Marshall County Republican., 1875-02-18
THE HEIRS HEIR.

"Who is that charming creature, Ave
nel."
"What not know Mrs. Banvard, the
belle and beauty of the season. Not to
know her, Henry, argues yourself I'M
known"
From the depths of my social OBJ
scurity / have heard of her neverthe-
less, / had no idea she was so beautiful.
A rich Irish widow, is she not :"
"Yes; she accompanied her father
and his second wife to England last
June, and is SO we'll pleased with society
here that she intends to remain perma-
nently, l believe. She is fabulously
rich, and, as You see, very beautiful, and
has the reputation also of being very
amiable and intelligent. If it were not
for one drawback, / should advise you
to fall in love with her, Henry"
And what is that. prayl"
1.-The drawback is that, in case she
marries again, she fOrfeits all her for
tune"
II never could marry her, Avenel,
with or without that proviso," said
Henry.
81 was not aware that you are en-
gagged"
81 am not engaged. But / am poor,
and | would not be guilty of the mean
ness of even seeming to marry for
money. And surely would not be the
means of bringing splendid woman
like her down to my level of penury."
''That last would be rather unpleas-
ant, L confess. But L cannot see any
meanness III a man marrying rich wife,
if he can love her well enough. And
don't think she would be very hard to
love, do you. ?"
50 cannot tell, 1 am sure, never hav-
ing tried, " said Henry, with great frig-
idity.
Henry 'ival was very proud. He
inherited !, . ne from his mother, who,
having married against the wishes of her
family, and been cast off by them on
that account, had refused to mention
them, even to her son.
/" You need ask me no questions about
my family, Henry" she would say,
coolly, in reply to his questions 'they
are nothing to you. Your fathers name,
and the admitted talents you inherit from
him, are quite sufficient to you. And
you have, besides, your mothers love
and prayers-your mother, who takes
pride In no other name than that of Per-
cival."
During his fathers lifetime Henry had
known "neither poverty nor riches.
Mr.. Percival had been superior archi-
tect, and had never failed to provide
amply for his wife and son. But he
died /; and, during the five years succeed
ing that event, it had been rather uphill
work for Henry to provide for his mother
out of his earnings as a clerk. His salary,
however, had increased, year by year,
till, at the time my story begins, he was
head clerk in Wholesale house, at rate
of salary that did not, certainly, consti-
tute affiuence, but, with frugaity, was
quite sufficient for his mothers and his
own modest needs.
What i'll fortune, Henry wondered,
had brought him to Long Beach to spend
his summer vacation there to meet
Isabel Banvardl Nobody but himself
knew, thank fortune, what fool he was.
But he knew that he loved that bright,
particular star," that shone as far above
his reach as Bertram did above the fair
Helena's. Well, he could keep his own
counsel, at any rate this he was deter
mined upon. His mother had proved
that she could keep q secret, and it would
go hard if he could not.
Henry stood upon the beach, watching,
In company with his friend Avenel, the
crowd of morning bathers. Such sight
is generally neither highly romantic nor
highly picturesque, though here and
there bathing costume is sometimes
seen that produces the latter effect. Such
a one at least was Isabel Banvard's this
brilliant August morning. Her glorious
black eyes glowed all the darker for the
contrast between them and the bright
bird-of-paradise-colored robe she wore,
which also brought into the most charm
ing relief her clear olive complexion and
dark bands of ripping hair. Henry's
heart gave q great leap as he saw her