The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1881-06-02

Year, seo / made my viii, and you
will be my heir. I shall not alter one
Hne of that document, because ] VII
not bribe you to do my will. or even
to be an honorable man. You may
marry whom you will, you may defy
my wishes In every way, and lose my
love and respect, but this money Will
aDo you mean, Uncle George, that
I shall lose your love and respect II
marry Ads Willet?"
"Or any other woman who Ii abso
lutely nobody. What do you know
Of herr" :.
"Only what she has told me herself
that her mother died Of poverty. and
after struggling to support herself By
her needle. They were miserably
poor for q long time, and then Mrs
WilIet began giving work to Ada'i
mother. When she died, Mrs. WiIIel
took Ada TO her own home, and after
giving her every advantage her own
child could have enjoyed, adopted
her."
"What was her name?"
"Smith."
bah :" said Mr.. Hilton. with every
expression Of disgust. "Well marry
her il you will. Your present allow.
ance shall Ike doubled, but you need
not bring her :" and with a sudden
fiercene.s le added: II want no wO-
man here 10 remind me Of the past !
had hoped forgotten.
Never in all his recollection Of hi-
grave, quiet uncle, had Hilton seen
hin, - moved. His voice was sharp
with the rang Of some sudden meino-
ry, his eyes flashed, and his whole
frame trembiel with emotion.
"You are mln now" he said, with
one Of those strange impulses Of conf
dence that often seize the most re-
served men, n man seeking u vile.
I will tell you what never before passed
my lips to another being. | have u
wife somewhere. and n child, il may
be-" Utter establishment kept Hill
ton silent.
"Its all my own fault" Mr.. Hilton
continued, "that am n lonely, miser-
able old man, instead Of q happy nus
band and father. Twenty years ago,
when was past 40 years old, fell in
love. Fell in love, for I was nearly
insane over Myra DelanO when had
seen her three times. ! courted her
with eager attention, rich presents.
fiattery-every fascination could
command. I was not unattractive
man at ~ years Ofage. j had Travelled
extensively, been a close student, was
empliatically a society man, u SUCCESS
full lawyer, and commanding large
wealth. Myra was ., superbly hand
some. accomplished and graceful.
81 thought she loved me. Thought
there was only love and devotion I'm
the love-light OF her large blue eyes,
the varying color on her cheek. We
were married, Travelled two years on
the continent, and then returned here
TO this house, and opened its doors to
society. Our child was nearly year
old when we came home and what love
could spare from Myra gave to baby
Anna. We were very popular, being
hOslitable and generous, gathering
around us refined people and both ex-
erting ourselves to the utmost for the
pleasure of our guests. But while we
were travelling, all i'm all to each other,
there was sleeping i'm my heart de-
mon who stirred 10 life when we re-
turned. Strong rs my love ! found
nv jealousy. I was an idiOt-a mad
Jealous idiOt-fUr stung a proud, SEN
sitive woman to contempt Of my
opinion, defiant of my unworthy sus-
piciOns. Now I see that Myra was but
filling her proper place in society M u
hostess or guest; but, then, blinded
BY my jealousy, I grudged any man a
cannot tell you now Of every scene
that turned her love for me to fear and
She became pale and Imiscr-
able, often sullen and defiant. Final
ly she left me-"
LEFT yOu?"
~ came home one afternoon, after
an intricate criminal case,
and found note on the table telling
me that Myra could no longer endure
The life of constant quarrelling and re-
proach. She had taken her child and
would never return to me-"
ibid she go to her relatives ?"
"She had but few. Her father died
while we were abroad, and, having
been considered rich man, was found
10 have left less than his funeral ex-
penses. She had an aunt ana some
cousins, to all OF whom l weHt, out
who denied all knowledge Oh her. Al
Ter searching win the eagerhess Oh
penitence deep ana sincere, anu love
l hnaily advertiseu. anu
wen employer private ponce Ihvestl-
.ation. IL was All III val" never
ound my wife or chi. ehild H.. ~,
do you tnimk tney i've
Il cannot tell. ! remained mere Ior
I've years anu tnen, as you Know,
vent to see my only sister dying OF
And to become my second iMner.
"But, Uncle GEORGE, can hothihg oe
lone nOw?"
I'VE have been IN London three three
ears. ana every niohth tnere mas oeen
IN advertisement only Myra would
understand, IN all the ieauihg papers.
have never had one line OF answer:
10 my boy. Ii Is hopeless now. Ii
n the future you ever Know OF my
wife and child / trust them to your
are and generosity" :,
"When we were in Paris,' he said,
Il had a bracelet made OF Myra's hair
mi mine woven together; she mas the
one. This tiny coil OF gold
n the clasp was cut from the babys
lead, but three months OLD. IL must
ave been some lingering love that
made Myra still Keep the bracelet IKE
his, which she wore constantly.
What Is the matter, Hilton, you are i's
rhite IA death"
Nothing. IL your wife's picture
n the lOcket?"
YES; you see how beautiful she
ras?"
al see more than that, said Hilton;
and | dare not tell you what ! hope.