New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-10

little cedar box, which was the coffin OF her dead
palm. Would hs not have called this proclamation
as complete that of 1.-The poor Swiss pebbe-vend-
ersf Yet had he not been guilty Of greater yul-
garization and dissertation when he won her love
only to cast IL aside like withered weed
And all the long hours that she sat By the de,
signers side patiently guiding his adaptation n OF
while the Alpine flower lay before them on tine
smoke blackened table, there seemed to ring IN her
ears the tones OF never forgotten voice. Hiaeons
profanatpnl / cannot bear the edelwelss to be
profanedp And, as # in answer to a real accusa-
tion, her lip. would move In the voceless murmur;
Slowly slowly the design grew into shape, exer-
cisng strange fascination over Decima. as sne
fingered over the border which was y smnlate inc
ridges of Alpine snow, and touched up the tiny
flower in perspective, which she insisted on putting
instead OF the conventional sprig SO dear 70 ma
chlnelace designers. There had never been so orig,
the exnltant buyer overwhelmed Decima with
congratulations before he spod back across the AZ
with this latest triumph of the Buckingham looms
while Decima walked homo TO q certain Shabby
o hundred pounds, and prospective work and wages.
She was 30 happy that she eycD tried to make the
story PLAIN 10 the poor childish wreck that had once
been Captain Hereford and to her delight ne rs
tened aud seemed to understand, till she came ia
the end and held up the bit OF edelweiss that nao
LAID the cornerstone OF fortune for them Dotn Ing
sight seemed to awake some long dormant chord OF
association for he moved uneasily in his
and muttered Switzerland, Switzerland then
with start Of terror aud great trembling:
Dece, Decie,' he cried: with working features
and frightened eyes. You never knew ! sent
him away. your young American lover. He was
poor, and could not let you go and leave me: 1
told him you were engaged to some one else. lea.
Can you forgive me- 10 You mna san now there
was almost recoil from the wretched figure In It's
Eager remorse then she knelt down and drew the
poor old gray head 10 her.young breast.
Hush. my dear. hush. she said brokenly; In
deed. forgive You; no. dpn't mind so miich now
1T does not matter and she kissed the trembling
lips that still moved feebly.
And that night the old man died
III.
But where was Ralph yerriker all ,hese long,
weary monthsi When. with disappointment and
sickness of heart he set of across the Atlantic AFTER
the dream 80 cruelty broken It was Only 60 nd III
leaving him sole inherltor OF comfortable fortune
and letter in which the old man set forth how. IN
leaving his money tc Ralph, instead OF TO his niece
Margaret IA had been popularity expected. II was LA
the full hope and belief that marriage between
the two young people would make matters equal
and prevent any Injustice to the gl. who had per
haps learned to regard herself his heress. Poor
Ralph was COMPOUNDED Not only had he never re-
garded his commonplace cousin Msdge with more
than friendly interest but the bitter experience OF
his Swiss trip had closed the world OF love Tor him
forever. 1t was not in VAN that nature had gwen
HIM that resolute brow and chin, and character
which WAS so formed as to be able 70 love but o. ce
for all So at first his only thought was how best TO
atone to Madge for the wrong done by his helrshp
but this was not the easy matter IL seemed at 1rst
sight; the bulk of the property was SO disposed as
TO come to him only in event of his marriage. and it
was settled upon his heirs as to leave him little
more than a ifenterest in IT, aud TO render 10 I'M
possible to ALLEVIATE il from himself. Ralph looked
very grave a. the conviction slowly aawned upon
mothers urgent entreates that he should give her
the daughter she had always ongcd for-all pressed
II know she has always cared for YOU she kept
repeating; and though Ralph was modest fellow
enough the assurance seemed another claim. lie
told himself he was beginning to forget the woman
who had been all too kind, ana honestly thought
the pain OF remembrance Was growing iess-onIy
could remind him OF tho bitterness of the past and
he himself hardly knew that he always scanned
the first column of The Times 80 narrowly. She was
married long ago, mo doubt; and IL was only right
that he should marry Madge. lie used TO repeat the
list OF her virtues to himself, and try to feel con-
WINGED that mater.ot-isct good,nntnred common,
of ones children and that II was blessing MAdge
had no sentiment. ana would not miss the love he
could not give her.
And so it came TO pass that certain night found
them both of New. York reception, and nc the
crisis OF their fate. lie had led ner away into the
conservatory, gorgeous auair HiaLlhg win rare
the splash OF tiny Fountains sort OF fifth Ave
nue. garden OF Eden.
They had both been sitting silent-they never had
very much 10 say TO each other-and Ralph, rs he
sat elbow on knee, strokng his moustache. looked
uore like cuprit than a lover, fer be had made mp
his mind TO settle matters tonight ana never bad
duty looked so unlovely. Yet Margaret was at her
hest to n ght less ford and large than usual, and
far softer and geDter than he had ever seen her,
with OF the loud colors lie had such horror OF
all in simple snowy lace ana muslin.
What pretty dress. Madge.' he said kindly
never saw you look so we'll
Madge's face Frightened. She was rather afraid
of Ralph IN general he 80 odd. and talked OF
things she did not understand; but dress was SUD-
ject In which she was at hone. ..,.
yes, isn't IL lovelyp she said with animation !
Just look ut tho lace; even you admire 1t,
should think 1t cost ne something can tell YOU
Aav. VIII "A
machne.nade. But thought myself very lucky |
to get it, 1t isn't even In the stores yet I'm the
Mr. Slater lot have IL out OF his wholesale place
as "A great favor-Sias p. Slater. you know. In |
Pearl-st;;. his buyer had just brought over from
England!
Ralph hardly needed her placid talk; no had |
bent down dutifuly 30 examine the lace which she |
indicated; but he raised his head with sudden |
start |
1T is tho edslwesl' he said, and then stopped |
short. That whole bright scene-conseryatory; |
flowers, lights. Margarets plump iorm-ali faded |
from before his eyes and Instead rose up the snow
sky hush OF twilight In the air. two dark figures
hand in hand his own voice, quick and eager, smote |
on his ear: observation-disclosures
Wuat had he been about to do He started to |
his feet in violent agitation and walked to the door
and then came back to his cousins side. His face |
wore a look no one had ever seen there beforc-a |
sMadge,' he said, I'm afraid I'm a brute: forgive |
night s t'y whch had no business to do; can't do It,
What want TO ask you now Is, II yon will let me |
give you half of Uncle Thomass money annually
the money that ought to be all yours It's lett 40
uniustly that cant give 1t you out and outs but
you'll let me do that
Margaret stared at him Tor moment, then DuIst
into hearty laugh.
NV gracious Ralphl' she said, lis that ALI I |
know what you meant, and you've tried your best,
though guess aunt rather egged you but II /
was no use; saw that as soon you came home |
frou abroad some other girl had been first. AS /
for me- don't bother yourself. told Charlie Arson
last night that I'd marry him. like him awfully, |
and he's twice rs rich you, you know. But You |
spoilt my story about the lace OF course it's edel-
weiss; that's what they call it-edelweiss lace
some Swiss flower, Mr.. Slater says And no told