Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-11-19
The Twin Bracelets.

II will not threaten you, Hilton !
Years ago made my will, and you will
be my heir. / will not alter one line OF
that document, because 1 will not bribe
you to do my will, or even to be an hon
orable man. You may marry whom you
will, may defy my wishes in every way,
and lose my love and respect, but the
money will be yours"
The quick, indignant flush on Hilton
Graeme's face, the sudden erectness of
his figure, told that his uncle had we'll
calculated the effect of his words.
Truly, with his frank, brown eyes,
his sensitive mouth, his broad white
brow, he looked little like q man to be
bribed, but it was rs easy to read that be
could be ruled by his affections.
/. When he spoke his voice was low and
his tone pleading.
'Do you mean, uncle George. that /
shall lose Jour love and respect if I
marry Ada Willet?"
''Or any other woman that is obsolute-
ly nobody. What do you know of her? ~
"Only that she is the loveliest, noblest
woman ever saw. If you knew her
you would love her."
"Yes-yes: but mean, what do you
know of her family? ?" .f M
"Only what she told me herself, that
her mother died of poverty, after strug-
Cling to support herself by her needle.
They We're miserahly 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 advan-
tage her own child could have enjoyed,
adopted her."
S.EI IL,
''Smith."
"Bah !'' said Mr.. Hilton, with every
expression of deep disgust. "Well, mar
ance shall be doubled, but you need not
bring her here;" and with sudden
fierceness he added, II want no woman
here to remind me of past I hoped l
had forgotten"
Never, in all his recollection of his
grave quiet uncle had Hilton seen him
SO moved. His voice was sharp with
the pang of some sudden memory, his
eyes flashed, and his whOle frame trem-
bled with emotion.
"You are man now" he said, with
one of those strange impulses to conf
dence'that often seize the most reserved
men, a man seeking wife, Twill tell
you what has never before passed my
lips to any living being. have a wife,
somewhere, and child it may be-"
Utter establishment kept Hilton
silent.
"It is all my own fault" Mr.. Hilton
continued, shat I am lonely, misera.
BILE man, instead of . happy husband
and father Twenty years ago, when ]
was past forty years old, fell in love.
"Fell in love for I was fairly insane
over Myra pelano when had seen hel
three times. ] courted her with cage;
attention, rich presents, fiattery, every
| fascination / could command. was moi
an unattractive man at forty. I bad
travelled extensively, had been close
student, was eEphatically society man
a successful lawyer, and commanding
large wealth. Myra was twenty five
superbly handsome, accomplished and
graceful.
II thought she loved me. thought
there was only trust and devotion in thu
love-light of her large blue eyes, thu
varying color upon her cheek. We wer'
married, travelled two years on the con-
| tinent, and then returned here to this
house, and opened Its doors to society
Our child was nearly year ago whet
| we came home, and what love / cpult
spare from Myra gave to baby Anna
1--WE were very popular, being hospi-
table aud generous, gathering around III
refined people, and both exerting our
selves to the utmost for the pleasure o
cur guests. But while we were travei'
ing, all in all to each other, there wal
sleeping in my heart a demon who stir
red to life when we returned.
"Strong as my love found my jeal
ousy. / w-s an idiot-a mad, jealous
idiot-for I stung proud, sensitive wo
man to contempt of my opinion, def
ance of my unworthy suspicious. Nov
1 can see that Myra was but filling he
proper place in society as hostess o.
guest; but then, blinded by my jealousy
I grudged any other man q pleasant lool