Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-08-04

" YOU VIII ht nhTry spencer Drnke.
"Fathcr. ask me to de- anything than
that. ! cannot marry that horrid, idle,
brainlcss man."
Her father sighed, and the palcness Of
his checks were yisibly deepened. "If|
you viii not marry Spencer Drake we are
ruined.
"What do you mean, faiher!"
II mean simply tia. for five years all
my investments have turned out badly,
that am up TO my ears In debt, and that
unless you marry Spencer Drake within
the next ninety days shall he bankrupt
In purse and In character.
"I,ut what has Spencer Drake got tn do
with your dcbis!" asked the young wa.
Imcn with fearful calmncss.
fSWhy his father Is my heaviest indor-
ser rlIc holps $s00.O0O worth Of my pa
pcr will muiurc In the next four
months NJ can't redeem II. that's what
mean CEN vine"
"CslestincVNRs visible shocAd at this
disclosure, buiS answer v calm and
decisive. ~ ~
IL love you; I hal Drakc.-
And would no, M TO save your
and my fortune fro6k sh'rlpooI Of
disaster. ! hate the nish>
The crash came. II wal great
prise to everybody, and W.
went down with the Ormaa. ct 'pp,o
wreck of Ormrn's business an
everything was swept away. A@-
Mrs. Ormar was prostratcd by tB ):
and Celestinc was compelled TO rt&
with her all the time. She longcd to ~
out in the cruel world and help by her
effort ,o assist her father. hut she could
not leave her mother. Her father never
rcproache,l her by any word, but Celcstine
knew that she had panied him deeply and
that he blamed her largely for the disaster
which had borne him To the earth.
During the long, long year the Orman
family suffered the direst poverty. The
old man hatl the hardest possible lime Of II
to keep his wife and daughter in fond and
clothing and pay the expensive doctors
he was compelled to attend his invalid
wife.
AS the day drew near when Ernest
Vance had promised To return to her Cc.
lcs,inc's spirits rose to the highcs, pitch.
She liad not told her father and mother
al"u, il, because he might not come.
When the night arrived the three mem.
hers of the family sat in "a spare room in
! ":1us''tcrc was scarcely any furniture
4 dim ligh, threw weird shadows on the
wall. Mrs. Orman sat in an arm chair
with her eyes closed aud her hands cross
e,i on her lap. Mr.. Orman leaned his head
upon writing desk. for his heart was
heavy with multiplied misioriuncs and
disappointment lie was discouraged.
Cclcstinc was intensely nervous. There
was no color in her checks, but her eyes
shown with terrible earncstness and eX-
pcciancy. This has been true Of her all
day. She sat up by the window that
lookcd upon the street, and II was ~
o'clock before the window was shut and
the curtains drawn. Her heart began ia
ail hope, sweet. hope, which had given
her courage through six long years, began
to vanish.
"lf he shculd not come, all will bc los,
indeed" - she sighed. and she could not re
strain the tears which wclled from her full
heart.
As the clock struck II Mrs. Orman he.
gan TO gather np her things about her Ia
retire Celcsiinc came TO assist her. The
father still rested his tired and perplcxc,l
head upon the desk. Cclcstine hal given
up the watch and banishcd the hope and
longed To reach her own little room, where
she might weep herself into forgcifulness
Of her peni up grief and cctshing disap.
poinimcnt.
Then the little hel: rang!
Mr. Orman began business rs banker,
again IN the growing western city where
Ernest Vance has gone and prospercd as
u lawyer beyond his expectations. lie
had been two years the district attorney
Of his county. and was sure OF being elect
cd Ia Congress As the silent partner in
the Orman bank he directed the invesii
mcnts with shrcwdncss AMI with the
knowledge of real estate values which his
long residence at W--had given him.
And Cclcsiinc. she Is the pride and the
idol of Ernest vancc's heart. All things
come 10 these who wait, and ai(cr many
yearsiall she hoped for came To her.
Mr.. Orman started up and exclaimed,
whats that =" hut without waiting for an
answer, went 10 the door. In u few mo-
mcnis he returned. \ tall, clean shayen
man followed him.
MIR. Vance" said he.
Cclesiine uttered u Wild shrek, and Ms
she fell upon the bosom Of har returned
loved one she lost consciousness 70: n mo-
meni. Her joy was too great. The
anxiety Ind told upon her. When the
meeting came size was not strong enough
To sustain il.
When she rcgained consciousness cx-
plantations were in order. These we've
given in frank, manly fashion, aud then
Mr.. Orman joined their hands together
aud said
my children, receive my blessing. !
confess ] wrongcd Mr.. Vance"
His Punishment
She took her son upon her knee,
And nised on high the penal shinglc;