Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-28

4
turned out we'll You can marry senorita di
Tornos on Thursday morning-the day after to-
1t is needless to say that did not cheer up. I
could not be untrue TO my old love. 1T cannot be-
] said. without hesitation.
II am not at liberty TO marry-at least, not
here"
He looked perple1ed for a moment, but then bis
ais 1t that old Grafton AFFAIR.", he inquired.
she married George ellison six months ago.
Twas confounded. We sat In silence for long
time. tried TO reason with myself My mind
at is a question OF life and DEATH" thought II
must have life"
.Mr. WHEY / said; 'T win follow your advice /"
| We visited the al Tornos mansion on the follow
ing morning. Our host received US alone. He
spoke English fiuently and was very arable.
say word about your GRAND. i know il all OF OF
course as father could make no promise until
had seen you. but now consent willingly. Money
is no object 10 me, but / recognize worth In your
face. My wife was American 1t will be pleas
ure for me 10 give my daughter TO one OF the same
nation"
He sent for the young lady and ! waited with
| fmparience. She entered bashfully and bowed In
silence she was tall, graceful and dgnined. Her
eyes were dark and full OF expression, and her
abundant brown hair contrasted wei with her
light gown. She did not look over1oyed, but that
could not be expected ! conversed with her for a
| quarter or an hour, but her answers were mono
| syllables. Then she retired, and soon arterward
Wiley and took our leave: depressed my salts
1
| etiquette prevented me from seeing Der alone
while he attributed her reserved manner to mod.
| esty. He also told me that he had made all the
arrangements for the wedding with senior di
\ Iornos- We were TO be at his house at IL the
next aenI morning and TO proceed with him, his
udUguter ana lew near relatives TO q neighbor.
| Ing church.
| / passed the rest OF the day in smoking and
! thinking. The whole affair seemed too strange TO
De true. Mary Grafton's faithlessness would have
Deen a worse shock To me II had not become al
ready accustomed 10 despair and the definite pros
a idol frOp m hi, r
was leading was not distasteful TO me- MY old
love was partially supplanted by feeling OF con-
tempt lor Its tickle object and desire for revenge
| In kind was piqued, and my approaching mar.
rage wUo!c have been welcome on that account
Was sitting In my room alone that evening
| smoking quietly and letting my thoughts wander
on as they would, when heard a knock on nv
The door OPENED and q ranger entered us svsy
/ smooth-faced boy OF about twenty and he looked
confused as he said something in spanish.
| showed him that could not understand him. He
"ssnor," he said, .yOanust pardon my visit.
nave come to NEEDLE in your affairs. This morn
| ing SenOrita di Tornos sent for me- She told me
that you intended TO marry her tomorrow. She
begged me 10 come and see you and tell you all
She was TO have married my friend Fernandez
who is now In San Domingo. They have always
loved each other. She Was not openly betrothed
for her father did not favor him. He Is poor-that
/ Is the reason. But he will make a fortune Oh.
| II you could have seen her tears to-day"-he
stopped as II TO he n what had 10 say, SO that he
4
had listened silently. HIS appeal went to my
heart or very near it. But l oraced myself against
.You are very Kind SIR" said in French. "You
| need not apologize for this But cannot think
| that Mademoiseiie ii Tornos will be happ er with
pennies man than with one who can support
| her. Besides have given my name TO her father;
as man OF honor caunot break my promise
You are too late"
| "Ah." he shouted the blood rising to his face
| "you would ruin the happiness OF an innocent
grill II Fernandez were here you would not
| dare to-"
| My temper was stirred and it decided the ques-
tlon for me. i pushed him out or the door with
some difficulty. "Neyer let me see you again, you
young Rascal l said. hoarSely. / slammed the
door and locked 1t, and heard him go down stairs.
| MY mind was made up, nd tried 10 settle down
| again In the thoughts which he had Interrupted.
