The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-03-09

child, clothed with the memory and the
likeness of his dead father, to my DESC
late home.
'Henry STAFFORD and myself lived to-
gether as father aud son. He learned to
love me, and my every hope lay in him.
Years STRENGTHENED the mutual affection,
and brought Harry to manhood--myself
to the age of forty, silent and--ex-
cept to him-morose man. was wealthy
by that time: my business had been my
only care, and had prospered according
ly. I was looked upon by virtue Of my
wealth as prominent man.
Zone day 1 was called upon by the
cashier of the bank of which l was di-
rector. He told me that his accounts
were in fearful condition; he had used
the bank money to speculate with, and
| ill success had involved him to large
extent. Why the man should come to
me for help cannot, never could under
stand. At any rate, convinced that he
had been unfortunate rather than inten-
tienally fraudulent, l made the deficit
good myself. He was grateful thought
at first troublesomely grateful. He in
sisted that I should meet his family--the
family, as he expressed it, that l had
saved from absolute ruin.
"Talforl, the cashier, was man OF So
oial prominence so, more for the sake
of nv adopted son-for l called him that,
although he had never taken my name
than for myself, 1 accepted the invita-
ton, and met his daughter, May Talford!
ear! And so it should seem, for loved
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of other happiness than to live and die
in comfort. But from that night l com
menced to grow young.
II called again and again at Talford's
house until began to think-fool, blind
fool that 1 was!-that Mary loved me but
little less than I loved her. She received
every advance kindly, she spoke to me
always with regard. never thought
until afterward that she could not do
otherwise to the man who had preserved
her fathers good name. Neither did l
think that Henry went quite as often as
1 to see Miss Talford,' as he always
called her in my presence.
when I asked Talford for his daugh-
ter's hand, his delight would scarcely
elbow him to give me an intelligent
answer; and when fortified with that
answer went to May for hers, and re-
ceiyed as remembered when it was too
late, cool but ready assent, thought
I was the happiest man alive.
"The next day I went to st. Louis. and
while ostensibly on business, spent the
whole day at the jewelers.. Then it was
1 bought that ring, and had engraved
upon the inside as you see here, my in
itials and hers. With this accomplished
1 returned home Immediately. When I
reached there it was late at night, and
the rain poured down in torrents but
little minded that 1 had to pass by
Talford's, and my heart heat high with
exultation as 1 neared the home of my
future bride. l took the ring from my
pocket and stopped under the street
lamp, to see if it was safely in its case.
was childish in my love men at that
age often are.
"While standing under the lamp just
across the street from Talford's, the front
door of his house was thrown open. l
raised my eyes, and there was May her.
self; the gaslight from the hall shot
broad band of light into the street and
framed her form in gold. Oh, how she
held possession of my heart at that mo-
ment She was showing caller down
the steps, and triumphantly stood and
watched hin, linger, as if 10th to leave.
felt kind of condescending pity for
the poor fellow, surprising that he was
some old lover.
"'What not gone yet Still standing
there p 1 thought. Then felt my heart
leap wildly and stand still-the blood
freezing in my veins. l saw May Tai
ford in another mans arms ! saw him
rain kiss after kiss upon her upturned
face, and then l could see that she had
tainted.
"He bore her gently into the house,
and then came out. As the door opened
I saw his face it was white as marble,
and it was the face of Henry Straffoid
HE passed on down the street, and
stood there in the pouring rain, stunned
and almost bereft of my senses. reeled
against the wall and passing policeman
took me by the shoulder, supposing me
to be intoxicated; but turned on him
and laughed ii his face with such jar
ring, fearful laugh that he retreated
over the curbstone, and went on his way
muttering of mad houses and dangerous
lunatics. Presently the stunned sensa-
sion left me, and then my blood leaped
fiercely to my heart, my passion turned
to wild desire for revenge, and / started
almost at run down the street in the
direction that Henry had taken. Henry
Strafordl My path crossed by him!
Every feeling of love that had enter
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