The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-12-12
.And to think he will mar his future, u

is in love with the little mink.
Chow his sisters will despisc her,
with her country-bred airs replied the
other, "and how ridiculous she will ap-
pear in the Hartwell parlors."
The first laughed as she answered: II
feel half sorry for the little thing, for all
the people here seem to be in love with
her. Yet he is certain to tire of her II
he marrics her"
What Il revelation it was to poor Mel
lie, who, until this moment, had never
dreamed that such rocks and quicksands
lar in the course of true love. Her first
thought was that she had been foolish to
imagine that her lover had been serious
in his professions. Her next was re-
solve to refuse him, if he made an offer
of marriage; and she would do this, not
so much for her own sake as for his.
They said she would wreck his future by
marrying him. There would be wreck,
she said to herself, but it would not be
his. And so it came to pass that, when
that very evening, he offered her his
hand, telling her that his heart was al
ready in her keeping, she crushed her
happiness to the earth, and gave her fall
tcripg refusal.
> y
A year had passed, and Nellie sat be-
fore the farm house door, changed but
little, except that she was trlfie more
womanly in appearance, and her expires,
sion was more thoughtful than in the old
days. It was her habit to sit thus at
evening, and her thoughts would always
turn to the hour when she parted from
her lover. The tenor of her thoughts
was interrupted by the sharp click OF a
horses feet on the hard road. In a mo-
ment carriage drew up at the gate, a
brisk, business-like man alighted and
came quickly up the pathway.
"Is this Mr.. Loring's?" he asked, as
he reached the door.
Nellie arose as she answered him in the
affirmative, and invited him to enter.
Having shown him into the little parlor,
she left him to summon her father.
"By George" said the visitor to him
self; "she is lovely girl; what news 1t
will be to her"
He glanced around the room with
many smiles of approval at the signs of
taste to be seen on every hand, and had
hardly finished his hasty inspection when
the farmer entered. The visitor rose
and bowed.
''Is this Mr.. Loring?" he asked.
eyes" was the reply.
"Were you in California twenty years
ago! But stay, let INC first introduce
myself. I am Joseph Roberts, lawyer
of San Francisco. ."
Mr.. Loring extended his hand with
old-fashioned courtesy, as he replied:
81 was in California twenty years
ago"
"You bought some land there, did
you not?"
eyes"
"And own it still''
eyes. I have had offers for it, but
not for a long time. l never felt like
selling, as it represents to me some of the
best years of my life"
"Do you wish to sell nowI"
II think perhaps l would, if could
get anything like Il decent price for it. "
"What would you say to two million
dollars?" = ... ....-.
"Two WHAT" was the astonished re.
ply.
"Two million dollars was the calm
answer.
Mr.. Loring hcsitated a moment before
replying. Then speaking slowly, he
said: II would like to know something
more about the matter before answering"
"You shall be told everything there is
to eli only promise me the refusal of
the place at the figures ! name if you de-
eide to sell. I would like that promise
because, to speak frankly, I suspect that
you will have other offers"
Mr.. Loring readily gave the promise
asked for, and his visitor entered into a
long and elaborate explanation, the sub
stance of which was that valuable sill
yer mine had been found on the prop
ertv, and half dozen different concerns
were on the lookout for the proprietor.
1t was finally agreed between Mr.. Loring
and his visitor that the former should go
to New York at once and make further
inquiries from there. He said very lit
tie to Nellie of the object of the lawyer S
visit and Of his own sudden journey to
the city, except that she might hope for
very good news.
The result of his inquiries was that he
sold the property for two millions in cash,
retaining to himself a quarter interest in
the mine, and the first that Nellie knew
of her altered fortunes was when she
awoke one morning to find herself an
heiress.
4 x
"By the way, Hartwell. have you met
the new beauty, Miss Loring' She has
lust returned from Europe. warrant
that you have seen nothing more lovely
in your three years absence"
"Loriug?" repeated the other, his
grave, handsome face coloring slightly.
His friend noticing it laughed, as he
replied: "Why, Hartwcll, there must be
something in Il name after all, since you,
who are known as woman hater in both
hemispheres, blush at the name Of q
woman"
Hartwell had by this time regaincd
his self-control, and his voice showed no
trace of emotion, as he said:
II was not aware that | changed
color, and YOU must be mistaken.
will answer your question. / have not
seen the new beauty"
"Wcll," laughed the other, 'you can