Tombstone epitaph., 1890-03-29
AFTER MANY YEARS.

'T know I am not rich," said a young man in the prime of his powers. and his eyes blazad indignantly as he made tn, statement. "1 kpow am not rich. Bui what of that! Does wealth make man: Not much. A man makes wealth. shall He rich.''
 T know ell that, Ernest; and you know that care nothing about your poverty l love you all the more ircause you aTt poor and have your own way to make iu the world. But papa objects s0 my mar rying you on that account. He says that you are not in our circle; you are toU young, and that he doesn't like you any. way"
 The speaker was young woman just turned 20. She was small in stature, buI a3 symmetrically proportioued as the finest product of an artists chisel. She had . lovely face and large eyes that were irresistible in the depth and sweetness of >heir expression. She spoke in a soft, sweet voice, and the tears bedewed her peach blow checks, as she looked upon the handsome, resOlute man at her side who had fallen into q deep study and seemed not to hear what Cclestine Orman said. After moment he looked toward her and said with deep feeling:
 "What is wealth compared to the love I bear for you, Celestine,'
 "Oh, 1 know that it is nothing, but papa doesn't think so. He gauges every man by his bank account and his social rank"
 But wealth and social rank are in the :each of every honest man who will labor to obtain them. It is the man."
 ''I know. But papa insists that shorlI marry Spencer Drake, who has plenty of money md social position, and"-
 ''No brains, no charactcrp' exclaimed Ernest Vance. "An elegant nobody"
 II know all that"
 ''An1 would you marry such Q thing, Celestile?'
 Mot while am in possession of my senses and Ernest Vance is in the land of .he living"
 Ernest grasped the hands of the younc girl and looked into her clear, intellectual eyes, and felt that they n nlrrored all his soui craved for So they did. Cclestine Orman was gem of woman. As rich as cream, with masterful will ana stro3o intellect, which had been thoroughly rul tIvated, she was the idol of her homo and .he admired and courtcd of the highest social circles of New York.
 "What shall do?' asked Colestine. "I io not wish to offend my father. never will marry Spencer Drake, and could wait an age for you to come and claim me. have rlenty of wealth of my own. but father is old, ard he has set his Lc:lrt upon my marrying Drake. He says a great deal depends upon it; more tllan think for, and that if were to marry q poor man like you are now 1t would be simply suicidal What shall 1 Go?'
 Ernest Vance looked at her a moment and then turned his eyes to another point m the richly furnished room and re!apsed into state of reflection. He always did this when he had q knotty problem to solve. The young woman watched him with adu;ring eyes. She adOred him-his intellect, his fearless independence of character, his royal self-reliance and as- surance. After a while he said:
 "Celestine, will tell you what yon shall do-yOu shall wait for me. I shall 20 away; go west and make uarle and fortune, and then come and claim you. l never cared to live in New York. There are too many lawyers here anyway. A man has to rise by slow and painful stages. The west is a new country. \ man of energy. push and talent is rccog- aized immediately, and he has no draw backs such as Le has here. 1 will go away"
 '.Oh. Ernest, that will be dreadful" exclaimed Celestine, and the t:Irs Slist- rned in her eyes.
 Ut is best to do so," said Ernest. 'I will go away shall not see you or write to you in six years from tonight. If succced l will come and claim you six years from this hour. If fail will not return to you"
 There was a silence ns if iI the presence of dcatb. And they sat side by side for many minutes without uttering a word. Then Ernest Vance arose and so did Celes- tine He took her hands in his and said in a voice that trembled:
 "Wells''
 'It is best as you say. I will wait foi you" And they parted:
 Five years had passed away. Celestine had not heard word from Ernest Vance. But she remembered; she w;is true; she had faith that he would come tG redeem his pledge. Spencer Drake had been devoted in his attentions to her, and her father had coaXed and commanded and threatened her time and time again, but in vain; she would not marry Spencer Drake.
 She sat at one of the large windows, and looked out upon the noble Fifth ave nue. It was the fifth anniversary of the departure of Ernest Vance.
 ssa0Dn uaor rnnror1 Sha Sirhpd
 "My dear" said & voice at her elbow.
 "Oh! How you startled me, father"
 ''My dear, have sad news for you"
 "Pray, what sad news can you have for me, fatherS''
 ''Before tell you shall ask you again If you will not marry Spencer Drake"
 'sFather, ask me to do anything than that. I cannot marry that lorrid, idle, brainless man."
 Her father sighed, and the palencss of his cheeks were visibly deepened. "If you will not marry Spencer Drake we are cuined."
 "What do you mean, fathers"
 'Tmean simply that for five years all my investments have turned out badly, that am up to my ears in debt, and thal unless you marry Spencer Drake within the next nine ty days shall be q bankrupi In purse and in character"
 "But what has Spencer Drake G)t to d. with your dehts?" asked the young womar with fearful calmness.
 ''Why, his father is my heaviest in dorser. He holds $500, 900 worth of m! paper. It will mature in the next foul months, ana 1 cart redeem i5. That what mean, Celel zine"
 Celestine H.ns ylsibly shocked at th; disclosure, but her answer was calm an decisive.
 "I love you; I hate Spencer DraE