Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-26

But be very careful OF yourself, Jack
| dear. and remember how eagerly I shall
wait for your coming, and above all do not
forget that l am yours, no matter how
much or how little you bring back with
you. For If you are poor, 1 can help you
| to brave the world. since our love is better
| than riches and by that time perhaps papa
| can spare me better from the store. Dear
papa! Jack, II 1 give you myself. you
must be son to my father. and help me
| to make his old age comfortable and
| happy"
| Was there ever a sweeter, more woman
| ~ speech than this? Was there ever a
| woman who surrendered herself so COM
pleteiy to her lover and in so doing made
| herself million times more precious in
| his eyes? l had loved my darling before
now 1 worsh.ped her. At the very mo-
| ment l won her love learned to realize its
priceless value
She was in my arms. my kisses falling
softly and reverently upon her lips, when a
| noise attracted my attention. NJ. Croneau
was leaning over the counter a few steps
away. I took my darl:ns's hand and led
her up to him.
IN. Croneau," said, Josephine and
Yes. yesI know, I know" he inter-
ruptei rather brusquely.
II am going away, sir. Toto" I paus-
ed. struck by the thought that perhaps
ought not to confide to others the affairs
of my employers.
He regarded me with slight smile on
his stern features.
eS, also KNOW tnat. gu spoke loud
ly, monsieur, and my study door was Open"
Oh l said with a sigh of relief, for
after all this was Josephine's father-my
father-in-law to be; then you know all?"
Yes, wish you success. AS to the ar
iangement you have made with my child, 1
must perforce be content. since her happi-
ness is my sole desire Monsieur Jack, you
may not realize it. but no gem of Bonita
can equal my Josephine-mne?" with
shrug. "Ah. well, I suppose it must be our
Josephine now! ne cest pas, m sier?"
You are more than kind, sir. 1 shall try
to do my duty by her, and by you also If
you will permit me to regard you as my
father. 1 have none of my own living, you
know"
He took my hand and smiled. but I
thought his answer trif1e evasive:
We shall see, Monsieur Jack. You have
before you Journey first remember. So
it is to Bonita? And you may run across
my old friend, Howard Forsythe."
Why, he is Mr.. Forsythe's brother and
the manager of the minesv'
so? I scarcely remember him now.
Stfll, if you will be so kind. 1 will send
my regards to him-a note. to recall olden
times, perhaps. Remind me of 1t, m'sier,
before you 60"
I shall pass over my preparations for de-
parture. my sad and fearful parting from
my sweetheart my last interview with Mr.
Forsythe, and. in fact, my voyage to Be-
nita, since nothing occurred therein to bear
upon my story.
quay got my first look at the rocky point
CT land whereon the mines of Bonita were
located.
There was one little clump of cocoa
palms about half mile inland and a few
scattered shrubs here and there but for
the most part the promontory was one
mass OF gray rock, broken and shelyy and
wearing an intensely dismal aspect To-
ward the mainland there lowered row of
bare cliffs, reaching high into the air. and
seemingly impossible, so that the little
colony was absolutely cut off from the rest
CT the world.
large Enclosure. the walls formed mostly
from the prevalent gray rocks, and en-
circling huddle of implanted wooden
buildings somewhat discolored by the
" Gather.
Such was my first view of Bonita, and
you can guess that it conveyed very
pieasarable sensation when reflected that
here was to be my home for some time
A few lishtiy-clad natives and perhaps a
dozen rough-looking white men stood curl
ously awaiting our landing and watching
the decentralization of the stores the steam
er mad brought 1 was the only passenger
fer this port, and my landing was soon
accomplished. l turned to one of the white
men and asked to be directed to Mr. How
ard Forsythe.
The fellow scowled and surlily pointed
is thumb over his shoulder I followed
the direction with my eyes, and saw man
seated on large boulder few yards off
&c "sAs whiting SOIlelHiHS WIN a large
Jack-knife, and glancing now and then care
lessiy at the busy scene about the landing
place i walked toward him. regarding him
attentively as l approached.
lie was large, heavily built man. some
what inclined to corpulence, with a round
fat face, smoothly shaver. His head was
partially bald. and what hair he had was
thin and black. His eyes, which met mine
frankly and curioCsly as l came up. were
his best feature and reminded me of his
brother, my employer
He merely nodded in return to nv bow
end looked down at his whiting again. 1
followed his gaze, and saw he was aimIess-
ly cutting bit of wood, with no attempt
at form whatsoever.
Mr.. FCrsythe?" asked
He nodded again.
My name, sir. What can do for your
without interest or heartiness I took out
my wallet and extracted the letter from
Mr.. Forsythe, and then, as the note from
NJ. Croneau lay next. I handed that also
He took his brothers letter slowly and
tboughtfully. but when his eyes fell upon
that from NJ. Croneau he uttered a little
ejaculation Of surprise. and tore 1t open,
1t was evidently short, for he soon pe-
rused it, and then darling a swift glance at
me. In which, to my surprise, there seemed
little Of good will, he tore the note to frag-
ments and tossed them to the breeze l
instantly wished that I had opened that
letter and mastered its contents, and then
I reflected with some shame that 1t was
written by Josephine's father, and the de-
tective had not as yet overcome my natur-
al Instincts as gentleman.
Continued on Tuesday,