The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-22
A WEDDING GIFT.
By f.aex n. Hooper.

~ A6s4 H. nugfsets
A prt gafs pari0F on the first floor OF the
Hoffman house. vel warmed and brilliantly
lighted. Il the sceae ON which our story
opens. n has two occupants on the par
ticulay evening Of which we write. One
Is Frank Eeabrighf. the rising young
lawyer. tall. strisingiy handsome man.
blue-eyed, fair-haired and blonde-mns-
fnched, with the figure OF Hercules and
the head OF an Apollo. He Is doing well
in the world. 10 Handsome Frank, g. bis
friends call him. and although only year
or so over 30, he Is already counted among
the shining lights 81 the New York bar.
A little given 70 dabbling in literature, too,
II rumor is 70 be believed. and II Is whis-
peFed that remarkably brilliant comedy
OF native origin, but recently produced at
the Madison square theater. owes its wit
and sparkle 10 hts pen.
Altogether parsonage OF note is Mr.. Sea
bright and far different individual from
the poor, unknown student who, some six
years ago, was very sincerely and passion
ateIy in love with the lady, his hostess as
well ~ companion. who sits opposite to
him, serene and superb in Partisan toilet
OF silvar-grAy silk. embroidered with steel.
aud set of by parure Of black pearls and
diamonds.
she was Miss Celeste RGvarda at that
time, New Orleans bslle. famous for the
caniella leaf aHloothness aad whiteness of
her complexion. aud the size and slamber-
Gus langour Of her great Oriental eyes.
darker than all else on earth except the
lashes that shaded them. Now she Is Mrs.
Wilmington Weir; a widow after three
years of matrimony, and sole heir 10 her
millionaire husbands fortune.
She was engaged to Frank seabright
when she went TO Europe to spend a winter
on the Riviera. There she met Mr.. Weir,
who had gone abroad for his health. The
elderly invalid speedily became her wooer,
aud she had not serupied 10 break OF her
engagement with her young and ardent,
but aiasI also peanileSs, lover, 10 accept
the dazzling oder Of her old and wealthy
adorcr.
aer married life had been spent in Eu-
rope. moving about from one health resort
10 another. as the suiferings or eapriceS OF
Mr.. Weir had dictated. his death. some
eighteen months before. had left her free.
and rich and independent as well She
had fingered in Paris and Rome I'll the
period had arrived when her mourning had
become merely nominal. so Tar as her dress
was concerned, for evilminded takers had
declared that such had always been the
eass In regard 10 her feelings,
She had arrived in New York two days
before. And then. under pretext OF wish
ing 10 consult Mr. seabright respecting
some law business. she had sent for him
to come aud dine with her at her sumptu-
Gus apartments At the Hoffman house.
The Invitation was accepted. the repast
had heen discussed and the legal question
settled. And now Mrs. Weir leaned back
in her chair on the opposite side OF the FIRE.
place from that where her lawyer and
guest was seated.
As she toyed with her fan of dark tor
toise shell and gray marahout feathers,
casting glances at he quondam lover under
her long, dusky syeiashes. she felt that the
business al the evening was only iast be-
ginning, for she realized in the uttermoss
depths OF her passionate, undiseipliaed ma
ture that she SIN loved. with all the feFvor
her sosl was capable OF, this superh-look-
ing young man whose attractions and at
taehmens she had wantoniy thrown aside
ia exchange for riches and lovelexs mar.
rsage.
Can bring him TO my feet again ?" she
shoaghi TO herself. The mirror above the
naEtel.p gave The answer, eYoa can ii
you viii.
she was hooking wonderfully beautiful
under the shaded gssIight. with the spar
HE 81 diamonds among the pearls at her
thFoAt and In her ears Fivaicd hy the brill.
fancy Of her great dazzling eyes. The vel
vcty Wilderness and warm rose tini Of her
the elue~hlaek masses OF her glossy hair.
made sr glow OF color that might have
tempted the pencil OF Benjamin Constant
still. Frank seahrtrhi as be observed
her critically. Jaw hut few traces in this
gorgeous woman of she young girl
That he once aaerel. The keen
rlance at the mAa os the world detected the
van. oallnas expression that iuFked under
ire rich psak ~ the cheek and The bright
red at thn curved and dainty mouth, ard
VAS hidden IN shs lassroas depths at TIE
DARK sses that he remembered As 50 sogt
and appealing.
Celeste kSsarde had bc.a most winning
ssrt. celeste Weir was = splendid looking
wagnan "a the zogsd. ard no mere Ike her
former sell than acsfaisan p~ony resembles
\ taseaensiaot rose. lie nature haa hard.
~nsi anss e0srseneA under the influence en-.
sFgised nPeo Il ~ the events Il TIE PAST
sSw years And Frank seahrixas, - De
gAkest epea her. wondered al ais oxa Tor
nieF iniAtaasi0n. ana .srrvseay rslosarsi
that il had - entirely passed away.
Hrs ageptAar~ 0s sAe saxitasioa 70 dine
WlsA his iernssz love hsi isxxga. ia truth. an
experiment - to the state a las awn fesl-
inSs. ard oae whica he bad tired nee wiyh.
eat sanse natsTsxtags. - iswss sta lntsuss
sasisssetlea saat BE tsls hilasslf 10 - IN.
tiEvly bears = sese As TAR a. tais dazzling
creature Vas concerned.
Ssse ssssSea Al hssa with thsi sasl3s whieh
hal beaa tuNnd Irresistible In the &gawGssm.
rSaasS IL Nsaa and eg kiesNacz-
Noe ase very silent shis evening. aEs.
SeseFts rs, sAs sad psAyfaslp. A p~nuy
Cor she thoughts sAai yoa ssud - sesost-
snF
lie roaseA hlussssf wssA ssazs asusa his
naeztAliaaS
hey are seFtA nsssea usasr tA&a that,
Mrs Weir, BE answered gsiaAsssy ~loF
as sA8aksas q yoa
Very pgxtssiy sxi8 quite ss4Al Ia SIS
vas 80 saEss * TIE cosafSlaaSnss shAs was
p@sd sns in rast& AMI YTzy. il whas
gatse s1a eEnFe 81 yeas nes.axs -
ghat wAssA sea wxre years asa had
called ~ sAs speeses IS csassEe gsx4sts.
Tbs Fsh eoaoE AseT~asa 90 hsr easssRA
SIS il cnly - . planters sAzs gssssse
ksyAEae tssss il year msepaesys Can yoa