Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-02-11

asked to give up the remainder OF his
lease he first laughed at me, and thea
got angry and said he was insulted.
However, Wilmay was wealthy enough
to allow me to use a form Of argu-
ment which does not often fail and
It did not in this case. So in the spring
Bert ha and Wilmay came back 10 the
house where Philip Amory died Ber-
tina refused to leave Wilmay now, even
for the delights Of the London season,
About this time had letter from
Charles Portland. | had heard from
him once before, / ut that was merely
10 give the name of the bank to which
he wished me to pay the money to his
credit. This second letter was very
different and great surprise TO me.
1t returned me all the money that !
had advanced to him, with per cent
interest. IT also incloscd e. 900, which
was to be paid to Wilmay as first in
stallment In discharge OF the debt
which he had incurred to her father.
1T may be-" he wrote, that when 1
am poor am hlackguard but | am
quite certain that when | am rich
am i 5eiitti'iilii,,iiii ttyp,i5t Tor of course
am under no legal obligation to pay
Wimay anything, unless | choose to
consider myself in debt to her, but the
money advanced TO me by her parents
was (as ! always explained to them
though lattery they refused to LISTEN
advanced in order that ! might invest
II for them al my discretion and not as
q loan. The trouble was that in those
days | had no discretion. Even after
wards when | had the superb idea of
the compactum dinner, was not dis
erect or ! should have kept the money
that | made. One lives and learns.
am now perfectly discreet. have
written to Wilmay, you will be sorry
to hear, to explain myself to her. 1t
is a pity the. marriage was broken off. .
| wrote to thank him, returning his
five per cent and explaining that | was
not a money lender ! also said that
there Was no necessity on earth for him
to write to Wimay, and I was very
sorry he had done 1t.
Wilmay's health had seemed to i'm
lrove with marvellous rapidly at Sin
den. Bertha was very hopeful and in
high spirits. She wrote to me to say
that Wilmay had heard from her uncle,
and that she took 1t quietly, asked a
few questions about him, and then
seemed not to think about II any more
Wilmay wanted me to come down to
Sinden, and Bertha pressed me most
warmly to come too. had been think
Ing over things, and I had decided
what | would do.
Firstly, | went down 10 Sinden. Will
may looked very delicate and sweet !;
she was less weak than | had expected
and loved to sit out in the sun in the
garden on warm days talked to her
n little and then / had Il longer talk
with the doctors, and think they told
me more than they had tod Bertha
Then, when Wilmay was asleep up
stairs, and Bertha and were alone to-
gethor, | said to Bertha;
"Do you know that love Wilmay
that | have been in love with her
ever since she grew out of childhood?'
Bertha paused before she answered.
once, years ago, | feared II. Then
| did not think so any longer"
Il believe" said that ( shall tCl
her now"
YES" said Beruha quietly. "Ten
her"
On the next day when ! WAS sitting
in the garden with Wimay she spoke
Of her uncle.
"a know whay YOU did for me- she
sald, You wanted to spare me pain
and humiliation, and YOU were going
10 have paid thousand pounds Just
for that little thing can't SPEAK
about It, but | must thank you"
But Wilmay, as it happens, did
not pay penny. Let's forget about
that man. its nothing.
Edward, why have YOU always been
SO good to me? I'm not worth It, and
give ever SO much trouble"
"Do YOU remember Wilmay," | sud.
that shortly after yJu came ont. |
went away Gov years and did no. soc
you? DO YOU know why | went@"
WHY"
Because | was growing old because
was not the man who should marry
You, and because | loved YOU"
Edward! Edwardr she cried
hrcathlessly.
Don't mind about it, dear, 1t can't
matter now"
"Wllmay, darling, have always
loved you. love YOU now"
Oh haven't you seen? | didn't want
you to see, but n spite of that"
Matter? IL matters I'll the world
She sighed, and held out her hands
to me. drew her close to me, and
looked down into her eyes
Wilmay said that she was going TO
be quite well again now That was ter
rible for her to hear. who had been
made almost sure that she would not
be long with us But for time Il
went on--that delusion of growing
health aud strength And with all
their sadness, these were the haprtes.
I