The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1886-06-05

| luc W NE HeI lONc bllc slllcll dllu
| the reward. could not believe it
possible. l tried to see her, but
way alway repulsed. | wrote, but
received no reply. haunted her
walks, her drives. She never look
ed at me.
Desperate and disheartened, 1
cared not what became of mo. For
weeks | moved, ate, worked like an
automaton. | was at my worst
when note came from a young
lawyer, formerly my chum, and a
good fellow to boot
DEAR HAL There is Il splendid
news for you. Come down to my
office as soon as you can. Yours,
FRED" "
What news was there that matter
ed anything to me? l scarcely
cared to obey the summons. That
evening Fred stopped me on the
street.
"Why didn't you come ?" he
asked. ''Of course you got my
note? There's millions in it p
"Millions in what ?" 1 interroga-
ted.
"Pounds, shillings and pence. |
happened on an advertisement in
an English paper yesterday. I've
heard you say your family name
was Preston that there was some
GOODNESS between your mother and
your English relations. Now here
is a certain Halstead Preston, Esq =,
who has just died at the age of y,
and he leaves-well, enough and
plenty to the son of his sister, who
married u Thomas De Long, in
America. OF course he must be
your uncle, and they are searching
for the heir So you see you are
wanted"
l looked at my much-worn suit.
For moment my heart beat as if
it would leap from my body. Now,
if this were true (and l knew 1 had
an uncle Halstead Preston in Dev-
onshire-I was named for him), 1
was the peer of any bankers
daughter in America.
"Keep quiet about this matter,
will you ?" l asked "Don't let it
get in the papers just yet. l have
good reasons for asking it. Above
all don't talk among your friends.
I have nothing to do but to start at
once"
"You will let me help you?" he
said.
"Not cent. | took an oath that
so help me heaven, I would never
borrow again. 1t has nearly been
my ruin once. l have enough to
take me there and back, steerage.
If on arriving there can establish
my identity, money will be easy
enough, and l shall have incurred
no obligation. I'll go just as I am"
In less than three days I had
plenty of proof concerning my iden-
tity-my mothers marriage certifi-
cate being the most important paper;
had engaged my passage-steemge--
in the Persia and, desiring to be
known to no one, enjoyed my pecu-
liar position with the zest of one su-
perior to circumstances.
Did my heart throb faster, when
on that beautiful night saw the
face of the girl l loved. Well, yes,
for a moment or two. But | had
also learned to despise her charac-
ter too thoroughly to give way to
sentiment, fl had not quite con-
quered my infatuation, l was mas
ter of myself
She, over there, in her rose-color-
ed reveries, speculating upon the
possibility of winning Il duke at the
lowest in that marvellous London ;
l, in the steeragc, though kindly
cared for by my sailor friend.
1 smiled as l wondered what her
thoughts could be just now. was
more than anxious to know her
opinion through some available
means, and taking advantage of my
friends's permission, | haunted the
upperdeck nightly.
For some time l was disappoint-
ed. At last one evening she came
up ON deck, a young lady following.
carrying her shawl and a pillow.
They came quite near where l sat,
my face to the sea, watching the
wonderful gold-and-crimson CLEANS
that mingled with the ripplcs and
wavelets left in her wake by our
good ship.
NOW, are you quite well fixed p
asked the young lady, who 1 sup
pose was her companion.
"Yes, thanks. Sit down. Iwish
to ask you something. Have YOU
found out about him yet ?"
MNn inlnnl II..-L ~