Wichita eagle., 1888-08-26

iii luIe<0U6 N C06 UIIU III SauUt0ysssVtN11a
is prudent as well as industrious. BE vii
be rich In tlme and can support a wifi
very well now. Il the couple like eacl
other, I see no reason why you shouldn'
approve Of the match"
II thought you admired Adela your
self. general, said Miss Bysshe, hesitst
ingly:
little girl, and I think she will make
Frank good wife. He deserves it, I as
sure you"
Down tumbled Miss Bysshe's house O,
cards. Rnt why was 1t that she felt ne
chagrin7 Why was it that her heart
against her Judgment. gave great bound
of exultatio1f She could not tell, but she
recognized the fact
The general went ON talking.
'They arc we'll matched In another
thing. he said. '"There is no great dis
pa-ity in their ages. He is % and she IS;
but q man with ten years more on him
just matches woman of ten years less
than his own. Did You never think so2"
"Once did" said Miss Bysshe softly,
as she recalled John Brenner. "By the
way. general, your question brought
something to my memory. When you
were in South America did you ever know
Mr.. John Brenner2 He was an engineer
q civil engineer. he went to Mexico and
he may have wandered further south"
There was such o man in Peru at the
same time was there" said the general.
John NJ Brenner, wasn't it7 He built
several railways during my time. By the
way, he knew you He was coming back
here. about five years after he left, when
he heard Of your marriage. and-and he
remained"
''My marriageI Why, I was never mar
riedr"
ri know, but he didn't. An American
paper reached the country which spoke of
the fine doings at the marriage of the eld-
est daughter of William Bysshe."
"It was reporters blunder. It was
poor Grace-and she was tho second
daughter"
Il know that; but at that time I-he
thought 1t was you. and so he didn t
come back"
The general had too much knowledge
Had Brenner told him all? Miss Bysshe
Redeemed as she changed the subject.
This matter Of the savings bank an
noys me-" said she. II think I'll have to
either mortgage tho house or sell the
library to get ready money. The books
are so old that suppose they'll not bring
much Then father thought SO much Of
them"
The general laughed.
Really, Miss Bysshe. you don't know
tho value of old books. Your father was
a bibliophile of excellent judgment. The
most of those books are rare and Of the
IL
They would bring very high prices. But
why sell them at alla If you need ready
money and would honor me I would"
"Oh, no, general, with many thanks;
but l couldt borrow"-she was going to
add from comparative stranger" but
repressed the words.
'But," said he, there is no reason why
shouldn't pay quarters rent In ad-
vance. That puts you under no obliga-
ton. But haven't told you more about
John Brenner. He-he made fortune in
Peru-a ratherlarge one. But he returned
home. he never forgot you"
Miss Bysshe rose. 1t was getting en-
barassing.
"Cornelia," said the general, 'I must
have changed much, but see no change
in you. Older, more womanly. but the
same to me-"
You. genera1l You" gasped Miss
Bysshe.
II. Don't you remember this?" and he
produced case from his pocket, from
which he withdrew the half of q gold
ring. Il took my Christian name, John
Martin, when reached Peru, and they
turned it into Juan Martinez, which / &C
cepted. Years have passed, but I love
you, Cornelia, more than ever It is not
q boyish feeling now. 1t has grown with
me, and is part Of my life. Could you
not see befors this that loved you very
dearlys"
"But-but am so very DID," faltered
Miss Bysshe.
"Old Not so very. Thirty years or
thereabouts. You are ten years younger
than L We are not such venerable SEN
iors, after all. And if any of the old
feeling remains-and you did care for me
once
But" said Cornelia, blushing as the
general took her hand, II have less feel
Ing now for John Martin Brenner than
but as she gave shy look at him she
saw the despair in his face and added in
o low voice, while her eyelids dropped
ethan have for Juan Martinez"
What followed the reader may con-
lecture. The house was never sold, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Brenner live there now. As
for Adela, she received substantial mar
riage portion in cash.-Thomas Dunn
English In New York Mercury.