The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-11-15

once" sb1uw n.. .y
He was evidently in simple earnest an,
Howard was suddenly interested.
"Give the a chance, Courtenay. I'd go
Nova Zemble f could come home rich"
Courtenay smiled as he took letter from
his pocket.
"It's almost as bad as going to Nova zem
bloi in fact, it is quite as far in an oppdsit
direction-further, possibly. But there's
chance, and good one, to make money, a
they who have written this letter special,
say. They offer me position in Soutl
Africa, at Port Elizabeth-quite a civilized
place, know-dealers and importers of os
trch feathers-a big salary and commits
sion."
"And why don't you accept the offer
Wouldn't you like to make the fortune ?"
Courtenay laughed.
al would not care to go so far south; an
not enough Of salamander, fear. Beside:
| think, am in a fair way to make a bet.
ter spec here at home with my pictures"
Howard frowned, half puzzedIy, hall
thou rhtfully.
"And you actually give me your chance ?
Will the firm take me in your stead ?"
"There's not doubt oft, if recon mend
you. Will you accept? There's not enough
time to do more than to decide. The ship
sails tonight at eleven o'clock from New
York, and you've only time to pack trunk
and catch the train to the city"
Howard's face suddenly flushed excit-
edly.
Eyes, III do it Write me the necessary
introduction, and I'll write line of explain
alton and farewell to Maud Templeton, for
you to kindly deliver after I'm off III be
ready in no time; and, Courtenay, thank
you most heartily for your kindness"
He shook the artists aristocratIc white
hand eagerly.
"All right, old fellow Come back rich
and he happy ever after. Write your note,
and III write to Finch & Wing by you"
So, all on the hot impulse of the moment,
Neal Howard went abroad, leaving letter,
half bitter, halfproud, for Ferdinand Courte-
nay to deliver, and with a pathetic under
tone of love in every word, for the one girl
he really and truly cared tor above all the
world.
And while Neal Howard was walking
the deck of the ship at midnight, and Maud
Templeton was sleeping, and dreaming of
the morrow, when her lover would come
back to her, Mr.. Courtenay was lying on
his lounge in the moonlight, with the ashes
of Meals Howard's farewell to Maud on the
empty hearth.
"And now shall have everything my
own way. Fair Maud will be comrorted in
due season for what she shall believe is her
t4Fr-'oJ detection, and will be the comfor-
Maud's marr.yiiigt .Aud as I nrophesv--in
shrewd as / hattered myself am. Port
Elizabeth! Whew Well, he's welcome to
all he can make, for me. prefer the beau
uful Maud and a temperate zonel"
g Il - q =
A year had gone by, and away of, down
by the Cape of Good Hope, Neal Howard
was wondering what in the world was the
reason he had never received a an answer
from Maud to the little farewell letter he
left for Mr.. Courtenay to deliver.
He had found his position not an unpleas-
ant one, and the climate did not especially
,.,I, l. I;s in ra
very delightful, his business hours short,
and no found himself making money by the
handful; and if only Maud had answered
his letter he would have been almost per-
fectly content.
But Maud did not answer his letter, for
the very good reason that she never received
it. And in the weeks that followed her re-
creant lovers departure, Mr.. Courtenay wa;
her comforter, because to him only Neal had
confded his intentions.
And Ferdinand Courteney made the most
of his opportunity-so much so that people
round about nodded their wise heads and
said that Maud was readily consoled fol
Meals detection.
OF course, among the occasional letters
that friends sent tn Africa, the news Wa;
brought that Maud and Mr.. Courtenay were
on most intimate terms, and Meals mother
in one letter, actually announced the GOSSIP
of their engagement.
Ferdinand Courtenay proposed to Maud
and was promptly rejected, and went away
disgustcd and disappointed, and chagrine'
at his i'll luck while Maud, whose hope
were gradually dying, whose spirits were
slowly, peacefully leaving her-and leav
ing her depressed aud sllent--went on he
lonely way, patiently as she might for th'
never ceasng pain at her true, loving
wounded heart.
Out at Port Elizabeth, Neal Howard wa
leading his lonely, unloved life, trying L
put the sweet memories out Of his head ant
heart after he had written almost savagely
to those who had volunteered their inform
alton of Maud, never to mention her mann
or Courtenay again.
And 50, widely divided, these two livef
another year and another, he imagining
Mnuds happiness as the wife-doubtles
long aso-of the man she loved and Mauc
feeling sure that Neal had found his ha"pi
ness in the distant country to which he haC
gone. Until one-one perfect October day
Maud had gone out for little walk, th'
way she always went, because it was tn
way Neal and she had been accustomed L
90. It led past the village Postotfiee, wher
for many weary times, whenever the paper
announced the arrival Of the foreign mails
Maud had asked if there was anything 70
her, until her sweet, pale, tired face ha'
made the postmisstress' heart ache and tear
come TO her eyes.
To-day, Maud was in no mood to inquire
Why should she have beer, when for months
and months, and months, she had been slow
ly learning her lesson?
And So she was walking past, when' lik