Daily Republican., 1884-05-09

I'd know her voice In the angel choir,
Her step on the golden floor;
| And, oh, the Joy when we meet at last
| And feel we can part no more |!
| THREE OF ONE NAME.
BY MRS. c. M. sTANLEY-MCKENNA.
| "DEAR MADAM,-Wear are instructed
by our client, Mr.. Roger Curtiss, to
convey to you his condolences on the
occasion OF your fathers death, and to
inform you that ~ your dead mother =
stranger TO yourself-he offers you the
position of a niece and adopted child In
his own household. Should you s"e fit
to accept this proposition, please com.
muniCate with us at once. Respectfully
"LAwsON & Co., Solicitors"
Such was the letter, startling in its
nexpectedness, and chilling in its
formal phraseolgy, which Florence May
placed In her lovers hand.
"What shall do 2" she asked, wist-
fully, lifting to his her fearful, beauti.
full eyes. "It came this morning.
have delayed answering it until you
cou Id ad wise me what to do or say.
suppose the offer Is generous one, bu,
II uncle Curtiss had called upon me, or
even written to me himself, should
have felt much happier. Surely he has
chosen an ungracious way Of doing q
k ind and gracious action"
Robert Curtis looked at the lettor with
| ,,f rnriua fhnf for thA
ment caused him quite to ignore his
pretty swee,heart's complaint.
Roger Curtiss !" sred he. "Why,
that must be my rich old curmudgeOn
of . landlord. Lawson Il 90, transact
his business, know. And is he a con-
nection of yours? How strange, to be
sure You need not wonder at any
thing old Curtis does, my darling. l
see good deal Of him, not only on
account of my Office being next to his
he owns the whole building, you zee,
and let's it all IN offices-but because Of
tho similarity in our names. Only the
difference of u letter-Cnrtis and Cur
tiss-and people are continually making
mistakes in consequence, don't know
how to advise you, FlOrrie, dearest.
Mr.. Curtiss Is terribly eccentric,
stingy, disagreeable old fellow among
his fellow-men, and to tell the truth, an
ignorant, coarse, selfish fellow into the
bargain, and yet be might be kind and
good to you. Who, indsed," he added,
tenderly, softly caressiDg her bright
hair, "who could be otherwise? And
we should meet sometimes. You would
be here with your own people, not toll.
ing as a governess among strangers. l
hate to think of that, Florrie. But
why, In the name of wonder, pet, have
| never heard of your uncle Curtiss
before"
~ don't think l ever thought of
him." Florrie answered frankly. 81
have never known him, you see. He
was poor mammals half brother only,
and after her marriage, Of which he
did not approve, he ignored her ex-
istence altogether l have heard papa
speak of him sometimes as an old bache-
lor, very cross and whimsical, who in
herited large fortune from his own
father, and added to it until he became
very rich"
Robert took alarm instantly.
| "He'll want to make you his heiress,
said he, and break your engagement
with me. OF course he looks upon me
as he did upon your father-as poor,
beggarly devil of an nartist. Oh, FlOrrie,
dear, why can't we consult our own
happiness and be married at once ?"
But Florence shook her head.
"You know that cannot be, Robert
she said, gently. Poor, dear papa is
yet scarce two months dead; could l
forget my grief SO soon? Not even for
you ! But surely you are not afraid to
trust me? would not exchange your
hearts true love for the wealth Of all
the world" |"
Her lover caught the fair girl to his
breast.
"I know it!" he cried. "I do not
fear you, love, but old Curtiss. If he
Is going to make you rich, he will as
sumo the right to choose you husband
and l am very sure that his choice
won't fall on me -
Florrie smiled.
You are my choice" she said, soft.
ly and tenderly. Does that not content
you ? Do you think / would accept
fortune az the price Of love? But
will say nothing about our engagement
to uncle Curtiss, unless he questions
me. And if he does sO," she added
archly, shall tell him that you have
real estate up town ~
At that question, all Roberts gloon
was dssipated by a merry laugh, in
which Florrie's voice chimtd musi-
cally
"Real estate p cried Robert merrily.
Don't l wish l had ! Our future
lives would look the brighter, dear
But that old rat-trap so tar up town
that we couldn't even live there our
sci ves-even if it were inhabitable-
on account of the distance. And yet,
if We ever do have rapid transit, pet,
the place would be valuable. 1t may
give us lift in the world, come OIL
these days, after all. But don't speak
of the poor old shanty to uncle Curtiss,
pray !; he knows what real estate Is,
and the weight of sCorn for my poor
inheritance would crush Its crumbling
walls |"
So it was agreed between the pair
that Florence should keep silence
about her lovers landed property, and
also about her young lover himself, as
far AZ possible.
But old Roger Curtiss was sharp and
keen, and made up in natural acute.
ness and observing power whatever he
lacked in experience or education. He
had never married possibly he had
never made love--except to money, but
he recognized the symptoms of the ten"
lder passion in his tenant at the office
land his niece at home, for all that :.
What's that artist fellow doing round
there ?' he asked Florrie, grptlly, when
1she had lived in his house about q
wear, " He comes oftener than ever OF
late, Oh, to be sure l know he's an
|old friend, and papa liked him.;
|you'ye told me that before what's
bothering me is that papa's daughter