Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-23
WHY DID HE WE'D HER,

year, Ceve embarked for ST. Louis. with his parents,
on the Inflated steamer Lucy Lee, which perishe q
by an explosion within sight OF her landing.
Among the lost was Cleve's mother and his
father was so fatally injured that he died soon
after his removal TO the Planters Hotel, having
hrst made VIII leaving all his property TO Cleve.
and appoin ing his old college chum. Judge Barn,
OF New 1orL, executor OF his viii.
When the funeral was over, the Judge returned
TO New YORK, taking Cleve with him The judges
wife received The youth very kindly. and tried TO
make him happy. But Tor long time nothing
could rouse him from the deep sorrow OF his terrible
bereavement.
One thing, however, interested him. through
sympathy.
There was about the premis es little dark-eyed
dark-haired child Of about five years old who
seemed to belong to nobody, and went about the
house 'like tame kitten"
She seemed TO have OWNED the cause OF Cleve
Stuart'S gloom. She would stand before him, with
her small hands folded demureiy On her bosom,
and her dark eyes fixed sOlemny on his face, so
often, that at last one afternoon Cleve called
out:
.'Come here baby
She came promptly.
He took her upon his knees, and inquired:
'.Wbat Is your manner"
"Palma," She replied.
no Is your mother?'
"My moZfr is an ainZel in Heaven
ION! Poor little girl! Where is your father"
VIZ moZer, him too" replied the child. without
removing her grave, dark eyes from the face OF the
why do you look at me so, Palma"
"Touse Lze so sorry for co."
both my dear parents?" began the youth; but his
voice failed, and his eyes filled with tears as he
pressed the little one close to his breast.
"Dont cwy. Hove co." she said, taking tiny
handkerchief out of TIMER pocket and beginning to
wipe his eyes
''If you love me, baby, you are the only one in
the world that does" he said. and bent his head
and kissed the little, DARK, upturned face.
T4en suddenly, with boys scorn OF ''sentimen-
out OF the house. AS so n as he got a chance,
Cleve asked Mrs Barn who Palma was The old
lady replied:
''Hers is sad story. She is the child of a runa-
way match. Her father was the youngest son OF a
North OF England Squire and officer in the
HusSars He fell In love with O beautiful house.
maid, and married her, was cast off by hts family,
and OStracioed by the officers Of his regiment He
was Obliged 10 sell out and come with his wife 10
this country, where they lived the price OF his
commission as long as the money lasted, and then
went down, down. till finally they all fell sick OF
the typhoid fever.
1.-THE father died first; then the mother. The
child recovered, as you see. The poor woman had
told me her story. After she had passed away, I
wrote TO Squire Hay, OF Haymore, England, and
announced the death OF his son and daughter-in-
law, and described the destitute condition of his
grandchlld. In the meantime brought the girl
nome here 10 await events / also brought away
the papers relating to the marriage OF the parents
and the birth and baptism of the child. In about q
month got letter from Squire Hay, in which he
declared, In so many words, that he would have
nothing to do with the house-maids brat
$50 here she has remained ever since. 1 do not
know what we shall do with her: but there is time
enough to think about that for she is only a baby ~
concluded Mrs. Barn.
From this day the youth took compassionate
interest IN the child. And as for her, she was In
the language OF the household "devoted to that
boy"
Three years past: Cleve Stuart was prepared to
enter college. and Palma was pupil In the nearest
primary school.
1t was proposed that Cleve should enter Harvard
as soon as the vacation was over but the young
man changed his mind and decided to go to Ger
many and enter the University OF Bonn
when ne sailed for Europe, the child Palma
grleved herself into mt OF Illness, from which she
only recovered in time to re-enter the primary
school at its reopening
,Cleve stuart had intended to stay but four years
ABROAD, put he stayed seven and would have stayed
longer but that expected remttanceS did not
arrive. AT length, when his funds were growing
alarmingly low, he made up his mind to return
home.
