The herald., 1896-10-25

The golden rays OF the July sun were
beating down mercllessly upon the dusty
pavement Of the little hamlet OF NJ; but
The oppressive heat was somewhat relieved
BY the bslmy breath Of air stirring the
leaves Of the old chestnut trees which lined
the principal thoroughfAre, tanning them
with dellciously cool breeze. and enabling
the poftly most Of the INN Of the Blue Lion
| to take his after-dlnner nap In comfort.
But he wac fated 10 suffer an unlocked
for Interruption, for Just a. the big town bell
struck the hour Of 2 The letter carrier made
his Appearance. holding . letter In his out
stretched hand. which he delivered to mine
hosts wife, nttering the words: From
America" Mother and daughter shook their
heads increduloMly. Mine host rubbed his
he queried "Who could have written to ~
from that far away countryf Go. some Of
you, and find my glassesP'
| The surprise was now general. It was -
the days when everybody was talking about
California. For two years previous to the
occurrences here narrated psorle from all
parts Of Europe had emisrated to the god
mines In the fac West, wherr--so ran the
story-goid was actually laying about every
where and to be had for the picking up.
| AT last the apsctaclcs were found, and the
old man read Ia loud voice. while all pres-
ent held their breath in suspense: :.
Dear Cousins" We'll, / declare"
no interrupted ulLu0eils tniB letter IL from
Cousin Berner, who emigrated thirty years
ago!'
Cousin Bc:nc. was Immensely wealthy.
Like al! enpigrants, he had to work very
hard at arst, ana ha6 learned the lesson
which stern necessity teaches all new
corners In that country. lie had been a
stree. sweeper. bootblack. a lsmpligatec-
IN fact. he hae been compelled To do almcs:
anything and everything to earn scant
livelihood. Finally he had succeeded in
saving few dollars and started a small
store. Fortune had favored him and he
apassed vast fortune. which he intended
to leave to his only son. 1t was now his
dearest wish to see this son happily mar
ricd, and having accidentally gathered from
some Germans who had arrived In San Fran
cisco that his cousin had a daughter, he had
decided TO send his boy en- a vIait to M,
hoping the young people would like each
other. His boy Charles was di,gent and
Industrious, and he cav no reason why his
the writer'e-plans should not bs carried
out.
The old man cast radiant looks about
him. "a marriage Of the two youngsters +?
Well, should think so! Could there be
greater luck in store for our Marie? Just
to think OF 1t, my son-in-law an American! I!
Won't the neighbors be Jealous: But
where is Marief do not see herr"
II daresay she 's busy in the garden"
responded his wife. hesitatingly.
Call her at once!'
Marie. q beautiful, vivacious girl, soon
made her appearance. She slowly pcrused
The contents Of the letter. "weil, girl,
what DO you think Of this piece Of good
fortune?" the father queried, after she had
finished. would you like your rich cousin
from America for your husband?"
| "Why nct?" she replied, in thoughtful
and measured tones. provided like him"
Charles Berner, OF San Francisco, and
Henry Decker, Of Hamburg, two young
men who had become acquainted the day
previous, upon leaving the Thames, stood
on the deck Of the Hamburg packet. The
former was relating the object Of hia trip.
adding frankly that he would have much
preferred remaining IN California having
as yet no desire to marry, but had been