The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1888-05-11
AFTER MANY YEARS.


statement. ~ know / am not rich. But
what Of thatl Does wealth make q mRn9
Not much. A man makes wealth. Ishall
be rich
81 know all that, Ernest; and you know
that I care nothing about your poverty.
/ love you all the more because you are
poor and have your own way to make In
the world. But papa objects to my mar
rying you on that account. He says that
you are not In our circle; you are too
young, and that he doesn't Ike you any.
way"
The speaker was a young woman just
turned 20. She was small in stature, but
as symmetrically proportioned as the
finest prod0et Of an artists chisel. She
had a lovely face and large eyes that were
irresistible In the depth and sweetness Of
their expression. She spoke in q soft,
sweet voice, and the tears believed her
peach blow cheeks, as she looked upon
the handsome, resolute man at her side,
who had fallen into q deep study and
seemed not TO hear what Celestine Orman
said. After d moment he looked toward
her and said with deep feeling;
"What is wealth compared to the love
/ bear for you, Celestinegi
ooh, I know that it is nothing, hut
papa doesn't think SO. He gauges every
man by his bank account and his social
rank
''But wealth and social rank are In the
reach Of every honest man who VIII labor
to obtain them. 1t is the man.
~ know. But papa insists that I should
marry Spencer Drake, who has plenty OF
money and social position, and''-
mo brains, no characterl'' exclaimed
Ernest Vance. "An elegant nobody
II know all that"
"And would you marry such a thing,
Celestinee''
mot while / am in possession Of my
senses and Ernest Vance Is in the land OF
the living.'i
Ernest grasped the hands Of the young
girl and looked into her clear, intellectual
eyes, and felt that they mirrored all his
soul craved for. So they did. Celestine
o=aIan was a gem Of q AS rich
as cream, with masterful win and strong
intellect, which had been thoroughly cul.
tiyated, she was the idol Of her home and
the admired and courted Of the highest
social circles OF New York,
tTWhat shall / dof'' asked Celestine, 81
do not wish to offend my father. I never
will marry Spencer Drake, and I could
wait an age for you to come and claim
me. / have plenty Of wealth Of my own,
but father e old, and he has set his heart
upon my marrying Drake. He says q
great deal depends upon II; more than I
think for, and that If / were TO marry a
poor mar like you are now IL would be
simply suicidal What shall / doy'
Ernest Vance looked at her a moment
49, kblA kwsw,saI A&u 14rao - nrFNfhaw r@4nk
in the richly furnished room and relapsed
into a state Of reflection. He always did
this when he had a knotty problem TO
solve. The young woman watched him
with admiring eyes. She adored' him-his
intellect, his fearless independence OF
character, his royal self-reliance and as
surance. After a while he said:
"Celestine, / win. tell you what you
shall do-you shall wait for me. I shall
90 away; 90 west and. make name and
fortune, and then come and claim you. !
never cared to live hi New York. There
are too many lawyers here anyway. A
man has TO rise by slow and painful
stages. The west Is a new country. A
man Of energy, push and talent Is recog-
nized Immediately, and he has no draw
backs such as he has here. / viii go
away
ssOh. Ernest. thaA sEsli AS Tsatiifui; =
exclaimed Celestine, and the tears gHst-
ened in her eyes.
1T is best to do 50, said Ernest. Il
win goaway. Ishall not see you or write
to you In six years from tonight. If !
succeed | viii come and claim You six
years from this hour. II l fail--I win not
return to you"
There was q silence as II in the presence
OF death. And they sat side by side for
many minutes without uttering q word.
Then Ernest Vance arose and SO did Celes-
tine. He took her hands In his . aaid
in a voice that trembled:
ssWellg,'
sIs Il best as you say, / win wait for
you" And they parted;
Five years had passed away. Celestine
had not heard q word from Ernest
Vance. But she remembered; she was
true; she had faith that he would come "a
redeem his pledge. Spencer Drake had
been devoted in his attentions to her, and
! her father had coaxed and commanded
and threatened her time and time again,
but in vain; she would not marry Spencer
Drake.
She sat at one Of the large windows,
and looked out upon the noble Fifth avg
nue.. II was the 9th anniversary Of the
departure OF Ernest Vance.
Zone year morei'' she sighed,
tMy dear, 2 said q voice st her elbow.
"Ohl How you startled me- father. =
ssMy dear, I have sad news Tor you
HPray, what sod news can you have fol
me, fatnerf''
Before / tell you I shall ask You again
Il you viii not marry spencer Drake
ssFather, ask me 70 do anything thar
that. ! cannot marry that horrid, idle,
bratnleSssman.n
Her father sighed. and the paleness Of
his cheeks were visibly deepened. III you
viii not marry Spencer Drake I'VE are
ruined"
ssWhat do you mean, fatherf"
81 mean simply that TOR five years al
my investments have turned out badly
that / am up to my ears in debt, and thai
unless you marry Spencer Drake witksr
the next ninety days shall be . bankrupl
In purse aud III character
"But what has Spencer Drake got tod
with your de5tsin asked the young woman
with fearful calnsness.
ssWhy, his father is my heaviest IN
dorser. He holds $500, 900 worth Of mi
paper. Il win mature in the next foul
months, aid I can't redeem II. That's
49, Nt.4.~4t~M ~