The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-03-20

might poison my good luck. As he
spoke sprang up again and seized his
hand.
MY dear Mr.. Wiley / exclaimed
What delightful condition must
go TO New York ON the next steamer.
will be married in a month. You cannot
withhold your consent
You forget he said, slowly, that
your uncle died on the 30th of March
last, in the afternoon-A year ago the day
after tomorrow II you are bachelor
for rs hours longer, the estate must 90 to
the Union Hospital"
sank back in my chair. You did
not tell me when he died. / muttered,
family, yet angrily. @You have misled
me-
| you speak rashiy. my boy he said.
~Cheer up, / nave still something to
tell you. For nearly year have NOV
ed heaven and earth to find you. Let
ters, telegrams-all failed to reach YOU
At last, two months ago. l learned that
you had been at Calcutta, and had sailed
for Havana You vessel was due last
month. l came down here at once, as
there was no time for writing, and have
been here ever since. You may imagine
my patience as the time passed. Two
weeks ago was convinced that, even if
you arrived before the year Was out, you
would not have time TO find suitable
wife. ! determined to assist you, if
could | had brought letters of intro
duction from friend Of mine in New
York to his broiher-in-law, Senior di
TornOs, a well known planter, who lives
here | had formed his acquaintance
when first landed, and one day, after
dinner, at his house, / had explained
your position and prospects to him in
moment of confidence. He is an avsri-
cious old fellow, and he signified indi-
rectly that he would like you to become
his son-in-law. He is a widower, and
his word is law with his daughter. |
have seen her and made inquiries about
her. She is pretty and l4dy-}ike, and
every one praises her She speaks Eng
lish as her mother was an American
Well. finally limited to him that |
would try to bring YOU together The
consul here has explained my documents
to him. In short, all is settled. Di Tor
nos has waited for you as anxiously as l
have This afternoon / was down stairs
in the cafe by aeeident--Iny hotel is some
distance of-and overheard your un-
ele's name. looked through the door
and saw you. You were not alone, so l
postponed speaking to you, and went to
see Di Tornos instead. Thank heaven,
all has turned out we'll You can marry
Senoriia Di Tornos on Thursday morn
ing. the day after tomorrow
1t is needless to say that l did not
cheer up. / could not be untrue to my
old love. at cannot be- said, without
hesitation.
"And why not, pray 2"
:" am not at liberty to marry--at least
not here"
He looked perpIexed fes moment, but
then his face broke into smile
Is it that old Grafton AFFAIR." he in
quired.
Yes"
q She married George ellison six months
ago
was confounded. We sat in silence
for long time. | tried to reason with
myself My mind was unmanageable.
One idea alone was clear. at is a ques-
tion Of life or DEATH thought. Il
must have life"
Mr.. Wiley" / said, Il viii follow
your advice"
Good" he answered NOW you speak
like man. | VIII call for you after
breakfast tomorrow, and take you to
your future wife"
shook his hand warmly whe he said
goodnight. Il can never thank you
enough, said.
" Don't worry" he replied, Il expect
good fee for my trouble"
We visited the Di Tornos mansion on
the following morning. Our host Ieceiv-
ed US alone. He spoke English fluently,
and was very ailable.
" / am delighted TO see you,p he said.
"Do not say word about your errand.
know itall. OF course, as a father could
make no promise until / had seen you,
but now consent willingly Money is
no object TO me, but recognize worth in
your face. Ny wife was an American. 1t
will be pleasure for me to give my
daughter to one of the same nation'
He sent for the young lady, and wait
ell with impatience. She entered, bash
fully, and bowed in silence. She was tall,
graceful and dignifed. Her eyes were
dark and full Of expression, and her
abundant brown hair contrAsted well
with her light gown. She did not look
overjoyed, but that could not be expected
| eonversed with her for a quarter of an
hour, but her answers we've monosylla-
bles Then she retired, and soon after
wards Wiley and took our leave ex-
pressed my satisfaction to him, and he
explained to me that Cuban etiquette
prevented me from seeing her alone, while
he attributed her reserved manner to
modesty. He also told me that he had
made all the arrangements TOR the we'd
ding with Senior di Tornos. We we're to
be at his house at eleven the next morn
ing, and 10 proceed with him, his daugh-
ter and few relatives, to neigbboring
church. All preliminary formalities
would meanwhile have been completed,
and by noon should be a married man.
Wiley lGEched with me and then left me,
promising to meet me at Senor di Tor
nos house in the morning.
Ipassed the rest Of the day in smoking
and thinking. The whole affair seemed
too strange to be true. Mary Graftonls
faithlessness woaid have been a worse
shock to me if had not already become
accustomed to despair, and the definite
prospect of life differing widely from
that which | was leading was not dis
tasteful to me. My old love was partial
ly suPplanted by feeling of contempt
for revenge in kind was piqued, and
my approaching marriage would have
been welcome on that account alone.