, 1888-09-08

| think-I am quite confdent-you will
get dollar for dollar"
II hope SO; but it is not that alto
gether. Do you know that Frank Peters
has absolutely proposed for Adela's
hand?" and she looked up %curiously to
see what effect it would have on the
general
Il suspected he would" replied he,
smiling. You seemed to be blind, but |
wasn't. Why, my dear Miss Bysshe, he
has been counting her under your very
eyes for the last two months. And !
don't see how she could do better. Peters
is an honest. straightforward. industri
Gus, prospecting young man"
"a brokers' clerk Adela might look
higher"
LET me tell you something in conf
dence, Miss Bysshe. His employers are
my brokers when 1 need any, and when ]
invest in stocks l rely on their Judgment.
They think so much of frankfurt this
is q secret, remember, and Frank himself
doesn't know it-that they will give him
an interest in the firm in January. Frank
is prudent as well as Industrious. He will
be rich in time and ca1f support q wife
very well now. If the couple like each
other, l see no reason why you shouldn't
approve of the match"
Il thought you admired Adela your
self, general" said Miss Bysshe, hesitat-
ingly.
$50 | do, very much. She's a darling
little girl, and 1 think she will make
Frank a good wife. He deserves it, l as
sure you"
Down tumbled Miss Bysshe's house of
cards. But why was it that she felt no
chagrin2 Why was it that her heart,
against her judgment, gave a great bound
of exultation2 She could not tell, but she
recognized the fact.
The general went on talking.
They are well matched in another
thing" he said. ''There is no great dis
parity in their ages. He is % and she IS;
but a man with ten years more on him
just matches a woman of ten years less
h his own. Did you never think sof"
"Once L did" said Miss Bysshe softly,
as h recalled John Bremen. "By the
way, general, your question brought
something to my memory. When you
were in South America did you ever know
Mr.. John Bremen? He was an engineer
a civil engineer. He went to Mexico and
he may have wandered further south"
There was such a man in Peru at the
same time l was there" said the general.
John M. Rrenner, wasn't it, 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
ne neuru ol your marIlage, aHu-anu ne
remained"
my marriagel Why, I was never mar
riedp'
Il know, but hi 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."
ut was a reporters blunder. 1t was
poor Grace-and she was the second
daughter"
II know that; but at that time I-he
thought it was you, and so he didn't
come back"
The general had too much knowledge.
Had Bremen told hin 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 the house or sell the
library to get ready money. The books
are so old that l suppose they'll not bring
much. hen father thought so much of
them"
The general laughed.
Really, Miss Bysshe, you don't know
the value of old books. Your father was
a biblioPhile of excellent Judgment. The
most of those books are rare and of the
rarest editions, and some are unique.
They would bring very high prices. But
why sell them at all2 If you need ready
money and would honor me l would
ooh, no, general, with many thanks;
but could't borrow"-she was going to
add from a comparative stranger, but =.
repressed the words.
But" said he, there is no reason why
l shouldn't pay a quarters rent in adj
vance. That puts you under no obliga-
ton But | haven't told you more about
John Bremen. He-he made a fortune in
Peru-a rather large one. But he returned
home. He never forgot you"
Miss Bysshe rose. 1t was getting en-
barrassing.
"Cornelia," said the general, Il must
have changed much, but l see no change
in you. Older, more womanly, but the
same to me-"
you, general You'll" gasped Miss
Bysshe.
Il Don't you remember this2" and he
produced a case from his pocket, from
which he withdrew the half of a gold
ring. Il took my Christian name, John
Martin, when l reached Peru, and they
turned it into Juan Martinez, which 1 ac-
cepted- Years have passed, but l love
you, Cornelia, more han ever. 1t is not
a boyish feeling now. 1t has grown with
me, and is part of my life. Could you
not see before this that l loved you very
d~early2"
"But-but I am so very old" faltered
Miss Bysshe.
odd Not so very. Thirty years or
thereabouts. You are ten years younger
than l. We are not such venerable SEN
Tors, 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, 81 have less feel
ing now for John Martin Bremen than
but as she gave a shy look at him she
saw the despair in his face and added In
a low voice, while her eyelids dropped
than have for Juan Martinez"
Via followed the reader may con-
lecture. The house was never sold, and
Mr.. and Mrs. Bremen live there now. AS
for Adela, she received a substantial mar
riage portion in cash.-Thomas Dunn
English in New York Marc,rv