Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-05-19
THE TWIN BRACELETS.


my wishes in every way, and lose my love
and respect, but this money will be yours.
DO You mean, Uncle George, that l
shall lose your love and respect if marry
Ada Willet?"
"Or any other woman who is absolutely
nobody. What do you know of her?"
Only what she has told me herself, that
her mother died of poverty, after struggling
to support herself by her needle. They
were miserably poor for long time, and
then Mrs. Wlllet began giving work to Adas
mother. When she died, Mrs. Wlllet took
Ada to her own home, and after giving her
every advantage her own child could have
enioved, adopted her"
What is her name?"
Smith"
"Bahw said Mr. Hilton, with every ex-
preston of disgust. Well marry her if
YOU will. Your present allowance shall be
doubled, but you need not bring her here"
and with sudden ferceness he added
81 want no woman here to remind me of
the past had hoped forgotten.
Never in all his recollection of his grave
quite uncle, had Hilton seen him so moved.
His voice was sharp with the pang of some
sudden memory, ,his eyes filled and his
whole frame trembled with emotion
"You are a man now" he said, with one
of those strange impulses to confidence that
often seize the most reserved men, "a man
seeking a wife 1 will tell You what never
before passed my lips to another being. l
have a wife somewhere, and child, it may
be-" Utter establishment kept Hilton silent.
It's all my own fault" Mr. Hilton con-
tinued, that am a lonely, miserable man,
instead of a happy husband and father.
twenty years ago when 1 was past 40 years
7 e1n i,,l Fall IN T
nearly insane over Myra Delano when had
seen her three times. 1 courted her with
eager attention, rich presents, fattery-
every facination I could command. l was
not an unattractive man at 40 years of age.
! had travelled extensively, been a close
student, was emphatically society man,
q successful lawyer, and command
ing large wealth. Myra was %, superb
" handsome, accomplished and graceful.
Il thought she loved me. l thought there
was only love and devotion in the love-
light of her large blue eyes, the varying col
or on her cheek We were married, travelled
two years on the continent, and then re-
turned here to this house, and opened its
doors to society. Our child was nearly a
wear old when We came home and what
love could spare from Myra, I gave to
baby Anna. We were very popular, being
hospitable and generous, gathering around
us refined people and both exerting our
selves to the utmost for the pleasure of our
guests But while we were travelling, all in
all to each other, there was sleeping in-my
heart demon who stirred to life when we
returned. Strong as my love l found my
jealousy. 1 was an idiot-a mad, jealous
idiot-for I stung a proud, sensitive woman
to contempt of my opinion, defiant of my
unworthy suspicious. Now l see that Nlyra
was but filling her proper place 10 society
as hostess or guest; but, then, blinded by
my jealousy, grudged any man pleasant
smile or cherry word. I cannot tell you
now of every scene that turned her love for
me to fear and dislike. She became pale
and miserable, often sullen and defiant
Finally she left me-"
Left your"
Il came home one afternoon, after con-
Quoting an intricate criminal case, and
found note on the table telling me that
Myria could no longer endure the life of
constant quarreling and reproach. She
had taken her child and would never return
to me-"
did she go to her relatives''
"She had but few. Her father died
while we were abroad, and, having been
considereda rich man, was found to have
left less than his funeral expenses. She
had an aunt and some cousins, to all of
whom l went, but who denied all knowledge
of her. After searching with the eagerness
of patience deep and sincere, and love pro-
found, I finally advertised, and even en-
pleyed private police investigation. 1t was
all in vain; never found my wife or child.
''Do you think they live?"
81 cannot tell. l remained here for five
p years and then, as you know, went to see
my only sister dying of consumption.
And to become my second father"
'But uncle George, can nothing be done
now?"
1--WE have been in London three years,
and every month there has been an adver-
tisement only Myra would understand in
the leading papers. have never had one
line of answer. No my boy. 1t is hope
less now. If in the future you ever know
of nv wife and child trust them to your
care and generosity"
When we were in Paris" he said, Il
had bracelet made of Myra's hair and
mine woven together; she mas the compan-
ion one. This tiny coil of gold in the clasp
was cut from the baby's head, but three
months old. 1t must have been some lin
gering love that made Myra still keep the
bracelet like this which she wore constant
ly. What is the matter, Hilton, you are as
white as death"
Nothing. Is your wife's picture in the
locket?"
Yes; you see how beautiful she WASP"
"a, Il see more than that, said Hilton; and
dare not tell you what hope, Will you
give me one little hour, to see if"
IF what?"
"Only an hour-I will be back then"
sa' "Stop" Mr.. Hilton cried, shaking with
excitement
But his nephew was gone. Hoping,
fearing, not knowing what to hope or fear
Mr.. Hilton watched the clock until the
hour should be over. He walked up and
down, and tried to read; he lived over again
that past, whose remorseless memory had
been so wildly recalled With Myra's pic.
ture before him, he thought over again of
that wild, fierce love that had been his hap
piness and his blight.
why, was / not calm, reasonable, as
became my years and my position?" he
asked himself, bitterly. Why did I give a
boys love to woman who had lived in
society and respected all its requirements
I lived an idle life-Myra the one around
US. Where is Hilton? What can he know
What has he discovered? Only three min
utes gone, and it seems q day since he was
here?''
But before the hour was over Hilton re-
turned. In his eagerness to question him
Mr.. Hilton did not notice that he came
through the drawing room to the library
where he waited, leaving the door little
open.
Where have you been2" Mr.. Hilton in.
quired.
To procure this!" Hilton answered
gravely, placing in his uncle's hand the
duplicate to the bracelet on the table.
The same braid of sunny brown hair
I with here and there some raven black
streaked with grey; the same small clasp
with wee coil of baby curl under the glass;
the same lettering, too--George and Myra
twined together with fantastic scroll and
twists. For several minutes there was deer
silence. The old man could not speak, and
/, the young ore would not break in upon
what he felt to be sacred emotion. At last
lifting his head. George Hilton asked:
docs Myra live? Can she forgive me?'
''It is years since she died." Hilton an
swered, abut in heaven she has surely for
given you. She never spoke of you to heI