San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-27
AFTER MANY YEARS.

81 know am not rich," said young
man in the prime of his powers, and his
| eyes blazed Indignantly as he made the
statement. II know am not rich. But
what of that? Does wealth make man?
Not much. A man makes wealth. shall
| be RICH"
81 know all that, Ernest; and you know
| that l 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 like you any
| way"
The speaker was q young woman just
turned 20. She was small in stature, but
as symmetrically proportioned as the
| finest product of an artists chisel She
had lovely face and large eyes that were
| irresistible in the depth and sweetness of
their expression. She spoke in a 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 deep study and
seemed not TO hear what Celestine Orman
| said. After moment he looked toward
her and said with deep feeling:
"What is wealth compared to the love
bear for you, Celestine?''
ooh, l know that it is nothing, but
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 will labor
| to obtain them. 1t is the man."
II know. But papa insists that should
marry Spencer Drake, who has plenty of
money and social position, and"-
'No brains, no character" exclaimed
Ernest Vance. ''An elegant nobody"
Il know all that"
"And would you marry such thing,
Celestine?'
'Not while am in possession of my
senses and Ernest Vance is in the land of
the living"
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
Orman was gem of a woman. AS rich
| as cream, with masterful will and strong
intellect, which had been thoroughly cul-
tivated, she was the idol of her home and
the admired and courted of the highest
| social circles OF New 1Ork.
"What shall do?" asked Celestine. ~
do not wish to offend my father. never
| will marry Spencer Drake, and l could
wait an age for you to come and claim
me. l have plenty of wealth of my own,
but father is DID, and he has set his heart
upon my marrying Drake. He says
great deal depends upon it; more than l
think for, and that if l were to marry
:, hS,
simply suicidal. What shall l do?'
Ernest Vance looked at her moment
and then turned his eyes to another point
in the richly furnished room and relapsed
into g. state of reflection. He always did
this when he had 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 while he said
"Celestine, 1 will tell you what you
shall do-yOu shall wait for me. | shall
go away; go west and make name and
fortune, and then come and claim you. l
never cared to live in 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. l will go
away"
"Oh. Ernest, that will be dreadful"
exclaimed Celestine, and the tears glist-
ened in her eyes.
1T is best to do so,' said Ernest ~
will go away. Ishall not see you or write
to you in six years from tonight. If l
succeed l will come and claim you six
years from this hour. If fail will not
return to you"
There was a silence as if in the presence
of death. And they sat side by side for
many minutes without uttering word.
Then Ernest Vance arose and so did Celes-
tine He took her hands in his and said
in a voice that trembled:
''Well?'
sit is best as you say. will wait for
you" And they parted;
Five years had passed away. Celestise
had not heard word from Ernest
Vance. But she remembered; she was
true; she had faith that he would come to
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 ave-
nue.. 1t was the fifth anniversary of the
departure of Ernest Vance.
Zone year more!' she sighed.
"My dear" said voice at her elbow.
sob! How you startled me, father"
"My dear, have sad news for you"
"Pray, what sad news can you have for