Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-05-01

| Ii MS clothes were somewhat worn.
they were carefully brushed, and his
linen was Of immaculate purity.
His conversation was mostly directed
70 Eve, bot Maud found that he was a
man OF Intelligence and culture. There
was something extremely winning in
his manner, but she felt annoyed with
herself for being Interested In him.
The week passed. Mr.. Ashford linRer.
ed that he might see his old friend, and
she day came for her return. Maud's
threats OF sending q dispatch to her
mother regarding the stranger had not
Chester entered her sitting room she
was wholly un prepared for the please MT
surprise that awaited her.
Mr.. Ashford was seated ut tha low
ortel window, and as she came In he
went forward to meet her.
Helen, do you know me 2" he ask
cd, in . tone that was tremulo1s with
emotion and as Helen Chester looked
III his earnest face, twenty I've years Of
the past were Suddenly bridged over.
and she beheld again the lover of her
youth.
She had been widow for many
years. and now she seemed TO BIS trans
ported to her own happy girlhood. to
the bIissful days before q pjtiless fate
had severed the ties that bound her to
the man whom she loved. Ofticious
friends had separated them, and after
ward she had married Walter Chester
Yes, Helen Chester knew him, and
for answer she stretched on. Der hands
In welcome, while stately Maud, enter
ing at that same moment, was horritisu
to find her mother clasped in the em.
brace OF that poverty. stricken old man,
as she had called him.
Her circumstances, however, were
unheeded-unheard, in fact, in the great
happiness that had 30 unexpec ted ~
come TO Mira. Chester; and Maud's sis.
ter, although as full OF curiosity as any
OF Ev6's daughters, watched the tab.
leau with eyes glowing With pleasure.
James Ashford had been true to hi.
first and only love, and when by her
10 arriage to another she was lost to him,
he had lett his native rand Win u hrnl
resolve never to return.
In India he had amassed q princely
fortune; but he had neither kith nor kin
and as he felt old age approaching ne
could not resist o strong inclination to
revisit the scenes of his youth.
Then, upon his arrival in his native
land, he had learned that his old sweet
heart was still living. aud also that sht
was widowed, and an irresistible desire
to behold her face once more had sen,
him to her home.
Then little Eve, who was almost the
exact image OF her mother, as he had
known her, had attracted him with her
winning ways and childlike hospi-
tality.
AS might be expected, tie denoue-
inent of such e meeting was tho mar
riage Of the long separated lovers they
might Sill enjoy together life's after
noon and, although Maud scarcely
iancied the idea OF r. eecond father, she
was obliged to submit with the best
gracs she could assume, and the
princely fortune aided that submiss ion
materially
Lutte Eve was delighted, for the old
gentleman had won her affection at the
outset. And about that time, for some
reason wholly unaccountable to Maud,
Wallace Leslie suddenly transferred
his attention aud affection to the
younger daughter aud pet OF the house.
bold and, although somewhat discon-
csrted at the waning of his love, Maud
was cOnsoled by the accession to their
fortune. which enabled her TO move In
the galaxy Of fashionable lie rs o star
OF the first mag itude.
Eve Chester ultimately became the
wife OF Wallace Leslie, who had first
been attracted by her kindness and
hospitality on that memorable morning
when Eo was calling upon her sister (;
and, as q loved and loving wife. Eve
LeBlie's sweet, woman!y ways and un
selfish nature have made of their beau.
tifuI home n Variable F.Jpn