Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-07-01


/ love you too well to stay longer. Now
you have the truth.
The fair girl withdrew her hand from
the youths loosened grasp, and bowed
her head. She remained thus some
moments. Finally she looked up. ana
the moonbeoms were reflected from the
pearly tears that had collected IN her
eyes. and now stood trembling upon the
lashes.
"Allan, . she said, in low, agitated
tone, q do understand you, and II |
have never before thought of this as YOU
now present it, is because have been SO
happy in your company that have not
looked much to the future. For JOY,
have only looked to your coming, from
hour to hour, and from day to day. But do
leave me now-Oh, do not should die
if you were gone"
With these words, spoken at the close
in quick, spasmodic tones, she placed
her hand upon Allan's arm, and pillowed
her head upon his bosom.
But" said Allan, trying to be calm,
''why should stay, when it could only
end in misery to us both Oh, you
should know that to live thus we should
| forever-and that cannot be-"
"Why may it not be r. murmured the
maiden, without looking up.
Glow, Bella Would you consent Z"
ooh, with all my heart, and all my
soul'
And as the fair girl thus spoke,
she chung more closely to the noble
youth.
For a moment Allan forgot all else but
the words he had just heard but he would
not deceive himself.
"Alas!" he uttered, 81 could al
most wish | had never known the
thing YOU have told me, for your
father will never consent to this
''neverm
Gle maybe may" cried Bella, earn
estly. He loves me, and do not think
he would see me miserable. He has
money enough, and"
Hold, Bella | can have as much
money as we should ever want. pos
sess a secret that is worth more than
should dare to estimate. know of a
new pearl bank which no man save my
self has yet seen. But your father is
too proud to mate his child with pearl
diver"
Yet Bella was hopeful. She made AL
Ian promise that he would not 60 away
till he could know ali, and she even inti-
mated that rather than live without him,
she would follow him.
Are you crazy, my child?" Sir John
Lakin cried, as his daughter confessed
her love for the poor pearl-diver
"Marry you with such as he? PTepos-
ferrous! Why, I should as soon tn k of
seeing you welded to one of my native
slaves"
"But Allan is good, father, and he is
worthy of the hand of any woman in
the country. He loves me, and ! love
him"
Nonsense, Bella. | have a husband
all ready for you! One who can provide
for you"
Perhaps you mean Condor Sudham, :"
the girl said.
'Ay-I do mean him d"
do you mean to tell me that / must
be the wife of that MANI" asked Bella,
speaking more with astonishment than
with fear.
at is all settled, my child"
Bella gazed into her fathers face in
speechless surprise; and no wonder.
This Condor Sudham was a scion of a
Dutch family that once had a title. He
was born on the island, and was now
over forty years of age. He was men,
Der of the legislative council, and mer-
chant, and was one of the most wealthy
men in the country. He was a short,
dumy, coarse, dark-featured man, well
enough as member of the government,
but never made for an affectionate friend.
He was married already TO his money,
and wife and children would only find a
secondary place in his heart.
And snch was the man the baronet
would have his child marry. Sudham
had seen Bella often, and he thought she
would make fine addition to his estate.
He would take pride in showing her,
and having her preside at his table. But
the maiden herself had different opinions
on the subject.
eff / thought you were in earnest,
father, I should know exactly what to
say"
''Ah, and what would it be, my child?''
Il never can be that mans wife"
every well. You will have a fathers
authority to contend with, then. Be as
sured you shall marry him, for so have
promised
But the baronet found himself with
more work on his hands than he had
counted on. Bella grew sad and melan-
choly. and ere long the truth burst upon
him that his child was beginning to lose
all love for him. She looked upon him