, 1888-09-14

plAA 49, AO ~ " AAA SoI
and the bank can stand it. They went
into a receivers hands to avoid the run.
/ Think am quite eonident-you will
get dollar for dollar"
81 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
81 suspected he would" replied he,
smiling. "You seemed to be blind, but l
wasn't. Why, my dear Miss Bysshe, he
has been counting her under your very
eyes for the last two months. And I
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 I need any, and when I
invest in stocks 1 rely on their Judgment.
They think SO much of Frankfurt this
Is a 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 can support q wife
very well now. II the couple like zach
other, I see no reason why you shouldn't
approve OF the match"
~ thought you admired Adela your
self, general" said Miss Bysshe, hesitat-
inglSy; s,.A..
little girl, and l think she will make
Frank a good wife. He deserves it, I 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 exultation? 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 18;
but a man with ten years more on him
just matches a woman of ten years less
than his own. Did you never think so?"
"Once l did" said Miss Bysshe softly,
as she recalled John Bremen. "By the
way, general, your question brought
something to my memory. When you
were In South America did you ever know
MIR. John Brenner2 He was an engineer
a civil engineer. He went to Mexico and
he may have wandered further south"
"There was such q man in Peru at the
same time l was there" said the general.
John M. Bremen, wasn't it2 He built
all WdJb oI1A1H LIZ b11hO. II b1lo
way, he knew you. He was coming pack
here, about five years after he left, when
he heard of your marriage, and-and he
remained"
"My marriagel Why, I was never mar
riedl"
81 know, but he 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."
"1t was a reporters blunder. 1t was
poor Grace-and she was the second
daughter"
thought it was you. and SO he didn't
come back"
The general had too much knowledge.
Had Bremen told him au2 Miss Bysshe
Redeemed as she changed the subject.
"This matter of the savings bank an
noys me-" said she. 81 think I'll have to
either mortgage the house or sell the
library to get ready money. The books
are SO old that I suppose they'll not bring
much Then 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 biblophile 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 ALI If you need ready
money and would honor me 1 would"-
"Oh, no., general, with many thanks;
but I could't borrow"-she was going to
add from q comparative stranger" but
repressed the words.
"But," said he, there is no reason why
l shouldn't pay a quarters rent in ad-
vance. That puts you under no obliga-
ton. But 1 haven't told you more about
John Bremen. He-he made q fortune in
Peru-a ratherlarge one. But he returned
home. He never forgot you"
Miss Bysshe rose. 1t was getting en-
barrassing.
"Cornelia," said the general, 81 must
nave changed much, but l see nc change
in you. Older, more womanly, but the
same to me-"
"You, general You'll" gasped Miss
Bysshe.
81. Don't you remember this?' 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 l ac-
cepted. Years have passed, but l love
you, Cornelia, more than 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 loved you very
dearly?'
"But-but 1 am SO very old" faltered
Miss Bysshe.
"oldl Not so very. Thirty years or
thereabouts. You are ten years younger
than l. We are not such venerable SEN
iors, after all. And if any of the old
feeling remains-and you did care for me
once
But" said Cornelia, b~lushing as the
general took her hand, 81 nave 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 l have for Juan Martinez"
What 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
rage portion in cash.-Thomas Dunn