The Cecil Whig., 1882-10-28

has everything else. He can gallop t
| the sea in half an hour. Such horse.
I've always longed for 4 saddle horse
Captain Valentine has promised to len
me a safe one"
And day after day he kept his word
and brought his horses round for Mis-
Isabel to try, or left flowers and fruit
that fairly inundated the small house: o
perhaps lac gathered the young people tC
gether. and gave a fete under his trees
with dancing on the broad verandt hun
with festoons of Chinese lanterns; an
sometimes Miss Eulalie was obliged t
chaperon Isabel, and sit, a faded wall
flower, in the house of her Old suitor.
Il wonder why Captain Nalentin
never married?' said Isabel, after one G
these fetes. q wonder how it seems t
be so everlasting rich; to have no worr
about money; to-
"Isabel," warned Miss Eulalie. "yo,
care too much for money. Ther5 are bet
ter things
Mention one, please
You will think | am sentinent;t
old woman. but love is better thousand
fold
81 don't know Love is very nice, bu
if you must go without everything else
without pretty gowns and jewels ant
splendor. give me money
"You are too young to choose. Prett.
gowns, Jewels, and splendor lose thei
charm when you are used to them, bu
love outlasts everything "
But Miss Eulalie's words were wasted
Il love money" Isabel confessed; .
adore clothes. don't know about love.
In spite of all that had happened, Mis-
Eulalie was quite urprepared when lisa
bel said to her: 1--we something to tel
you, I dare say you know it already
though. lam going to marry Captain Val
entine, and wear cashmeres and sap
phires. and go abroad, and never have tC
count my charge again. Congratulate
me-"
You are joking" cried Miss Eulale
Then it's .he best joke in the world
It $ no joke to the other girls, let me tel
you
"You are going to marry Captain Val
entinc? Do you know that he is Old
enough"
"To know better"
"Do you love him, isabelle
Il like him we'll enough. ! love his
money
g Isabel, dom DO it. You will SOW the
wind and reap the whirlwind. l can't
allow it: the idea of your marrying him
1t is too preposterous, too mercenary
Why. he was once lover of my own.
pursued Miss Eulalie, forgetting herself
"Why didn't you marry him, and save
me the troubleo' asked Isabel. But
perhaps he was poor then?'
. 1t was not that
What then? You loved somebody
elseoa''
q don't mind telling you now, Isabel.
| had another lover-Anson Andrews.
I've never gotten over it. There have
been weeks and months when I've tried
with all my soul to forget him-to unlove
him. He and Captain Valentine sailed
together in the Water Wtich, and when
Captain Valentine returned lie brought
me all the trinkets and letters had sent
Anson Andrews, but never Il word more.
You dear old faithful, thing. you shall
dress in satin de Lyon and thread lace:
we shall live in the lap Of luxury: and
I'll send word to Arson Andrews if he is
at farthest Thule. How oddly things
turn out, Fancy my marrying your cast
of lover.
Isabel, | beg you not to
Not marry Captain Valentine Just be-
cause I'm not in love? Perhaps | never
shall be in love. You would have me
give up so much for mere sentiment.
You mustn't expect everybody to have
as intense feelings as yourself. | couldn't
man fifteen years if he were
the great Mogul himself
Captain Valentine and Isabel were
married in the little parIor of the old
house, shaded by the old elm-trec. which
made pretty dancing shadows on the wall
1t was a most informal affair; and when
it was over, and the clergyman had pock-
eted his fec, and the bride was trying on
her travelling hat, Miss Lulalie stepped
into the garden to draw long breath.
What were the working-men doing there
at that hour?
go into the house, Miss Eulalia.' said
Captain Valentine. am going to cele-
brate my wedding day. Isabel has made
me wedding gilt of The old em-tree.
and I'm cutting it down to burn on the
hearth at The Towers. while we look out
at the 'dreary winter sea- Miss Eulalie,
W hen you thwart Valentine. you do it
at your peril. Do you think | married
Isabel for love? Revenge is sweeter than
love. When you refused to marry me,
swere | would inale you repent III dust
and ashes
Miss Eulaiie turned silently toward the
house, but paused to look back from the
doorway. There was a crash, and when
il strange blur had cleared away from be-
fore her eyes, Captain Valentine lay dead
beneath great arm Of the tree, which
had snapped as it fell.
81 feel SO awfully wicked, said Isabel.
some months later, awed and ashamed at
finding herself in possession of the COW
eted wealth without the burdensome con-
ditions. I've been looking over his
papers with Mr.. Billings, the executor,
and we ferreted ont this letter. It., from
Anson Andrews. thought it explained
at any rate you might like to
see it. It's dated Australia, a year ago"
"DEAR VAL (Miss Eulaic reaD,-
IS Here | am. leagues from home, but
possessed with an unquCnchable longing
to hear from the old place, and 4 home
sickness which no money can relieve.
when I'm smoking in my bun
galow, alone fancy am home again un-
der the Old elm tree with Eulalie, still
young, with hope in my soul, and present
ly | awake from the day dream and berate
myself sounGly for allowing the old
wound to throb and ache. Believe me,
old boy, in spite OF the fifteen years be-
hind us, my bald head. and her double
dealing, can not think of her and all I've
lost without a weight at my heart. Twas
a happy wight when we shipped in the
Water Witch. I'm free to confess I've
never seen happy day since you confied-
ed to me that you were going to marry
Eulalie. | remember how black Vol,