Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-10-15
3 gleasamt Story.
THAT DAY IN HIS BOAT.

1t was a wild night. The wind blew, the
rain drove, the waves roared in the near
distance.
1t had been fatefu day to me Grand
father Delmar, with whom had lived ever
since could remember, had been carried to
his final home that afternoon, and now
was the last representative OF that ancient
name The wide acres Of the Delmar plan
tation, originally one of The largest estates
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, had come
down to me as sole heiress 70 me also de-
scended the Delmar diamonds, which for
two centuries had blazed on the Delmar
ladies. say descended, but | am hardly
correct, for these broad lands and these
priceless jewels were mine only under the
will of my grandfather, and that will CON
tanned a proviso which | had Just learned
for the first time. | was to marry Randolph
Heath, the ward and adopted son n my
grandfather. or else the entire propertywas
to go to this self-same Randolph.
The will had Just been read The funeral
guests, or at least the most important ofthem,
had listened to il in the great drawing room
below, the walls Of which were hung with
portraits of Demar ancestors, handsome
men and lovely, golden haired women.
Charlotte" said my aunt, when the read
ing Of the will was ended-"Charlotte my
dear, you must invite our friends for the
night. You are mistress now"
81 shall never be mistress of Dcmar Hall,
Aunt Mordaunt," said firmly.
She cutched my arm, her eyes wide with
wonder
And why not, pray"
because ofthe proviso. will never wed
Randolph Heath"
Her face whitened 10 the hue of death.
She was lone widow and | was her idol !;
and she coveted all those jewels and rich
acres for my heritage For moment we
stood breathless
"But Randolph Heath is in Australia, "
suggested friend, "and you are mistress at
least until he returns"
Poor aunty caught at this last hope with
gasp Of relief.
so you are, my dear" she put in; swell
leave all those disagreeabIe things 10 be set
tied in the future. Tonight, friends, we
will shut the the doors against the storms
and be comfortable"
She swept off towards the glowing parlor,
followed by her guest, while fled away to
my own chamber
The afternoon, as | have said, had turned
into rain, and the waves Numbered on the
shores Of the bay close by with coarse cry,
like human heart in pain paced my
room restlessly. | could not marry this
Randolph Heath, whose face | had never
looked upon since the days of my earlier
childhood. | could not do it, for another
face rose up before me, the face Of the man
loved A poor man, landess and unknown,
yet who had grown 50 dear 10 me in few
brief months of our summer acquaintance
that TO give him up were worse than death.
Yet was Delmar, and ii was a sore trial
TO lose my heritage-to lose the Delmar jew
els All the Delmar women before me had
worn those matchless old diamonds; and
must ], alone Of them, be disinhertcd and
dowerlessy
ayes, cheerfully," said "since TO keep
them must give up the choice Of my heart.
Dear, dear summer daysw
For II had been during a visit TO a school
friend, who lived in one Of the loyeliest coun-
ties Of Pennsylvania, that had met, the pre-
ceding June, Herbert Stanley For the first
time In my life had found In him a per-
fectly congenia soul. We liked the same
poetry preferred the same music, admired
the sape scenery. Ali what delicious days
those were We rode, we walked, we sailed
and we read together. Our acquaintance
soon passed into intimacy, and from that
rpened into love.
Never could ! forget the day, the blssful
day, when my hopes became certainty
Herbert had asked me the evening before IL
] would go with him In bis boat No knight
Of old could have handed me into the little
vessel more reyercntially than lac did How
manly he looked How strong and self.
contained My heart beat fast, for some.
thing in his manner told Inc what was com.
ing, but was inexprcssbly happy, never.
theless lie rowed for about half an hour
then stopping, he lay upon his oars and
looking me in the face like brave heart
as he was, told his tale though with many
hcsitaung word, and many n look Of anxiety.
Should | give such one upY Neyerl
Yet the temper Of my thoughts was such
that could not stay In doonl ! len the
house and ran down ~ the shore Of the bay,
having nfsf fhraUu "a ahauyl ,vaf fau haad