Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-09-14

q new cUuutfy-
.How often have you talked of starting
afresh. promised to begin a new lfe'"
questioned his mother, bitterly. Il gave
you elO0 to furnish an apartment in Paris.
You were to study art, and were TO live as
other students live there-cheapiy, UMPIRE
tentiously, till you could earn yonr own
maintenance For a few months things
seemed to be going well with you. i
hoped you were living comfortably on the
ECO q month which / sent you. Then
came q long story of difficulties, debts of
honor, mysterious ENHANCEMENT which
might lead to exposure in the newspapers,
and had to send another 9100. You have
drained me of the income my generous
husband settled on me, and which told
him was three times too much for my
wants. l have been sneered at, talked
about, for spending SO little money, for
dressing less handsomely than other
women of my position dress"
@You look an object of compassion at
this moment" said her son, surveying her
with diabolical sneer.
Her plainly-made black satin dinner
gown, becoming in its severe simplicity,
seemed to him the height of luxury. 1t
was not for him to know that the gown
had been worn two winters. Men of his
stamp always think a woman is well
enough dressed SO long as her gown holds
together. The wives of such men are sup
posed to have no right of complaint while
their clothes are wind and weather proof.
Lady Darnel took her portmonnaie from
her pocket.
Here are sovereigns and some silver,
Valentine" she said, offering him the con-
tents, "all l have in the world, or am
likely to have, until Christmas"
He took the money carelessly indiffer
emily.
1T will be very little good" he said, "be-
yond getting me week lodging, a slop
suit in which l shall look little worse
than in these rags. l tell you that what
want-the only thing that can do me any
goods round sum of money. l know
of splendid opening A friend of mine
owns vineyard near Cadiz 1t only
wants working to produce as fine sherry
as the best that is made in the dis
trict. And he would take me into
partnership if could give him
9300 of 94O0 on the nail, and
could pledge myself to produce as much
more a year hence. That would mean,
not beggarly pittance, but trade,
fortune. You would not be ashamed to
own wholesale dealer in Spanish wines
for your son. The trade is reputable, even
if the wines are doctored Come mother,
don't tell me you can't find this money.
You have but to ask Sir Allan"
81 will not ask him. No, Valentine even
If believed in the possibility of your re-
demption l would not ask that generous
man TO give me more money, when of his
own accord he has given me three times too
much for all my reasonable requirements.
But | have no hope of your reform. know
that if gave you 9300 tonight it would
go just as the other money has gone. The
utmost | will do for you, the uttermost
that duty cOnStrains me to do, is to provide
you with the means of living decently
from week to week. That l will do, and
no more And even to do that shall have
to borrow money. Your demands have
completely exhausted my resources"
Every good. Then l must have recourse
to some one else There is lady in this
house upon whom my claim is second only
to my claim upon you"
"A lady in this houses" repeated Clare,
aghast with wonder.
"Grace Darnel is my affianced wife be-
Geve man has some kind of claim upon
the woman who has promised to marry
him"
my step-daughter, Grace, affianced to
you, to you, Valentine Mackenzie. You
must be mad to say such a thing"
"This statement may sound preposterous,
but it is true Miss Darnel took it into her
head to work at the Louvre just at the
time was working there. You think very
likely that l never did so work, that my art
education was altogether a sham. But
hnr Won hall ma 7 l-a1 1x,
enough till l got sick of an impossible pro
fession. No matter. l was attracted by
the young lady's appearance, was able to
pay her some small attention, and saw that
she was pleased with me. l contrived to
question her duenna. | heard that she was
Miss Darnel. of Darnel Park-an heiress.
The imbroglio became interesting, and
determined to try my chances with Miss
Darnel, whom really admired more than
any girl had seen for an aee."
what an honor for Grace!"
II contrived to get upon confidential
terms with her, and soon found the key to
her heart. She is generous, high spirited
girl, full of romance Just the girl to think
the world well lost for love. We were des-
perately in love with each other. A sharp
attack of-of-an old complaint of mine
brought me to deaths door"
"Was it your fathers malady the dire
disease that comes from intemperance,
Valentine asked his mother, looking at
him intently, seeing only too plainly in his
haggard face the same indications which
she had seen so often in the face of her
dead husband.
NO matter what it was, wrote to Miss
Darnel from my sick bed She answered
as true-hearted girl might be expected
to answer. She promised to be my wife.
have that promise under her own hand.
She will be of age in year. And as soon
as she is OF age and her own mistress shall
claim the fultillment of that promise"
Does she know who you are?"
"Well, not exactly. When you are in
Rome, do as the Romans do, says the pro-
verb, When was in Paris was French
man. One alias is as good as another. In
Paris | was not Valentine Stuart. but
Victor de Camillac."
"And you come to this house-an ad-
venturer, an impostor, a swindler-to claim
the promise made by a credulous girl your
dupe and victim. You, my son, would do
this thing. This is the deepest disgrace
you have threatened me with yet
at is for you to work out the problem so
as to avoid disgrace. Give me 600 or a4OO
and will start for Cadiz tomorrow, to re-
turn year hence as respectable mer-
chant, and TO claim my betrothed. She
will pardon my change of name and ma
tionality, if | can stand before her as gen.
tleman and your son She is so fond of
you that the relationship will be an addi-
tional claim to her regard"
ado not think that l will ever sanction
auy engagement between you and Graca