The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-12-24
Selfrf Story.
THE TWIN BRACELETS.

81 will not threaten you, Hilton Years
ago made my will. and you will be my
heir. ] shall rot alter one line OF that
document, because I will not bribe you
to Go my will, or even to be an honora.
BILE man You may marry whom yeu
will, may defy my wishes in every way,
and lose my love and respect, but the
money will still be yours"
The quick, indignant flush upon Hill
ton Graham's face, the sudden erectness
of his figure, told that his uncle had well
calculated the effect Of his words Truly,
with his frank, brown eyes, bis sensitive
mouth, his broad white brow, be looked
little like man to he bribed; but it was
as easy to read that he could be ruled
by bis affections While he spoke, his
voice was low, and his tone pleading
"Do you mean, Uncle George, that /
shall lose your love and respect if l
marry Ada Willet ?"
"Or any other woman who is abso.
luiely nobody. What do you know Of
her p
"Only that she is the loveliest, noblest
woman lever saw"
"Yes, yes; but mean what do you
know OF. her family9'
"Only what she told me herself, that
her mother died Of poverty. after strug-
Cling to support herself BY her needle.
They were miserablv poor for long
time, and then Mrs Willet began to give
work to Ada's mother When she died,
Mrs. Willet took Ada to her own home;
and after giving her every advantage her
own child could have enjoyed, adopted
her."
sWhat was her own name 2"
"Smith."
"Bah!' said Mr.. Hilton, with every
expression of deep disgust. swell.
marry her if You will Your present al.
lowance shall be doubled, but you need
not bring her here;" and with sudden
fierceness be added, II want no woman
here to remind me of past hoped |
had forgotten" I'd
Never in all his recollection of the
grave, quiet uncle had Hilton seen him
so moved. His voice was sharp with
the pang of some sudden memory, his
eyes flashed, and bis whole frame trem
bled with emotion. e3
"You are a man now," be said with
one OF those strange impulses to conf.
dence that often seize the most reserved
men, "a man seeking wife. I will tell
you what has never before passed nv
lips to any human being I have wife
somewhere, and child it may be.
Utter establishment kept Hilton silent.
at is all my own fault" Mr.. Hilton
continued, "that / am alonely, misera-
BILE man, instead Of happy husband and
father Twenty years ago, when | was
past forty years old, l fell in love. Fell
in love, for / was fairly insane over Myra
Delano when had seen her three times.
l courted her with eager attention. rich
presents, fattery, every fascination ]
conld command Twas not an unattrac.
tive man at forty. had travelled exten-
sively, beel close student, was emphat.
ically society man, successful lawyer,
commanding great wealth. Myra was
25, superbly handsome, accomplished
and graceful.
II thought she loved me, l thought
there was only trust and devotion in the
love-light of her large eyes, the varying
color upon her cheek We were mar.
ried, travelled two years in Europe, and
then returned here to this house,
and opened it's doors TO society. Our
child was nearly year old when we
came home, and what love ] could spare
from Myra, / gave to baby Anne. We
we're very popular, being hospitabe and
generous, gathering around us refined
people, and both exertiDg ourselves to
our utmost for the pleasure of our
guests But when we were travelling, all
in all to each other, there was sleeping
in my heart a demon which stirred to
life when we returned Strong as my
love found my jealousy. Iwas fool,
mad, jealous fool-for / stung proud,
sensitive woman to contempt of my
opinion, defiance of my unworthy sus-
picions Now ] can see that Myra was
but filling her proper place in society as
hostess or guest; but then, blinded by
my jealousy, grudged any other man a
pleasant look or CHEEKY word / cannot
tell you now of every scene that turned
her love for me to fear and dislike. She
became pale and miserable, often sullen
and defiant. Finally she left mel"
"Left you!"
81 came here one afternoon, after con
Quoting an intricate criminal case. and