Tombstone epitaph., 1891-01-11
AFTER MANY YEARS.

StdCeNcHt. kDOW l dm uOt Tlcn. put what of thati Does wealth make a mani | Not much. A man makes wealth. shall be rich"
 "I know all that, Ernest; and you know | that care nothing about your poverty. | love you all the more because you are poor and have your own way to make in the world. But papa objects to 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 i way"
 l The speaker was young woman just turned 20. She was small in stature, but az symmetrically proportioned 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 8 soft, sweet voice, and the tears bedewed her peach blow cheeks, as she looked upon thu handsome, resolute man at her side, who had fallen into deep study and seemed not to hear what Celestine Orman said. After moment he looked toward her and said with deep feeling: 1 "What is wealth compared to the love | bear for you, Celestinef"
 "Oh, know that it is nothing, but | papa doesn't think SO. He gauges every man by his bank account and his social rank"
 "Dut wealth and social rank are in the reach of every honest man who will labor to obtain them. It is the man." r "I know. But papa insists that should marry Spencer Drake, who has plenty of money and social position, and"-
 "To brains, no charactorr' exclaimed Ernest V;lnce. "An elegant nobody"
 II know all that"
 "And would you marry such thing, | Celestine?'
 Mot while am in possession of my | senses and Ernest Vance is in the land of .he living'
 | Ernest :asped the hands of the young l girl and To oked into her clear, intellectual eyes, and felt that they mirrored all his soui crave1 for So they did. Celestine | Orman was gem of a woman. As rich as cream, with masterful will and strong intellect, wlich had been thoroughly cul. tivated, she was the idol of her home and she admired ,nd courted of the highest social circles of New York. "What shall dOY" asked Celestine. "I do not wish to offend my father. never will marry Epencer Drake, and could | wait an age for you to come and claim | me. have plenty of wealth of my own, but father is old and he has set his heart upon my marrying Drake. He says a great deal depends upon it; more than 1 | think for, and that if W ere to marry poor man like you are now it would be simply suicidal. What shall doY' Ernest Vance looked at her moment and then turned his eyes to another point 1 in the richly furnished room and relapsed into state of reflection. He always did | this when he had knotty problem to solve. The young woman watched him with admiring eyes. She adored him-his intellect, his fearless independence of character, his royal self-reliance and as. surance. After while he said,
 "Cclestine, I will tell you what you shall do-yOu shall wait for me. shall go away; go west and make name and fortune, and then come and claim you. l never cared to live in New York. There are too many lawyers here anyway. man has to rise by slow and painful stages. The west is a new country. A man of energy, push and talent is recog nized immediately, and he has no draw. backs such as he has here. will gc away"
 "Oh, Ernest, that will be dreadful,' exclaimed !cslestine, and the tears glist. cned in her eyes.
 Tt is best to do so," said Ernest. 'T will goaway. Ishall not see you or write to you in six years from tonight If succeed I will come and claim you six years from this hour. If fail-I will not return to you."
 There was silence as if in the presence of dcntb. And they sat side by side for many minutes without uttering word Then Ernest Vance arose and so did Celes tine. He took her hands in his and said In a voice that trembled:
 "Well!"
 ''It is best as you say. I will wait fo, you" And they parted;
 Five years had passed away. Celestine had not heard word from Ernest Vance. But she remembered; she was true; she had faith that he would come t0 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 ieparturs of Ernest Vance.
 "One year more!' she sighed.
 '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, fatherf''
 Before tell you shall ask you again you will not marry Spencer Drake"
 ''Father, ask me to do anything than that. l cannot marry that horrid, idle, 5rainless man."
 Her father sighed, and the paleness of his cheeks were visibly deepened. eff you will not marry Spencer Drake we are cuncd."
 "What do you mean, fathers"
 'I mean simply that for five years all my investments have turned out badly, that am up to my ears in debt, and that unless you marry Spencer Drake within the next ninety days shall be bankrupt in purse and in character"
 "But what has Spencer Drake got to dc | with your debts?" asked the young woman | with fearful calmness.
 "Why, his father is my heaviest in. | dorser. He holds $500, ,000 worth of my paper. It will mature in the next fouI | months, ana I can't redeem ig. That's |