The Portland daily press., 1877-03-31

for ever, she had never known how much
she loved him. Indeed she had hardly ever
felt that she had heart; life had been one
long round of joyous trivolity. Now she
knew the utter nothingness OF all the nick
hacks of wealth. OF what use were dozens of
admirers if he was not there? She remem-
bered Captain Williams blunt declaration
that the best and truest woman was the one
who married for love. Poor Thurstan had
not a penny. Some of these men who
courted her had shown such had taste as to
describe the shifts he was sometimes put to:
instinctively they felt he was a dangerous
rival and thought to hold him up to con-
tempt.
81 know he loves me-" she said to herself.
"why has he never said so? Is it this
money? He istoo proud to have me think
he woos me Tor my money. Tomorrow
shall lose him forever"
From sheer exhaustion she fell asleep at
last, and was awakened by her maid, who
brought salver to her bedside, perfectly
heaped up with letters. Here were the bun
dred valentines!
Scarcely twenty hours before she had
looked forward to this moment with delight:
now she pushed the heap away as vanity
and vexation of spirit.
"Perhaps Thurstan has sent one,'' che
thought presently, and then turned them
writing. mo, not even a valentine; very
likely he is too poor to buy one that he
thinks good enough for me. What is this
thick letter? What curious writing It's
printing think"
Curiosity compelled her to open it. She
read and read and color rose to her cheeks.
IFS it possibleW she cried and sprang up.
''I'll do it! will don't carer'
Hlrriedly she wrote note and dispatched
IN Thrr o,ta cha hans I>11I
| doubtless; but reflect, they had been play
| mates. 1t ran thus:
"Miss Delaselle and Mr.. Delaselle would
| like to see Mr.. Bayard early in the day, that
they may wish him farewell. They will feel
much hurt if he does not come. -
"Good heavensw she thought, eff it should
not reach him; if he should not comep'
Thurstan, indeed, did hesitate, feeling that
| to see her again would be a severe trial,
But love, all powerful love, would not be
denied. He went. She had so arranged
that he found her alone in her boudoir.
"It's extremely rude of you, sir, to force me
to write to you" Now he was there she
could not resist the temptation to play with
the mouse she had caught. s'Why did you
not tell me before that you were going
Thurstan, unhappy and downhearted,
could not meet her light tone with answering
railery. He stammered some excuse.
1 Adu WuCtC die yOu SOluSs SlI
IL must obtain living somewhere"
"Why not in England?"
"The competition is too great. And eyery-
body despises me because l am poor.''
'Stanny," said she, using an old familiar
abbreviation and placing her little hand on
his broad shoulder, Stanny, you're big man
a giant-and oh, strong; can't you push
your way in the crowd ?''
"PVe tried" said he simply.
"No, you haven't. tell you what Stan
I'm not afraid of you, though you are so big
your eyes at mep' You're afraid, and so YOU
are now running away. You'll cry next, l
| suppose. This was very cruel, Marie, bit
terly crueD. You are not half as brave as |
am. Men are not half as brave as women"
Her voice sank lower and she looked at him
and her eyes suddenly filled with tears,
though he, gazing away, did not see it.
"Do you know what should do If 1 were in
your placer"
Something in her tone made him glance at
her with strange sensation in his throat.
"What would you do if you were me ?''
he said.
"Kiss and try," she whispered softly, let
ting her head droop against his shoulder.
He did it. There are no words by which
so sudden revulson of feeling can be de-
scribed. The half hour that followed was
the happest in his life. Suddenly he remem.
bered himself.
81 am SO poor" he said. ''Forgive me-
they will say it was your money"
/ Are you sure you are so poor? '' she said
archly.
'Quite sure"
"Then read that;" and she put Marshes
valentine into his hand.
He tried to, but he could not take his gaze
from her, and the letters seemed confused.
"Listen," said she, and read it. Slowly
the truth .dawned upon him. Jones, the
clerk, in his hurry, fearing to be caught peep
ing, had put the letter and the valentine in
the wrong envelopes, or rather confused the
addresses. Marie got instead of valentine a
long letter from Copp, the second principal OF
the firm, which had been really meant for
Thurstan. The valentine went heaven knows
/ where. or course how it happened was not
| found out till afterward, but there was no
installing the contents of the letter.
Copp in formal phrase informed Mr.. Thurs
tan Bayard that by the terms of the will OF
General Sir Frederick Bayard, just deceased
distant relation who never previously
owned him-he was entitled to very large
SUM in consols, and still more valuable es-
tates, prOvided-(ah, whenever was there a
blessing without black side ?)-provided
that within the space of twelve months he
married lady possessed of not less than a
given amount, upon whose children the whole
was to be settled. The old man was miser
and it had been the work of his life to rehabil-
itate the fallen fortunes of the family. CAST
ing about for means of keeping the money
he had painfully amassed in the family, he
l had hit upon this odd but not unreasonable
idea.
so you see," said Marie, "you're richer
than | am. Perhaps you won't have me
now?"
His answer was fresh embrace.
sAh." she said, knocking his previously
mournful tone. "Pm so poor now compared
to you, you'll think it was your money"
"Incorrigible," said he. kissing her.
"Incorrigible, indeed,' cried Aunt Jane,
Who had entered unseen. "This really is
shameful-most ungentlemanly.'
HE is richer than-everybody," said Ma
rie, laughing, "This is the most beautiful
valentine ever had"
"And this is the most beautiful one ever
had or ever shall have" said he, laying his
hand on her shoulder with an air of posses
sion that Mortified Aunt Jane.
Matters, however. were soon explained,
and her objections melted away, as did Mrs.
Delaselle's."
They were married early in May, Captain
Williams being Thurstan's best man.
Il was certain she loved you," he said. IT
can understand now what she meant on St.
Valentines eve when she looked at me so
meaningly, when 1 said the best and truest
woman was the one that married for love.
She loved you when you were poor, You
ought to be grateful to st. Valentine all your
life."
| CITY ADVERTISER ENTS