The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-30


al know that Margaret Smithson began Italian
last year, and gave II up because her goyerness
went back 10 Italy,"
gratefully, quick to perceive how anxious lie was
TO help them.
IL was his sister who shortened the interview.
and who read him short homily on prudenceas
they returned home.
.'You know, dear Gerald, you must not take
those lessons. 1t will not be quite the th,l,ng'
"Why nol?' cried lie, surprised, though at the
same instant an answer flashed into his brain
young gentlemen cannot ask beautiful young
ladies 10 be their instructors" said Connie. III
not for your sake, Gerald, be wise for hers sup
pose she fell in love with you2''
Gerald whiSiled, colofed, and promised 10 re-
lnqush the Italian lessons, though merely
out OF Difference TO you, my, sage sister,"
said lie. For that and that alone. am not
such vain fellow as to dream that this lovely
Miss Marston will break her heart for my sake
whilst l should be numbering her soft mother
By 10 the Italian lessons; only manage 10 make
II UP to her In some other manner"
"Good, dear bOyi" exclaimed Connie THAT
Will do, you may be sure"
With an easy heart she made all arrangements
for the lessons. and, melted by her brother, or
dered three borders for chimney-pieces. Del
phlne had abundance Of work now; but as she
sal at her embroidery she thought how much she
should like TO see Mr.. Oakley sometimes. He
had said he too would take lessons, but lie never
appeared
And Gerald? He also longed TO see again that
lovely, Incompatible young creature who had
50 ulONtu MS luleIeSl anu pity, Dul HOW COulu
lie break his word 10 Connie? No; he would not
do that but he had more than once strolled at
dusk down the street in which Deiphine was 10.
Gated, and on two occasions fortune had favored
him So far that lie had obtained distinct view
OF her-Once as she entered the BAKERS shop,
and at another time as she passed out.
How lie wished 10 90 forward-to exchange
word With her He dwelt continually on her
image, and that which his sister dreaded had
come TO pass. Love had biossOmed in his soul
for the pennless Delpnine Que evening, when
Decenbel's SHOWS were falling, lie sat late In
his own room, dreaming OF his future. The
young man restless and i'll at ease. Knowing
that 1t would give great pain 10 his family II he
asked the hand of this Iriendless sirl, of whose
antecedents lie knew nothing. Ought he not TO
think something Of his lnother-of Connie? And
might not happiness fly away when the lrreYoca-
bic step taken; but more aud more lie
thought that he would take that step, confess all
to Connie, fan on his knees before Delphlne
and whisper TO her That lie had loved her ever
since lie and she met in The gloomy London
street.
Midnight sounded The night was a sort of
era III his life; for the cousin from whom lie
had Inherited his wealth. and who had died five
years ago had left with his bequest letter, en-
joining his heir 10 open IL after the lapse OF five
years, on the anniversary OF the testators death,
at midnight, wien IN complete solitude.
Tie hour and The time had arrived tonight;
the secret lie was TO learn would soon be in his
possession. The life of his relative now dead
and gone. had been fair and open career, ful
OF kndneSSeS aud courtesy. 1t could not, then.
be dreadful deed he was 10 learn from The hand
now inactive forever Nevertheless the young
man opened The envelope with a certain thrill Of
| emotion.
Poor Horace (" murmured lie. " wonder if
| am 10 learn love secret! He never married."
HIS eyes were soon fastened on the page; his
| cbeekS flushed, his brow knit
W hat was This lie saw before him?
" 1 wish 10 let sonle time pass before you read
this, for time soitens Us and gives future posi-
| bilites. Besides, you are impetuOuS, you
might refuse 10 lake my beQuest unless you had
opportunity first Tor reflection and for seeing
| that you are the person who ought TO administer
| II when am dead and gone"
Then there Is a secret ~ broke from GeraldS
| lips when he had read thus Tar.
Yes, there was indeed. And as he read on he
| learned that Ouce-when DoyhOod trenched on
| manhOOd-at an lour When sOrely, cruelty trled
| his dead cousin had yielded TO Iemptatio1 and
| had used the sum OF twenty pounds belonging to
| his employer, and intrusted TO another, a sum lie
| knew he could replace within a week. This en-
ployer was then absent; II was The most uuli ely
thing in The world that the fraud would be DIS
| covered.
| But the unlikely thing occurred. His EN-
| plOycr came home three days before he was
| pected. Gerald's cousin was absent for a few
| hours-accOunts were called fOr-ihe twenty
| pounds were missing. III vain The young man
| TO whom this money had been intTusted Insisted
| on hi, inuucence-declared that he had placed
| the money safely In his Gesk-thOugh he mad
| certainly neglected to lock II Immediately. His
| dishonesty was proved in his employers mind,
| and the zeal culprt found, on his return, that
| his fitend had been dismissed, ana had disap-
| peared. Even now, however, lie believed, lie
| hoped, that he could remedy The disaster. To
| confess his crime would be Decentralization this
| he had not cOuTagt-but he would $50 lie
| thougnU repair ms fault. He would mud his
friend; lie would pretend that he had found the
mOny in the desk ia a hidden recess; together
they would tell their story TO the offended gen
tleman. ana gain reinstatement for his friend. He
could not do more for the sake OF those for
whom he had sinned-but Oil it should be life
long lesson for the future.
