Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-06-06

| J ount 'I-uay gives me the
strongest proof of her great love for mel'
For Howard Leslie. though as yet be
stood alone in the world, had won and
gwen the love of life. He had been
SIX months betrothed 10 Almena Bate.
man, one OF the noblest of women, and
but Tor his aunt's long illness and death,
would have been already married man.
But Almena, with all his friends. had
certainly regarded him as his aunt's
heir, and his heart coDuacted with pain
aS be thought his modest fortune nigh,
influence The choice of one who regarded
him as probable millionaire.
Loving Almena with his whole heart
he cou d not wait patiently to have so
important question solved. and when
the evening shadows fell, he went 10 the
house of his betrolhed wife. He knew
the iidpgs of his disappointment had
preceded him, for Nr. Batenan had
been present at the reading OF the will
But he did not know of the stormy scene
that had followed that gentleman's re-
turn To the house.
He had commanded his daughter 10
dismiss her suitor at once, had abused
him roundly, "a beggsrly impostor" be-
ing one OF the mildest terms by which he
had characterized him. But Almens had
firmly resisted the command.
III you told me to dismiss Howard for
any unworthy act. any loss of honor,
would bey you. father" she said; "but
| love him none the less that he is not
his aunt'S heir And she steadily per-
sisted in the assertion, while Mrs.
Bateman tearfully protested that twenty
thousand dollars and beautiful house
was far more than Mr.. Ba,eman pos
sessed when they were married; and.
besides, Mr.. Leslie was in iair practice
in his profession.
And alter bis first explosion of wrath
the indignant father unwillingly consent
ed to let matters remain as they were.
Yet it was with pale cheeks and
troubled eyes that Almena welcomed
Howard, aud he, knowing nothing OF the
immediate cause, feared she was sorrow
ing for the loss of the wealth she had
hoped TO control.
There was pause OF painful silence
between the two alter the first words OF
greeting. and Howard broke it by plung-
ing at once into the question he had
come to solve.
"Mena. be said gravely, 81 have to-
day become heir. not to great property,
as | expected, but TO trust so solemn
that must put it fully before you, before
hold you TO your sweet promise 10 one
day be my wife. You have heard OF my
aunl's will?"
Papa told me-"
And you have wondered, as all my
friends have done, at the disposal OF her
property. She has left a letter for me.
that is Il sacred trust. but because love
you, because believe you will give me-
noble aid in the life work she asks me to
undertake. | ask yCu to read 1t. You
will keep her confidence. know, even
if YOU and | must renounce the hope OF
our lives
Very gravely alter this solemn preface
Almena read the letter Without date OF
address, il began
Il shall be dead, Howard, when this
is handed you, aud you will be thinking
have dealt hsrshiy, perhaps uDiustIy by
you. Aud because love you with q
love only second 10 that | gave my own
boys, sleeping in their graves, ltell you
the cause Of my seeming harshness.
al have absolute control OF nearly
million of dollars, money laden with a
curse. money that has sapped ali the Joy
of my lie, money that has burdened me
with a weight beyond my strength to
carry. can cast it off at the grave, and
I will not throw the burden and the
curse upon you. because l love you.
"My own dowry, my own house. l
leave to you. There is no curse on lhat'
no cry of ruined homes, of wrecked lives
bursting from that. My father earned
the dollars, one by one, in honest toll,
and left them to nue., and leave them 10
you. ia
"But the other! You have asked me
often what ciouded my life, what aged
me beyond my years, and | told You
was q childess widow! But that l was
so. is the fault of the love of gold that
drew my husband into traffic which
brought us unspeakable woe.
II would never tell you my life secret,
but you shall read ii here, here on the
last pages shall ever write.
owe were not young people. jerome
Durvasne and myself. but already par
ents OF we'll grown sons and lair daugh-
ters. when he was offered saloon at
very low price. A Saloon, perfectly
respectable, Howard, he assured me-
where money was made rapidly over
liouor bar. 10 vain | begged of him 10
refuse the offer, and rest contented with
the fair salary he was earning as cashier
in large manufacturing house. In vain,
All my prayers snc arguments were lost
"The perfectly respectable saloon was
,sken. reti,,ed, made attractive every