St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-08

81 have read your letter gratefully, but
''But you don't know yet what l have to
say. Let us understand each other before
we make any objections on either side.
Will yon tell me what your present position
is-at its worst? can, and will, speak plain
~, when my turn comes, if you will houor
me with your confidence. Motif it distress
es you," she added, observing him attentive
ly.
He was ashamed of his hesitation-and he
made amends for it. ''Do you thoroughly
understand me?' when the whole truth had
been laid before her without reserve.
She summed up the result in her own
words.
eff your overdue ship returns safely
within a month of this time you
can borrow the money you
want without difficulty If the
ship is lost, you have no alternative, when
the end of the month comes, but to accept
loan from me or to suspend payment. Is
that the hard truth!"
at isl
"And the sum you require is-e20, OOO.' -
eyes"
81 have twenty times as much money as
that, Mr.. Lismore, at my sole disposal-on
one condition.
s'The condition alluded to in your letter?''
''Yes''
''Does the fulfillment of the condition de-
pend in some way on any decision OF
mine?'
st depends entirely on your
The answer closed his lips.
With a composed manner and steady
hand she poured herself out cup of tea.
'sMy husband was very fond of me; he
had the most absolute confidence in my dis
cretion, and in my sense of duty to him and
to myself His last words before he died
were words that thanked me for making the
happiness of his life. AS soon as Ihad in
some degree recovered, after the affection
that had fallen on me, his lawyer and execu-
tor produced a copy of his will and said there
were two clauses in it which my husband had
expressed wish that / should read. 1t is
needless to say that obeyed.''
81 now possess what is called life inter-
est in my husbands fortune,'' she said.
''The money is to be divided at my death,
among charitable institutions; excepting a
certain event."
(Which is provided for in the will?''
Ernest added. helping her to go on.
eyes. I am to be absolute mistress of the
whole of the e400, 000-'' her voice dropped,
and her eyes looked away from his as she
spoke the next words-"on this one condi-
ton, that l marry again.
He looked at her in amaZement.
''Surely have mistaken you,'' he said.
''You mean ON this one condition, that you
do not marry again"
''No, Mr.. Lismore; mean exactly what I
have said You now know that the recovery
of your credit and your peace of mind rests
entirely with YOURSELF
After moment Of reflection he took her
hand, and raised it respectfully to his lips.
''You are a noble woman" he said.
She made no reply. With dropping head
and downcast eye she waited for his decis-
ion. He accepted his responsibility.
81 must not, and dare not, think of the
hardship of my own POSITION, he said; 81
owe it to you to speak without reference to
the future that may be in store for me. No
man can be worthy of the sacrifice which
your generous forgetfulness of self is willing
to make l respect you, admire you;
thank you with my whole heart. Leave me
to my fate, Mrs. Calender, and let me 60"
He rose. She stopped him with a gesture.
GA young woman" she answered, "would
shrink from saying-what l, as an old wom-
an, mean to say now. refuse to leave you
to your fate. ask you to prove that you re-
spect me, admire me, and thank me with
your whole heart. Take one day to think
and let me hear the result. You promise me
this?n
He promised.
''Now COZ she said.
The next morning Ernest received let
10, frnr Mrc Gall hn 10 fn i'm
as follows:
"There are some considerations which
ought to have mentioned yesterday evening,
before you left my house.
81 ought to have reminded you-if you
consent to reconsider your decision-that the
circumstance do not require you to pledge
yourself to me absolutely.
SAT my age / can with perfect propriety
assure you that 1 regard our marriage simply
and solely formality which we must fulfill,
if 1 am to carry out my intention of standing
between you and ruin.
'Therefore-if the missing ship appears in
time, the only reason for the marriage is at
an end. We shall be as good friends as
ever, without the incumbrance of a formal
tie to bind us.
''In the other event, I should ask you to
SuDlulG W SClLd lColllSllOho WHICH,
bering my position, you will understand and
excuse.
''We are to live together, it is unnecessary
to say, as mother and son. The marriage
ceremony is to be strictly private; and you
are to so arrange your affairs that, immedi-
ately afterward, we leave England for any
foreign place which you prefer. Some of my
friends, and, perhaps, some of your friends,
viii VIC 81 M IF
we stay in our own country-in manner
which would be uncomfortable to woman
like me.
GAS to our future lives, I have the most
perfect confidence in you, and 1 should leave
you in the same position Of independence
which you occupy now. When you wish for
my company you will always be welcome.
At other times you are your own master. l
live on my side of the house, and you live on
yours-and / am to be allowed my hours of
solitude every day, in the pursuit of musical
occupations, which have been happily asso-
ciated with all my past life, and which 1 trust
confidently to your indulgence.
GA last word, to remind you of what you
may be too kind to think of yourself.
Sat my age you cannot in the course of
nature, be troubled by the society Of CRATE
full old woman for many years. You are
young enough to look forward to another
marriage, which shall be something more
than a mere form. Even if you meet with
the happy woman in my lifetime honestly
tell me of it-and l promise to tell her that
she has only to wait.
GIN the meantime, don't Think because I
write composedly, that write heartlessly.
You pleased and interested me when first
saw you at the public meeting. 1 don't think
1 could have proposed what you call this
sacrifice of myself to a man who personally
repealed me-though might have felt my
debt of gratitude as sincerely as ever. Whet-
her your ship saved, or whether your ship is
lost, old Mary Calender likes you-and owns
it without false shame.
''Let me have your answer this evening,
either personality or by Observation-Disclosures