But neYer-neyer did his friend return. All
advertisements, all Efforts to trace him were
fruitless. The twenty pounds were restored
the corner IN the desk shown-the employer con
WINGED that he had been haSIy, but this DID not
Years went by, and the one who had injured
him rose by rapid degrees TO prosperity; but all
unknown 10 others. lie carried a canker in his
heart, for uever-neyer had lie other opportunity
of making separation. And as lie lay dying he
penned this confession to his Young cousin. en-
joining nun 10 pay sum OF SIX thousand pounds
If lie should ever have the opportunity, to any
child or grardchlid OF Wilfred Marston.
MaIstoul The hot blood rushed over Gerald's
face. Was Deluhine MarstOn a relative of The
injured man? On! lie must now see and talk TO
Delphine-he must ask her thousand questions!
Rushing TO bis sisters ToOm-hoW could he wait
TIL morning ?-he knocked, and was delighted TO
fnd that COunie, like himself. had been keeping
vigil, ,-.., ,,..,,o,,
Read" he answered, thrusting The letter into
her hand. You remember what anniversary
this is am sure. Now must not see ana ques-
Her? Whom do you mean, Gerald ?" asked
COnue.
" Miss Marston. must find out whether ii is
she to whom am enjUlned TO pay SIX thousand
pounds The sum set apart and named IN our
Cousins viii 10 be disposed OF hereafter"
" ell, ! suppose you must" admitted his
sister, reluctantly. Poor Horacel What sad
secret to carry with him through life !"
The Iesuit OF this conversation was that Con-
ME Oakley was preparing 10 accompany her
brother next morning when she learned that lie
had already gone out. Yes; he had flown to
Delphine's lodgings, and was now standing be-
fore her, agltated, handsome, enraptured. Del
phine was alone, for her mother had ventured
out this sunny winters day; aud she was no less
agitaied than lie at This unexpected interview.
| Her color and went. her slender fingers
trembled.
And at sight OF her all the young mans pru-
dence was swept away. Did she care for MIN
ever so little? WHY should she be so moved at
seeing him again? And she looked diyinely
ialr, ineXpTessi6ly lovely! No; lie could not
| live without her He felt that his was an atec-
| ton which, though born IN moment, would live
TO eternity. Since II was so, why should lie de-
| lay his entrea;y for her love in return?
Miss NarstOn; DelDhne" said lie, suddenly,
| with passionate fervor. Il came here this morn
| ing 10 you two questions"
yes" she articulated. by way OF rejoinder,
| striving TO maintain some appearance of polite
| indifference, though how her heart thrilled at
hearing the VOID 'Delphine" from his lips. Aud
then lie drew nearer to her; he took her band
Have you not guessed, dearest" lie whis-
| pered, "that | would ask for your hand-yOur
| loye-and give you my name-my whole heart
| all that have III Teturn?"
| No she had never dared 10 make so improb-
| able conjecture as this. and she lay speecbess
| with rapture in his arms. 1t was bliss too deep
| foI words-tOo great to imagine as her own. A
| good many minutes elapsed ere she was COM
| posed enough 10 look up ana whisper Dack 10
him the confession that her affection, like his
own. had sprung u from the very dawn OF their
acquaintance.
i've 49, cnrlsten that corner of the square
n. adise Corner, beloved Delphine," said Gerald
as he told her over again, III fervent words The
story OF his love.
1t was long before lie she remembered that
| other question he had come to make. What was
her fathers Christian name? Aud bad she ever
heard him tell the reason OF his quitting En-
| gland?
"For a great sorrow which befell him In his
| youtb--a cruel suspicion. His name was Will
| fred" answered Delphine.
| "0h, Dephne," exclaimed Gerald, 81 have
| story to tell, and you a fortune to receive-you
| and your mother" And, her hand In his, the
blissful girl listened to the tale OF his cousin Hor
| aces great fault and lifelong repentance.
What an uniEa gined surprise IL was for Mrs.
| Marston on her return home 10 find Delphine
sealed with Gerald Oakley, both OF them looking
| SO TRANSPORTED with their newborn happiness
| that she knew what words had been spoken be-
| tween them even before her daughter threw her.
self into her arms weeping tears OF JOY. But this
| was not all. She was 10 hear also that her child
was no longer without portion, and well she
| knew that her daughters love would provide