But the night was not Pleasant one for me.
| began 10 doubt whether my arguments were not
| sophistical. AT last could stand the twinges OF
| conscience no longer. IL Is one thing TO commit
fault Whlch you may forget; Il Is quite another 10
| carry the reminder with you all our life. Could
wretched? "No,r said aloud II VIII not marry
| her," And although 1 wa throwing away my
chance OF life, felt that weight had been taken
| from my heat, and slept soundly aiterward.
/ At 9 O'Clock In the morning went to Senior di
Tornos' house. I was ushered In by a negro and
/ found the old gentleman contentedly smoking a
| cigarette. He saw that l had something to i'm
| part, and his face showed his apprehension.
'seDor," said, "a hear that your daughter was
her II she is unwilling"
1T is false" said he, "and If 1t were true it
makes no difference She Is a child. know her
interests better than she do S. do not care for
money, but you are exactly suited 10 each other
You have given your promise, sir; for her sake
"You are TOO kind" I answered; II am glad TO
hear that you do not care for money. as came 10
tell you that there is some doubt about niue My
| uncle died year ago to-day, but 1t was at 6
O'Clock IN the morning. The year has passed away.
Mr.. Wiley mistook the hour"
swore 70 himself Are you quite sure Of o1a sSis as
| he said.
He sat still for several minutes "You are
right ne added, finally. My daughters sor-
row for the past few days has Affected me sadly
e@ you tSd desf as WOW pine away ii do not
very well, said, m king no effort to conceal
my contempt; ~ will go. Do not tell Mr.. Wiley
mistake would mortify him." And LEFT him.
| Il was adrlit again Ny one desire was 10 leave
Havana, but felt bound to see Wiley and thank
him again. did not wish TO meet him, however,
before evening. My uncle had really died at 6 In
| the afternoon, and waited until the fun wear
tSs o gSne a Ss9re running any risk Of
| ABOUT the narrow, unpaved streets. stopped on
my way at shipping ONCE and engaged a berth
| on vessel which Was 10 leave for Liverpool 10
two days After late dinner at a re,taurant I
returned TO my hote, Wiley was waiting Tor me.
was naturally vexed- told him could MOI nnd
| II In my heart TO force the girl 10 marry me- I
thanked him again and again, and told him
"No. no." he said; IL have had all this work for
nothing. The Union Hospital will have ali.
| Goodbye But by the way, In closing IN the
estate we will have to serve the papers on You.
What will be your address?"
| always stay there"
few weeks later / was in London I had
enough money left 20 last about ten DAYS. Beyond
that all was blank. was In q fearful condition
OF dependency. frequently took my pistol from
| It's case and examined IT, l had almost deter
mined 70 use II. With morbid sort OF pleasure
pored over books OF anatomy In the library OF the
British Museum. and tried to md the best spot To
shoot at One day a letter was handed to me ar
the hotel The corner OF the envelope bore the
name "CharleS Wiley" "Ah," thought l. ..here
are the papers Wiley mentioned" I opened lt
carelessiy, and found In II . letter which ran as
follows:
are the sole heir to the real Of your late uncle
Mr.. Richard Lee. Under his will the whole ,state
would have gone to the Uniou Hospital have lust
ascertained that the hospital cannot any more
real estate than il possesses under its chsrters
fact Of which had never before been informed The
personal property. amounting In all T. about 0UO
A. the VIII fails to dispose the real estate legally il
sves TO you, Is heir-Aiaw enclose . draft Of as 600
on account Of your rents The of the accumua-
oo suoJoct 10 your directions Yours, respectfully,
CHARLES WILEY, Executor, &C.
MY tale Is nearly finished. went to New York
al once, ana found myself indeed q rich man. To
my surprise learned that Miss Grafton was not
married. never asked Wiley what he meant by
saying That she was II was probably q No, told
IN an excess OF Zeal. I forgave him. however in
my heart, and he received ample compensation
LOT MS exertions In my behalf. Iheard some years
idsei taAt Senortta di TornoS was married to Frr-
nandeZ, VINO mad been very successful In business
Bui had almost forgotten the point OF my story.
Weis married Mary Grafton.
ERNEST HOWARD CROSBY In the "Epoch1