The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-01-01

ther, who was a clergyman, had married
for his second wife an orphan girl, a music
teacher, whose name was Alice Duveneck
After listening carefully to all they
could tell him of their mother and grand
mother, he gained enough of clew tc
clearly establish the fact within a short
time that they were the heirs of his Aunt
Alice.
Then he informed them of the relation
ship to himself, and their probable good
fortune when the will should be opened
and as $4,000 had been left for the ben
eft of any heirs who should be discovered
before the opening of the will, he insisted
upon their moving into apartments in one
of the best boarding houses in the city.
Denham watched with curiosity this
change from poverty to wealth. The
children were delighted, but Miss Winton
was not happy. Indeed, it was only after
long and serious talking with Denham
that she consented to give up her teach
ing and become dependent upon them.
He pointed out to her that they were
as much in need of her care now as ever
they were in their poverty, and that if,
after the will was opened and everything
was settled, she was unhappy, he would
assist her to a new position.
And so the days fed quickly by to the
appointed time for the opening of the will.
Denham's time was very fully occupied
with his young cousins they enjoyed his
attention keenly, and he did everything to
promote their enjoyment.
He had gone with them to the seaside
during the summer, and had seen that
Miss Emily made many friends, and that
if she had desired to become Independent
by marriage she could have done so.
1t was bleak November day when they
were assembled in the lawyers office to
hear the reading of tie will The property
was something over million, and was to
be divided equally between his nephew,
Denham Edwards, and his sister Alice, if
living, or her heirs, then it was all to to
his nephew.
As Denham was sitting before his COM
Portable fire that evening, thinking over
his good fortune, and of the difference it
would have made in his life had the will
been opened year before-then Linda
would never have refused him-a great
longing came over him to see her once
more.
While still musing, Doctor Black came
in.
II have come to congratulate you, said
the doctor, checrily. ~ don't believe you
look much like man who has just come
into half a million. am not any richer
by red cent, but | am happier man
than you, Denham-Elsie is mine"
The doctors voice lowered and softened
as he graspcd his friends hand.
"You said your faith in woman nature
would be restored if you could see one
woman raised in wealth marrying poor
man. Now you know of one, Denham." ="
Il don't believe" said Denham, slowly,
''that | ever lost faith but for one day
but l congratulate you most heartily.
Your good fortune is better than mine,
Arthur. Your Elsie is winning little
woman. 1 would like her to know EN-
ily"
The doctor looked at him quickly, but,
seeing his saddened face, forbore to say
what was in his thoughts, but merely
said
eyes, shall take Elsie to call on her
very soon. They would probably like each
other"
"When is the wedding to be?" said
Denham, finally rousing himself from
long reverie.
''New Years evc," said the doctor. II
am as we'll off as probably will be for
some time to come, and we concluded that
there was no use for any longer engage
ment."
And now the wedding night was at hand,
and after the excitement of the ceremony
was over, and the happy couple were re-
ceiving the congratulations Of their many
friends, Denham, stepping aside to one of
the windows, could not help taking a ret
view of the past year-with what
pain and suffering it had opened, and all
that it had brought him.
Just then he saw Linda Brent, and
did his heart stand still? No, not one
throb of feeling wakened at the sight of
her. Beautifully and exquisisely dressed
as ever, there she stood, and was powerless
to affect him. Was love a deusion? he
said to himself Had he never loved her,
or what was it?
He had carefully avoided her for year,
and now discovered that he cared no more
for her than for warm image. Then his
eyes rested on Emily Winton standing
near the bride, and like lightning flash
it came over him-there was the woman
he loved.
And he smiled to think how, for year
now, every day he had thought of her, of
what she was doing, of what she Was think
ing, and how she would act and that he
had never guessed he was in love with her,
but had nursed the delusion that he could
never more love any woman but Linda
Brent.
The next day, New Years day, he went
to see Emily Winton, not that he did not
90 every day, but to, day he went with an
especial purpose, to find if he could ever
hope to win her for his wife.
So he began by telling the story of the
year; of his love for Linda Brent, and how
it had faded away before the brightness of
his true love for her.
Emily listened to the outpouring of his
love, and for answer said, softly:
II loved you, Denham, from that New
Years day."
II thought So, said the doctor, when
told the conclusion, "but long ago learn
ed never to say all that think to man
in love-"
A Great Poultry Raiser.