Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-12
Aima's Secret.

lips, and she whispered, do love you,
Horace, I do love you And to-day
she writes me this"
As Horace Weston spoke he read once
more the note he held open in his hand
which already he had learned by heart
from frequent perusals. Only to one
human being would he have revealed
his misery and surprise, but his mother
had been one with him in heart and
soul all his life, and to her he read
aloud the few crushing words -
II release you from your engage.
ment. Forget me, if you can, but from
ny heart shall always pray for you,
happiness and prosperity.
ALMA"
Mrs. Weston had noble. generous
nature. slow to suspect evil, still more
reluctant to make accusation of I'M
worthy motive. But, stung by her
sons white face and hsggard eyes, she
said -
Yesterday Alma did not know she
was an heiress."
Every one knew her father was
wealthy"
"But no one knew how he would
leave his property"
His will has not been read"
He has left no will. Alma inherits
all. DR.. Hale told me so not an hour
slnce."
But am no pauper, mother And
Alma is the last one to be influenced
by money"
$50 I should have said, yesterday, ,"
said Mrs. Weston, bitterly. 81 will
take off my bonnet, for I was only CO.
ing to call upon Alma"
"Oh, mother, do go! Think how
lonely and desolate she must be. Twas
there this morning, but could not see
her."
Mrs. Weston hesitated. Before her
mental vision rose the sweet face of her
sons betrothed, the large innocent
brown eyes, guileless as those of a
babe. the sensitive mouth that quivered
With every emotion /; the slight, grace
tul figure that seemed too frail almost
Tor LIES many weary hours. Gentle,
yielding, loving, it seemed impossible
that Alma Hurst could know one merce.
nary thought, one unworthy impulse.
II will co." she said "the Door
child's brain may be turned by trouble.
Her fathers death was most awfullv
sudden"
lars?"
Only that the fall from his horse
yesterday produced fatal injuries. He
lived three hours, in full possession of
an his faculties, and Alma never left
him after he was brought home. She
was alone with him more than an hour
before he died."
he was cold, reserved man. and
had not many attractive traits. but I
Delleve he loved Alma very devotedly.
Dear mother. do go to her and try to
gam some explanation of this strange
note" ~ -"e
1t was not pleasant errand. vet Mrs.
Weston undertook it. All her m others
Pfide rose against the curt, cruel re-
lecsion OF the pure, tender love Horace
mad given bis betrothed in the three
months OF their engagement. Disin.
terested love, too. for Mr.. Hurs. had
told Horace plainly that he would make
no promise OF large dowry for his
only child. 1t had puzzled Horace at
the time, that he was 80 anxious to i'm.
press the fact; but he had attributed Il
70 natural desire to save his daughter
from fortune hunter and as he was
amply able to support wife handsome
~, u mad not cost him one regret.
MRS. Weston could remember when
James Hurst had been comparatively
poor man, carrying on small business
IN hardware. He had gone to Califor.
MIA in the first rush of the gold hunters
and returned in five years with the rem.
1tstion of wealthy man. Late in lie
ne had married. and lost his wife while
Alma VAS babe, and the child had
grown up in Myrtlevale, the ruler from
infancy of her devoted nurses and
teachers, INDUCED in every whin. net.
ted and humored. but never spoiled
with no great intellectual power she
mad Ieen carefully instructed in the
usual branches OF Young lsdy's edp.
csuon. sang Very sH-etly and correctly
played upon the pisno. spoke French
passAbly, and was a good housekas,sr
ID Theory. Her last goverpess Mr.
Way man. an elderly widow. hal 70
NAMED A. companion and bous4ke.r,s,
After ALMA bad completed her pine.
tenth year, aud had accepted Uor.e.
Wes,ons proEsred love.