when do re-
turn. ooh, if I only could remain here
two years longer-two years, an eter-
nifty of time to be separated from you,
md yet how much might accomplish
therein p"
She perused and reperused that part
Of his letter. Two years more! Two
years of lone waiting-seyen years of
weary watching
She let not even sigh escape from
her lips. Her trust in him was i'm
plicit.
There is a passage in holy writ which
says: "There is no fear in love, but
perfect love casteth out fear; because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is
not made perfect in love-"
She was made perfect in earthly love
she knew no fear! II would be hard
for him to be away two years longer,
but if he desired it, she could not COM
plain.
She did not think how her youth was
leaving her-she did not care. The
only question was how could she OBJ
tain the money.
She had already lent him, so great
had been his extravaganza, every PEN
ny of the principal.
She took up her pen, and thus
wrote:
"Rupert, God alone knows how
much long for you each day; but if
It is your wish to remain away two
years more, DO not let that deter you.
You know my father did not leave me
Is well provided for as was anticipated,
md now all is gone bnt the homestead.
+ you think the two years necessary, L
will mortgage it,"
He did think two more years requi-
nte, but he wrote so touchingly about
Ter sacrifice that it seemed almost as if
lie was comforting favor on her by talk
ng it, than her on him by giving.
1t was mortgaged. Every dollar
he realized was sent to him. Her one
had dispensed with them
me by one--was discharged. Then
he stood alone! What was she to do I?
She could not appeal to her sister
he remembered the taunts that sister
lad extended to her.
She went out and procured q situa-
ion as governess in wealthy family
-0ne of her old friends.