On his homeward voyage he met his fate In the
form OF LAMA LEIGH, the most beautiful woman
ever loved.
With the air. manner and costume OF a wealthy
woman OF fashion, she was simply an accomplished
ana wen remuneraled gOverness who was. travel
Ing with rich family; In charge Of their girls She
was, besides, several years older than her lover,
but he did not care for all that To him she was q
princess, goddess and he lifted adoring and wor-
shipping eyes to her beauty and divinity.
BY the time the steamer had half crossed the At
lantlc, Cleve stuart and Lamia LEIGH were en-
gagged to be married and much of their lives
planned out They were to be united as soon as
convenient after reaching New York, and in the
beginning OF the new year go to the south and set
tie down on his beautiful plantation on the banks
OF the Mississippi.
When the steamer reached New York, Lamia
Leigh went with her employers to their splendid
to hotel
wrought by the war. The emancipation and the
exodus had left his uncultvated for years. so
that no revenue had come from them. The remit
tanceS that had been sent out to him during that
time had been spared from his late guardians own
income, and had only ceased when the old judge
suddenly left this world to join his wife, who had
gone just before him to the better land
he could get no news OF Palma Hay, who. he re-
mem0ered, would, II she should live, be now
1t was great shock suddenly to find himself re-
duced TO poverty. He had scarcely courage to 20
and tell his betrothed of their misfortune
He went, however, in a few days, and found her
ID ner employers house, as handsomely dressed
and as luxuriously lodged as II she had been the
princess she looked
He told her all, and then added:
Il am not quite pennlesS. have q few hundred
dollars and mean to seek employment Also,
Snau study law. think should do we'll as bar
rster. And you, my queen, would be my great
est Inspiration to effort Lamia, love you 50 en-
t tlreIy; have you the courage TO marry poor
soul In his eyes and Tone
She hesitated long before she answered, though
he kept his eyes fixed upon her In silent beseech-
ing. Then, at length she said, in cool tone with
studied words: "-'-
NO. Cleve, 1 have not the courage to do the
could bear poverty for day. We both have re-
1hed ana 1astldious tastes. We love ease, splen-
uoi auu iuAuIJ. NemuSt walt Tor fortune TO be-
STOW wealth before we can think OF MARRIAGE
He looked at her In pain and SURPRISE Her words
ana manner shocked and wounded him. He Doubt
60 her love and suspected her motives And yet he
loqeo her SO much that he could not Yield his
point. ne pleaded, argued, persevered, for long
Time, out 10 no purpose: She was as firm rock
In her decision and suddenly changed the subject
by saying:
"You remember the little girl Palma, whose
story you told me that night on the deck OF the
steamer" ~
.'Yes; of course! What Of herr" inquired the
young man, In surprise
In answer to his question Lamia Informed him
tn&C sne Rad That day learned from lady con-
nected with mission society, that Palma was
dying In tenement house, where she was living
also said that Mrs. Pole had stated to the mission
iady tnat PaimaS death was being FASTENED be-
cause an Old friend, Cleve Stuart whose arrival
from Europe she had seen announced in the news
papers, had not called to see her. TO this CIeye re-
"Ali fancy, my queen, ali fancy. The DOOR girl
Is In decline from physical causes not mental nor
moral; VIII go and see her Tomorrow Poor lit
tie Palma?" wv Az
81 dare say you are right, Cleve,n said Miss
Leegn. linen With sudden change OF subject she
. .., | have something else to tell you"
II mink that fortune may smile on us-that f.
II you have courage and address TO court hef
.Lamia,-love!-tell me what you meap9n he eae.
crly demanded. 1889
"Cleve, what would you do to insure DIR
wealth ana our union within a year from this
oIne!' she inquired, earnestly looking him In the
''Do! What would I dor Anythinrt-anythtnu
except TO commit crime" W ~
-. crime would rot be possible to YOU Besides.