Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-06-29
5liscellaueaMs.
AFTER MANY YEARS.

N~ -~~~
''I know | am not rich, said II young
man in the prime of his powers, and hi
eyes blazed Indignantly as he made The
statement. 'I know | am not rich
But what of that? Does wealth make 4
man Not much. A man makes wealth,
shall be rich :" f
"I know that, Ernest; aud you know
that | care nothing about your poverty
| love you all the more because yon arc
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 toe
young, and that he doesn't like you any
way
The speaker was young woman just
turned twenty. She was small in stature,
but as symmetrically proportioncd as the
finest product of an artists chisel, She
had lovely face and large eyes that
were irresistible in the depths and sweet
ness of their expression. She spoke in
soft, sweet voice and the tears bedowed
her pcach-blow cheeks as she looked up
on the handsome resolute man at her
side, who had fallen into deep study
and seemed not to hear what Celestine
Orman said. After IA moment he looked
toward her and said with deep feeling
"What is wealth compared to the love
bear for you, Celestine 7"
"Oh, know that it is nothing, but
pnpa doesn't think so. He gauges every
man by his bank account and his socia
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 p exclaimed
Ernest Vance. "An elegant body"
''l know all that
"And would yon marry such thing,
Celestine p
"Not while ! am in possession of my
senses and Ernest Vance is in the land
of the living"
Ernest graspcd the hands of the young
girl and looked into her clear, intclec.
tual eyes, and felt that they nirrored all
his soul craved for SO they did. Celes-
tine Orman was gem of a woman. Az
rich as cream, with masterful will and
strong intellect, which had been thor
oughly cultivated, she was the idol of
her home and the admired and eourted
of the highest social circles Of New York.
"What shall do 2" asked Celestipc
81 do not wish to offend my father.
never will marry Spencer Drake, and !
could wait an age for you to come and
claim me. / have plenty Of wealth oI
my own, but father is old, and he has
set his heart upon my marrying Drake
He says n great deal depends upon it ;
more than | think for, and that if | were
to marry poor man like you are now il
would be simply suicidal What shall
| doY
Ernest Vance looked at her moment
and then turned his eyes to another point
in the richly furnished room and re-
lapsed into state Of reflection. lie al
ways did this when he had a knotty
problem to solve The young woman
watched him with admiring eyes. She
adored him--bis intellect, his fearless
independence of character, his royal self
reliance and assurance. After while
he said:
"Celcstine, | will toll you what you
shall do-you shall wait for me | shall
90 away, go west and make name aud
fortune, and then come and claim you.
never cared to live 10 New York
There are too many lawyers here any
way. A man has to rise by slow and
painful stages The West is u new coun-
try. A man of energy, push and talent
is recognized Immediately, and he has
no drawbacks such as he has here.
will go away"
ooh, Ernest, that will be dreadful, "
exclaimed Celestine, and the tears glis-
tened in her eyes.
ut is best to do so, said Ernest.
IL will go away. shall not see you or
write to you iu six years from tonight
II succeed | will come and claim you
six years from this hour. If fail
will not return to you"
There was silence as il in the pres
ence of death And they sat side by
side for many minutes without utterinq
word Then Ernest Vance arose and
so did Cele5tine He took her handi
in his and said in voice that trembled
"Well ?"
at is best as you say. ! will wal
for you" And they parted.
X
Five years had passed away. Celes
tine had not heard word from Ernest
Vance. But she remembered she wa
true; she had faith that he would com,
TO redeem his pledge Spencer Drak
had been devoted in his attention TO her
and her father had coaxed aud com
manded and threatened her time an