Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-01-22

inagiy pleased with all do. Darling. if this,
continues, our home will soon be secure =" -
Ii did continue. #, hi, s; -4,.- vsapot
Nearly two years had passed, when one
morning Mr.. Burnette called Lucien into,
his private Office, closing the doOr alter him.
Il am about to make a strange disclosure,
to you," he said grave!y, land. you must
weigh well what l say to you. Up to this,
time you have known me only as a business
man, to-day l speak to you as your friend.
l am a rich nsn, but have lew friends,
Lucien Gaylord Shall count you as one ,''',
You honor me, = he faltcred, oyerwhelmeds
assIam q father" Mlt9.BprnsstteJ ties said a.n1d; i'd
my only child is daughter, whose future,
has been 10 me a subject of deep, prayertuI,
anxiety, have feared that when I die, the
wealth l leave would make her the vile Of
some plausible fortune hunter / 4, have,
feated that my business would, fall to ruin
in incompetent hands, Often l hoped, to,
meet AT some time an honorable upright man.,
to whom ] could teach The secret of my. spc;'
cess and who might succeed, to my business,
I have prayed that when I die, might,
leave my child nuier the protecting care of
q husband who had not sought her for her
wealth, man of pure heart and firm priu-
ciple. Bucien Gaylord, I have found the man
sought. To-day you will dine with ne,,d
and be,iItrOdueedsto Miss Buructte.1lgs Gaoa
Il ?' an ~ t-- s~-f... .., s,,0ss 4i.fi
The cry broko, from Lueiep's lips in such
utter amszement, that he thought no must
dream, or that his employer was insAne.9 4
F'You - was the quietsausYer.
''But it is all Impossible" Lucicn said,
slowly regaiping his seIf>possesson. ~ ,
N''lmpossibIe !? Why so, if am willing 2"
"You will think me ungrateful, presump-
tuous, but cannot aceede to your noble,
generous plan. Faithful service. true ffiend-l
shipI can give you gladly, butryou must
seek another heir, another son ip-law. / am
not free" ,..-
'You refuse my daughter 2" 1
g'.I have given my love and won heart
couldinever betray." -ds De- '1.uiIegab
'"May l ask where ?" .T 1'.rIi 4o tro
"My promised wifo is no heiress, but =,
simple country maiden, lovely and gontle. L
will not weary you, 81, with n lovers praise,
but you will let me say that + have worked~
for two years, with the hope of winning souDSF
position that will er able me. to offer a. home
to my wife. If you will,put me in such
situation. you will win my warmest gratitnde.
but must not think again of the dazzling
offer you have made me- T'-F .r7EHsJ
You refuse to be my. in>law-myf
hcirT" -.-..., o.; -,,.-.n,i,
Il refuse any offer that makes mo trail
tor to a pure heart that trusts me-" .-a't
sit makes it harder for me to give you
up, but if I must, at least accept my invita-
tion to dinner, and my friendship" h d. ,.-s
"Glady, gratefully" replied Lucien Cay
lord! ''@
i"At six o'clock, then, shapezp pect your
Was he awake .tr ...a'- RlG
Lucieu Gaylord asked himself tho quesri
tion more than once c pOred over his,
ledgcrs, added long columns OF figures, aud
wrote business letters. .'-' -.. ''''
Had John Burnette really made him the
magnificent proposals still lingering in his
years s.f al -4.y.! 7s-s -t ai raa-sssb
Were they both insane .,.--.sg
His head was still =whirling as he dressed
himself and walked toward the splendid man
sion the rich mer chant called his home 7-5aV
Had all this really been placed within
his grasp? s1 -.-assra.i ,.. ng.l s1p
lie was still musiug of this when Mr.,
Burnette himself crossed the room.
Have you thought better Of your refu-i
sal 2" he asked. a'!g. fiia'
Il can only repeat it, sir. My heart. my
love are no longer at my disposal, .1. n
There was u rustic of silk upon the rich
carpet, lady advanced dressed in shim-
mering lustrous silk, with jewels il her hsir
and upon her wrists. .-....t -.t
A lady with soft brown eyes and golden.
| curIs, who was introduced as ~ ..-,,
'eMy daughter Mable. Mr. Gaylord, -
But who was surely Nay, his own ,Msy,5
Liecc Of Maria Strong who took Sumner
lodgers in small country village. d. ...,-i -,
Mr.. Burnette had disappeared when Lu-r
cien moved bis wandering eyes from Mays
face, aud only the lady Of his tEuo love re-
ma;ned. 49,. ,...f
You will forgive me, Lucien, (" she said. 4
drawing him to a seat beside her upon a sols,
'.if you think l have deceived yoo when-I
tell you how it all happened, Ny father
only spoke the truth this morning when he
told you my future WAS the only anxietyouf
his life. / cannot tell you of his workhip>
ping love for me- When I returned from
Norton / told him of your love for me-mys
promise to you. knowing you loved me for
myself alone, with no knowledge Of my po-
sition or fortune, begged him to scpd for
you at once and tell the truth. But next TO
his child my father loves his business ks-
has built up By his own energy and talent.
He wished to be sure that it would not be
ruined in the hands Of his som in,laws andrI
consented to his test of your capacity. 1t is
no small mpliment LucieD,- for him to tell
me he is thoroughly satisfied, willing to trust
the future of'buth his child and his business
to you" -H-s 2 p
..Bnt May, a-c you not Mrs.. strODgs
niece 2" ~.
'I am She is my mothers sister. Every
sumner l spend some weeks in Norton. ?
Still have never perforDed- any Denisl'
work there, except during your visit, when
there was no serysnt Ms suqt has never
I.f.6 cd r 4afa m Nor