Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-07-05

the case were too great to be sur
mounted; but every day. all the same.
found me beside her, without self.
denial enough to resign the infinite
charm of her presence. and yet too
weak of will to accept all the conse-
quences of such an alliance.
You will say that if l could thus
Judge and weigh circumstances was
not in love. But what is it, when all
your soul is saturated with thoughts
of one being. when you seem to he not
so much yourself as another. The he
roine in "Wuthering Heights" asks:
:. DO love Heathcliffe? am Heath
cliffe;" and so. l am sure, I felt with
regard to Estelle. I am certain that
in time I should have overcome all
obstacles. that the nobility within me
would have got the better of any mean
err qualities; but every mans nature
or. temperament is in a manner his
| own fate. Had l not been quite GER
tain at this time that l pleased Estelle,
| in spite of her gentle hauteur. per-
haps l should have been able to over
come my social scruples sooner. A
few weeks later was called away on
business, and it was a month or more
before found it convenient to return.
During that time had written to Es-
telle more than once, without. how
ever, receiving any reply. Yet l was
sure she was mine; that I had only to
speak; and l meant to speak at last
to speak so eloquently that she would
not remember the silence had been
long.
Invent first to pay my respects to
Madam Hampton.
"Ihave been making my WILL" she
said. after little.
Your will. MADAME
Eyes. l have other heirs besides
Estelle. who may dispute it. They
will contend that l am-what you may
call crank But I have a method
in my madness. 1 beg you to be my
executor"
Il am at your service, madam"
"Thank you. 1 leave the bulk of
my property to Estelle."
1.-THE bulk"' l repeated. "You have
found your business remunerative?''
She chuckled auditably. Il have
found it entertaining. enlightening.
she answered. lit has paid me? Yes.
Ihave discovered who are my friends.
must tell You that Estelle is not my
daughter.
mot your daughter?"
"Are you disappointed? When her
father died abroad, insolvent, l was at
hand. We were both drinking the
waters of some German spa. Long ago
1had been going to marry Mr. Doug
lass. her father
"Mr. Dougiass?''
"Yes Does the name offend your
When he died promised to take Es-
telle if might give her my name and
money. There was literally nothing
left from the estate for her to live
upon. However. when I returned
from Europe returned pauper. so to
speak. Do you follow me? allowed
myself a little masquerade; deceived
even Estelle. but l have never deprived
her of a luxury; even the lace on her
handkerchief is real. She often mar
wells that the business is so good. l
have held the purse. and she has been
glad to work with me. But my friends
were too indignant at my misfortunes
to lend me aid. What business had l
to lose the money which they might
have inherited And adopt daughter!
They wanted me to place Estelle in
shop-Estelle! How l laughed in my
sleeve! l am now about to retire from
business; the doctor has advised me to
make my will. You will find Estelle
in the MUSHROOM"
l entered the MUSHROOM without
knocking. according to my habit. Es-
telle sat with her mandolin on her lap.
but every chord had snapped in the
last stormy touch.
You have returned" she said.
smiling as ghost may smile.
"Yes. l have come to tell you
what yo already know-I love you.
Estelle. have loved you since l
first met you; yes. and before. I
loved You before l knew that you
existed. 1t must be so. because I
have never loved till now. You do
not doubt it?'
mo. l do not doubt it; know that
you love me. Mr. Van Huysam; and l
know that your love must be great.
since it has overcome every conven-
tiOnal scruple in your heart"
MIR darling Estelle; l was sure you
loved me; it is that which has given
me courage" l would taken her in
my arms. and kissed that perfect cheek
where the rose was just beginning to
blossom. but she escaped me.
'You knew that loved you." she
repeated. Mr. Van Huysam. I don't
mind confessing that there was indeed
a time when loved you better than
life. At least, I believed so. At that
moment thought You loved me-"
II did. l do love you, Estelle,"