Morris tribune., 1884-04-16


Calender had noticed at the public meeting
showed itself again in Mr.. Lismore's face. He
sighed as he answered her:
"My story has one merit" he said; "it is
soon told cannot wonder that you failed
to discover me- In the first place, was not
captain of my ship at that time. was only
mate. In the second place, l inherited some
money, and ceased to lead a sailors life,
in less than year from the night of the fire.
You will now understand what obstacles
were in the way of your tracing
me- With my little capital I started sue
cessfully in business as ship-owner. AT the
time naturally congratulated myself ON my
own good fortune. We little know, Mrs.
Calender, what the future has in store for
u.s."
He stopped. His handsome features hard
ened-and he was suffering land concealing)
pain. Before it was possible to speak to him
there was knock at the door. Another Wis
itor, without an appointment, had called;
the clerk appeared again with card and
message.
The gentleman begs you will see him, sir.
He has something to tell you which is too
important to be delayed"
Hearing the message, Mrs. Calender rose
Immediately.
at is enough for to-day that we under
stand each other" she said. "Have you any
engagement tomorrow after the hours Of
businessw
"None."
She pointed to her card on the writing
table. "Will you come to me tomorrow
evening at that address! am like the gem
tleman who has just called, too have my
reason for wishing to see you"
He gladly accepted the invitation, Mrs.
Calender stopped him as he opened the door
for her.
"Shall I offend you," she said, "if I ask a
strange question before l goa have bet
ter motive, mind, than mere curiosity. Are
you marriedW
"No"
"Forgive me again." she resumed. "At my
age you cannot positively misunderstood me,
and yet"
She hestated. Mr.. Lismore tried to give
her confidence. pray don't stand on cere-
mony, Mrs Calender. Nothing that you
can ask me need be prefaced by an apology. "
Thus encouraged she ventured to proceed.
"You may be engaged to be married" she
| suggested; "or you may be i'll loves"
He found it impossible to conceal his sur
| prise, But he answered without hesitation.
"There is no such bright prospect in my
life" he said; ~ am not even in love-"
She left him with little sigh 1t sounded
like sigh of relief.
Aman threatened by ruin is in no state OF
mind to keep an engagement at ladys tea
table. Ernest sent aletter of apology to Mrs
Calender, alleging extreme pressure of bust
ness as the excuse for breaking his engage
ment
"Am to wait for an answer, sira" the mes
senger replied. :,
"No: YOU are merely to leave the letter."
| In an hours ti1ne-to Ernest's astonish
ment-the messenger returned with thu
reply.
"The lady was just going out, sir, when
rang at the door," he explained, land she
! took the letter from me herself. She didn'i
appear to know your handwriting, and she
asked me who 1 came from. AS soon as
told her was ordered to wait"
Ernest opened the letter.
"DEAR Mr.. LIsMoRE: One of us must speal
out, and your letter of apology forces me tt
| he that one. If you are really so proud ane
dist,ustful as you seem to be, shall otfenc
| YOU. If not l shall prove myself to be YOU
friend.
| truth las | have good reason to belleve) i
| want of money l heard stranger, at tina
| nubiic meeting, say that you were seriously
embarrassed by some failure in the city.
| "Let me tell you what my own pecunlary
| position is in two words. L am the chndles
| widow of a rich man.
after what owe to you don't regard i
as repaying an obligation-l consider mysel
as merely performing duty when offer t.
| assist YOU by a loan OF money.
await little before you throw my lette
into the waste-paper basket.
circumstances (which it is impossible fol
ma to mention before we meeDput it out O.
INV power to help you-unless 1 attach tx
INV most sincere offer of service very unu
sual and very embarrassing condition. /
Won are on the brink of ruin, that misfortune
will plead my excuse-and your excuse, too
if YOU accept the loan on my terms. In an.
case, I rely on the sympathy and toFbearanc
of the man to whom owe my life.
"After what I have now written, there L
ONLY only one thing to add. beg to declin
accepting your excuses; and shall expect t.
| see YOU tomorrow evening, as we arranged
I am an obstinate old woman-but am ais
your faithful friend and servant.
Ernest looked up from the letter. HWhe
can this possibly mean?" he wondered.
But he was too sensible a man to be cor
tent with wondering-he decided on keepln
his engagement.
Keeping his engagement with Mrs. Caller
der, Ernest discovered that riches Nigh
be lavishly and yet modestly used
Mrs. Calender advanced to welcome he
guest in simple evening dress perfectl
suited to her age All that had looked wor
and faded in her fine face by daylight we
now softly obscured by shaded lamps. o.
iects of beauty surrounded her, which glove
with subdued radiance from their bacl
ground of sober color. The influence of al
pearance is the strongest of all outward il
fuence while it lasts For the moment tt
scene produced its impression on Ernest,
spite of the terrible anxieties which consume
him. Mrs. Calender in his Office was
woman who had stepped out of her apr
pirate sphere Mrs. Calender in her ow
house was a woman who had risen to ne
place in his estimation.
81 am afraid you don't thank me for fort
ing you to keep your engagement" she said
with her friendly tones and her pleasan
smi
"In e.. / do thank you," he replied. "You
beautiful house and your gracious WELDON
have persuaded me into forgetting m
troubles-for WHILE"
The smile passed away from her face
''Then it is trues" she said gravely.
"Only too true"
She led him to seat behind her, an
waited to speak again until her maid ha
brought in the tea.
"Have you read my letter in the sam
friendly spirit in which wrote it!" she aske
when they were alone again.
, 81 have read your letter gratefully, but
, aBut you don't know yet what I have
say Let us understand each other before "
, make any objections on either side. Wi
you tell me what your present position is,
it's worsta can, and will, speak plainl
2 when my turn comes, if you will honor n
, with your confidence. Not if it distress
you," she added, observing him attentivel
He was ashamed of his hesitation-and
made amends for it. "Do you thorough
: understand me?" when the whole truth he
q been laid before her without reserve.
! She summed up the result in her ON
words.
o eff your overdue ship returns safely with
f month of this time you can borrow Il
@ money you want without difficulty. If ii
y ship is lost, you have no alternati'
| fvhen the end Of the month cOnnesl but