Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1891-04-16


| adore clothes | don't know about
love"
In spite of all that happened, Miss
Esther was quite unprepared when
Ina said to her; "I've something to
tell you. l am going to marry Cap
tain Vaughn, and wear silks, jewels,
and 90 abroad, and never have to
count my change again. Congratu-
late me-"
You are joking" cried Miss
Esther.
Its the best joke in the world"
"leu are going to marry Captain
Vaughn? Do you know that he is
old enough"
ITO know BETTER
"Do you love him, Inda:"
Il like him we'll enough. l love
his money"
lima, don't do it. | cant allow
it. The idea of your marrying him!
1t is too reposterous--too mercena-
ry. Why, he was once lover of
minc," pursued Miss Esther, forget
ting herself.
"Why didn't you marry him and
save me the trouble?" asked Ina.
"But perhaps he was poor them
at was not that.
"Why then? You loved somebody
else?"
Il don't mind telling you now,
Ina | had another lover-Paul An
son. He aud Captain Vaughn sailed
together in the w Water-Sprite, and,
when Capt: in Vaughn returned, he
brought me all the letters and trink
cts l had sent Paul, and never a
word more. .
You, poor dear, you shall dress
in satin and thrcad-lacc. We shall
live in the lap of luxury, and I'll
send word to Paul. How oddly
things turn out. Fancy my marrying
your cast-off lover -
Ina, beg YOU not to"
Not to marry Captain Vaughn
just because I'm not in love: You
would have me give up so much
for a mere sentiment"
Captain Vaughn and Ina were
married in the little parlor of the old
house, shaded by the old oal-tree,
which made pretty dancing shadows
on the wall. II was most informal
affair and, when it was over and
the clergyman had pocketed his fee,
and the bride was tying on her trav
cling hat, Miss Esther stepped in the
garden to draw long breath. What
were workmen doing there at that
hour:
500 into the house, Miss Esther"
said Captain Vaughn. II am going
to celebrate my wedding day. Ina
has made me weddings gift of the
old oak-tree, and I'm cutting it down
to burn on the hearth at The Towers,
while we look out at the 'dreary win
ter sea- Miss Esther, when you
thwart Vaughn, you do it at your
peril. DO you think l married Ina
for love? Revenge is sweeter than
love. When YOU refused to marry
me, swore | would make yoa repent
in dust and ashes" "
Miss Esther turned toward the
house, but paused to look back from
the doorway. There was crash,
and, when strange blur had cleared
away from before her eyes, Captain
Vaughn lay dead beneath a great
bough of.the tree, which had snapped
accidentally and fallen.
II feel so awfully wicked" said
Ina, some months later, awed and
ashamed at finding herself in posses
sion of the coveted wealth without
the burdensome conditions. 'Ive
been looking over his papers with the
executor, and we found this letter.
It's from Paul Anson. You might
like to see it. It's dated Australia,
a year ago"
Dear Vaughn Miss Esther
read-"here / am, miles from home,
and possessed with longing to hear
from the old place again. Some
times | fancy | am home again, un-
der the old oak tree with Esther,
still young. Believe me, old boy, ir
spite of the fifteen years gone, my
bald head, and her double dealing, |
cannot but think of her. have
never seen happy day since you
told me that you were going to mar
ry Esther. ! remember how black
YOU looked when | told you she be-