The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1892-05-26
THE GREAT HESPER.
TALE OF A BIG DIAMOND.
How an Immense Gem Was Lost
Recovered. and Lost Again,
CHAPTER XIV.

broken off that evening,
| had not the faintest hopes OF re-
covering the lost diamond, and, when
| told Sir Edmund my reasons for
despairing, he did not attempt to con.
ceal his satisfaction with regard to my
determination.
"a man should never be dependent
on his wife. 1t must necessarily lie a
source of humiliation to him; and no
man suffers humiliation without in
time losing his own self-respect. That
will never, l hope be your loss, Ber-
nard. Poor girl, 1T will be
a great grief to her; for, though she
has known you but little while, she
has found in you great deal to ad-
mire and love and her affection is so
tenacious that l doubt if she will
ever cease to love you" He sighed,
and for some moments sat in thought
full silence; then he said. "We must
not break her heart, my dear fellow
we must leave her some hope. AS
it is necessary that for some
time you should be separated,
it is right that you should
both be free to form other engage
ments, ut the same time there may be
tacit understanding that, should
you succeed in making q position for
yourself in a reasonabIes space OF time,
and then both are still warmly dis
posed toward each other, the engage
ment shall be renewed.
There is no necessity for your hay
ing large fortune; but it is essential,
as l think, and as you happily think
also, that you should be able to pro-
vide yourself with the necessities OF
life. l promise that Edith shall bring
with her the luxuries."
He then offered to use his influence
in procuring me a secretaryship; but,
as / had never been accustomed to
sedentary occupation, and such an
appointment could never satisfy my
more ambitious hopes, he generously
placed his purse at my disposal, to
use as might find occasion.
| have purposely abstained from
dwelling upon my love affairs, for, If
entered into them at all, my feelings
would lead me to dilate upon the de-
lights OF my brief wooing, to the ex
clusion of the graver matters which
form the subject of this book. For
the same reason I shall pass over the
bitter grief of our parting. l will only
say that Edith last words awakened
courage in my sinking heart.
Icould form no satisfactory theory
with regard to the Great Hesper
robbery, but / was disposed
toregard Van Hoeck as the least cul-
pable agent concerned in it.
;D,,o0roi1,lo 10 al how +ho
robbery affected this mysteriousman.
AS have said, during the investiga=
ton he sat perfectly motionless and
perfectly silent. His face wore the in
scrutable expression of death-mask.
Sir Edmund had no sympathy with
him after learning from me the par
ticulars relating to the adventures of
the morning.
When we entered the library from
ne dining-rOOm, where our interview
lad taken place, We found Van Hoeck
sitting where we had left him.
81 have ordered the carriage to
be at the door in half an hour,
Mr.. Van Hoeck," said the Baro-
net. "Be good enough to make your
arrangements for departure by that
time"
Van Hoeck inclined his head.
Il shall be glad if you will redeem
your [ 0 U at an early date" the
BaroneU added sternly.
Van Hoeck put his hand in his
pocket, drew out purse, and extend
ed it. I,took it, seeing the Baronet's
repugnance, and placed it on the
table.
accompanied Van Hoeck to South
hampton. Neither of us spoke on
the way,-indeed, had not heard a
word pass his lips since We parted in
the early morning.
| took a room for him at hotel,
and, when the servant who led us to
it was gone, said:
II am going to leave you, Van
Hoeck."
A gesture of Indifference was his only
reply.
"Youhave nothing to say,-no ex-
PLANTATION to offer?" l asked.
"What do you mean?-speak plain.
ly," he said.
II saw you discussing. with Brace
what should be done with the case
that held the diamond before he Sc
GREETED it."
IF you know that we we're discuss
ing that, you know all. 1t is useless
| to make an explanation that you
would not believe. have nothing to
say"
He CROPPED his way to a chair, and
threw himself into it.
| put a packet OF notes on the
table, and told him that if he had
need of further help he might
write to me, addressing his letter to
the care OF Sir Edmund. Then l left
him.
had a vague idea Of purchasing q
partnership in some business where |
could find active employment, and
with this view took lodgings in Lon
don, and began to look about me.
had been engaged in this pursuit
about a week when ! received a letter
from Sir Edmund.
II inclose," he wrote, "a cutting
from one of the weekly papers. Vine
growing, as it is here described, seems
to be the very thing that should suit
a man of your disposition and taste;
it would suit me if l were thirty years
younger than am, AS it is, nothing
would better please me than to see
you q prosperous fruit farmer.
| "That Edith might have something
to look forward to, l have proposed
that our next summer holiday trip
should be to San Diego. She thinks
we should find California hotels insup-
portable. Perhapsyou will he able to
offer something more acceptable than
hotel accommodation. In any case,
my dear fellow, you can give me no
more acceptable testimony Of your af-
lection than in awaiting yourself freely
and fully OF my pecuniary assistant
ance."
The cutting referred to vine growing
and fruit culture in Southern Califor-
MIA; but before read single line OF
it had made up my mind to be at
San Diego to receive Edith and her