Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1889-05-03

away, they were all four on a European
steamer ''outward-bound'
And Ernest Copeland, watching his diving
brother, wondered why no letters came
from Ferndale, chafed under the nece ssity
for remaining so long from his betrothed,
but was too much occupied until the last sad
hours to do more than pen anxious letters
never answered.
He had a heavy heart to carry to the
funeral, sacred trust to fulfill, and he had
no elation in the fact that half of his
brothers. fortune left him far richer man
than he had ever been. Gerard's life had
been shortened by drinking and by re-
MORSE
It was over at last, the funeral, the care
OF the dead mans personal property, and
then with an underlined fear of evil Ernest
Copeland went to Ferndale.
"Gone Gone to Europe, you sayp'
He repeated this after the servant, in
daze of bewildered pain, holding unopened
the letters given with the message. Not
for some minutes could he collect his senses
sufficiently to understand he held perhaps
the clew to the mystery in his hand.
But he opened it at last. Grace had had
to plead hard for permission to write those
lines, harder still to keep back furious
epstle from her father. But only her
welknown writing greeted her lovers
eyes as he opened the letter:
"Your wife and children" he read, "are in
the little cottage opposite the church. May God
forgive your cruelty to them"
There was no address or signature. Only
one low moan broke from Ernests white
lips as he folded the note again and turned
from the house. White as death, shivering
in the soft summer air, he went down the
road to the cottage. There was an ecstatic
scream Of "Papa! Papa!" as four clinging
arms encircled his legs, and Mrs. Copeland
stood trembling and crying in the doorway
He gently lifted the youngest child, and,
followed by the other went into the cottage.
Mrs. Copeland, crying still, sobbed:
$50 you have come back!'
Gravely, but not tenderly, Ernest an
swered!
"Your husband will never come back
You know best by what want of wifely
love you drove him to drinking, to despair,
finally to deserting you. He was not guilt
less; but ask yourself if you are"
"Who are you" she gasped.
"I am Gerard's twin brother"
81 have he ard Of you. Where is he9"
"In his graveI'
She dropped at his feet as if he had shot
her. She had been sloveuly housekeeper,
shrewish wife, grating every hour upon
Gerard's sensitive. fastidlous tastes; but,
in her way, she had loved him, scarcely re-
alizing how she drove him desperate.
1t consoled her presently to know that
half of her husbands wealth would be hers
end her children's, and Ernest made no
explanation of the reasons why the search
he had promised his brother to make for
her had been so suddenly terminated. He
left her at last to find Porter, Mr.. Wilt
banks confidential clerk. Having received |
no orders to the contrary, Porter readily |
gave his employers Paris address, and |
Ernest returned to the city, to interview
his brothers. lawyer, and prepare for a sea
voyage.
Over the broad Atlantic the Wiltbank
party accepted the usual tribulations of
and discomfort. Only Grace
was exempt. She waited on the others, but
made no moan over old Neptune's caprices.
White as snowflake, listless, with her 7
soft blue eyes sunk in hollows, her little
white hands wasting, her pretty bright
ways all gone, she said she was perfectly
well, and seemed to be dying before her
fathers eyes.
She would not own to being sick after they
arrived in Paris.
They had been q lmonth in Paris, and the
French doctor Mr.. Wiltbank called in
.alked of a "want Of tone" and "raising the
spirits" cf his patient, but Sophie wept all
he long, lonely nights, believing her fatal
discovery had killed her cousin.
But it was Sophie who, one day in Novem-
Der received visitor alone, visitor who
,ent up a little note that sent her with flying
'eet to receive him.
He was still in the salon, when Sophie
,ame into the sitting room, their own pri-
rate salon, where Grace was sitting at the
window.
She wanted to tell her news calmly, to
void exciting the inmates, but she broke
lown, sobbing:
"Grace! Grace! Will you ever forgive
nel 1t was all a mistake. She was Ger
.rds wife, Ernest's twin brothers. wife!
Ie is here!"
"Here! Ernest here"
And Sophie few out again. She sent him
n alone, for she said:
81 must watch, or uncle will murder you
,efore you have chance to explain" I
Ernest entered the room, where pale
hadow of his bright Grace rose to receive
lin, to fall into his arms weeping now as in
ii her despair she had not wept But there
we're no more tears. Grace's roses came
,ack in their happiness, and there was
Wedding in Paris, where Sophie was brides
maid, and hosts of American friends offered
congratulations.
But as Sophie sagely observed, shaking
Ter pretty head:
''It was nearly a tragedy, for If uncle and
Ernest had met too soon, there is no saying
What might have happened" - Anna