The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1881-12-20

with you alive and weA beside M, no
news could be very dreadful, besides /
know father and mother are hoth safe.
saw them a minute ago. What is it,
dear ?"
Vivian looked at her, q wonderful
grave tenderness in his blue eyes.
my uncle is dead, BERTHE, in Califor-
MIA, where he has been travelling for sew
eral weeks. l always supposed I wss
heir to his three million dollars, but"
and his strong. brave voice quivered
slightly, "for your sake am appalled, to
he notified that he has left his fortune to
charitable institution AN a beggar,
Berthe"
Her soft, dusky eyes grew wider, and
more Sc ious
"Oh. Vivian! A beggarP 1t sounds
awful"
Yes, it does. But / wouldn't care if
it wasn't for you, darling. 1t means
that must give YOU up, for I am not
coward enough to ask You to share pow
ertv with me on clerkship of thou-
sand year."
Sac Looked at him with rich GRIM
son flash surging into her cheeks, and
he tears rushed into her eyes as she re-
leased he haads from his and flung her
arms about his neck.
VIVIAN" she said, passionatelv, edo
vou think will let you give me up p
| love you too well for that A beggar
or prince, YOU are the same to me
nv king, my lover"
And he folded her to bis heart with a
great. almost speeches. tenderness and
10y.
! "My darling, my precious" he whis-
pered.
Three months later, on golden De
cember afternoon with blue SKY as in
June, and in air balny and sslubrious-
and in Delmonico's restaurant, a couple
of gentlemen engaged in conversation
that was carried ON almost as if by pur-
pose by the elder. handsomely dress
ed sharp eyed old gentleman.
married, eh? You know that to he
fact, do you ?"
81 do, for | witnessed the ceremony !"
81 can hardly realize that Vivian Sc
vern is married Who TOP"
"Peter Grav's daughter-I think her
name was Ethelbertha-a remarkably
beautiful girl, and just the wife for Vi
Wan. He was disinherited, you know,
and old Gray cut up rough when his
daughter persisted in keeping her en-
gsgement-cut her off with shilling,
they say"
"Humph! Qlite pretty romance
What do the young folks do for liv-
ingP"
.::Vivian is head bookkeeper in Nc
Walter & Van Tunis', and they seem to
get along as happy as can be. You are
acquainted with them should judge"
swell, slightly l should like to know
where they live"
"That can't say. But an inquiry at
Severn's place of business would be no
trouble. sss.-T9
And when the stranger went away, af-
ter his conversation with his table COM
panion, be had no idea that it was what
some folks might have called q ghost
with which he had been talking.
AT eight O'Clock that night, as Bertie
Severn poured her husbands tea in their
snug, homely dining room, Uncle Dan
iel walked in, large as life, while Vivian
sprapg to his feet, hewlldered and lit
tie startled, and BERTHE rushed to his
side
Don't be scared, it's me. / was not
dead at all. I'd like cup of good hot
tea, my dear, with plenty Of cream and
sugar; and while I'm warming up over
it I'll just explain, Vivian, that it has all
been stratsgem of mine to discover if
the little girl was genuine diamond or
sparkling paste. And my dear-you'll
do The charitable institution may GO
to the-devil. You and Vivian are to
have my money and we'll go to-morrow W
and buy the handsomest house on the
avenue, and everything to correspond.
Kiss me, child! Vivian, don't act like
fool over me!'
And by that token Vivian was con-
vinced that it really was the simon-rure
Uncle Daniel; and merrier trio never
sat down at dinner table