Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30
,r,c.rv win slightly heIghtened

vs,,e drapery. With slightly heightened
coIor he ffiered and greeted him.
Thsre was a moment OF embarrassing 81.
,ercg. She was the frst IN recover her com.
nosure, "a seeking TO release her hand fro n
bis she murmurcd:
aNr. Smith, hope -"
what she hoped be never asked. Cover
inc the hand be held imprisoned IN his own
Win Kisses. be, in burning words, besougIt
her forc,yeuess. and more than that, her
love.
WITH n fuiterIug movement she sought
IN withdraw her hand from his firm grasp,
then suddenly she let IL lie passive In bis.
Ito Hooked mn. The shadow OF a smile
dinnled the corners Of her mouth. rs she
sof,lv uttered: "Tbis TO me. the desptssd
modelio Encouraged by the tone Of her
voice he attempted TO fold her IN his arms;
but With forbiddIng gesture she drew
back.
/" Isabel don't send me away from Won!
Al, those long wears | have wanted you,
and nv lonely heart has ached for the love
that was lost TO me. And now that am
more worthy OF u-now--you will not
refuse 10 let me- call you miner"
"Mr. smith, you are paving me the high
est commitment in Offering me the hand and
heart you refused TO Isabel Gray. You
can more fIttingly bcstow II on Lord Somer-
yille's widow; shall not disgrace YOU as
wife. HUSH" she continued, as he
sought TO interrupt her. CLEAR me out.
That day-so long ago-l called at the stu
do. and accidentally overheard your con-
yersaiion with Hugo Someryille. De-
termIned that you should not have
the chance OF spelling your life
by marrying me, i went away and
changed my address. Your friend found
nee ont, and by his goodness and cbiyalry
won me. And now il may be as well 10 be
clear upon one point, an important one
that is, that wealthy as | am reputed. in
marrying again the only fortune bring
nv husband is-myseli, Isabel SOmerville
nee GRAY. The SomerVille estates and mo-
neys pass from my hands, leaving them
empty" With n pretty and beseeehlng
gesture she opened her hands toward him,
drawing them back hastily a. be stretched
out his own.
81 am sure you do not care for penni-
less bride any more than care TO &c bur
den TO the man may wish to marry"
Again she held out her hand. with quiet
dignity. saying only The words GOOD
bye.v How would be bear the ordeal! she
asked herself. To her intense joy his conn
tenance remained unchanged: be betrayed
no disappointment. He was prepared 10
make any sacrifice TO win her. Clasplng
her hand in both his own, he answered her
goodbye:
"Beiter SO, my darling; want you.
Yourself, not your surroundings. Thank
Heayer, have more than enough for both,
ard you shall never miss the Injuries
which have been yours. You shall never
regret giving yourself to me. would rather
YOU owed something TO me, Isabel" His
voice was earnest and truthful, and his
ewes met hers with trusting look.
With happy sigh she laid her hand ca
ressingly upon his. A shadow crossed his
face as his glance fell upon the wedding
ring encircing her slender finger. IL WIS
but mOmentary pang. Had she seen IL,
ne asked himself on his hOmeward way, a.
he lived the happy hour be bad passed with
her over and over again. At her earnest
entreaty he had reluctantly left her TO re-
turn again in the evening. And she was
alone once more with her new happiness;
alone. but never to feel lonely again.
Face TO face with a future dawning
afrosh from out the dim yet unf0rgotten
past. The past As the words rose to her
iips she shiyered; the look Of aversion lie
had cast upon her wedding-ring. the
svml oil 81 another'S love, pleaded for this
last sacrifice. Had she not given away her
heart. had she not promised her hand
Slowly she drew of the golden token OF
love placed there 10y the hand OF loving
husband now dead, and taking Key from
q chain she always wore, she opened an
ebony and ivory inlaid cabinet. and press
irp spring, disclosed a deep drawer be-
hind a recess. Kissing the little ring sad
ly and pitifully she dropped it in:
II fell upon a sealed letter. she started
nervouslv as the ghost OF the past con-
fronted her. No need to read again the
aforementioned SuperscriptiOn: "ro my
dear wife. on the day she accepts another's
love. or on her thirtieth birthday"
Her hand shakes. the blood flames across
her face and fades away, leaving her, il pos
siblc. whittier than before. Reyerently she
breaks the seal.
A message Of a mighty love had followed
her from beyond the grave. Through a
haze OF bndiag tfa ee she rS e4 d p sSc%lp
the sum Of 100000 he bequeaths to her rs
a token Of his love. For further particulars
be refers her 10 his solicitors. UnSel1sh
Hugol His love had watched over her in
her loneliness and ignorance OF the world;
and in deprIving her OF the golden bait OF
fortune he bad tested the disinierestcd-
ness OF her lover. Was IL surprising that
pride in that lover, who had borne the test
nobly. should mingle in the tribute OF
gratitude sac paid TO her husbands memo
ry?
Paul started, and deeply moved. cx-
claimed: GLOW generous !" Then seeing
the tears in her eyes. he kissed them away.
n to
was, my darling; better could not be-"