The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-06-13
A TEST OF LOVE.

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ono OF the cozy little sitting rooms nd
joining the dancing hall.
GU must be angry with me, at least
greatly surprised. I fastened on ut
Ada's urgent request. A day after my
arrival ipsisted that you should follow
without giving any reason that could
seem adequate to you. 1t was SO very
good of you to come that cannot re-
train from expressing my gratitude. To
DO brief, I desire very much that you
should marry Ada"
But. my dear baroness, - exclaimed
the young man excitedly.
DO you not love her?''
With all my heart"
And are you not sure that my little
friend reciprooates your feeling?''
II have Mt times felt convinced that
she does. But woman's heart, you
| know''-
Erwin's frank and manly face became
sad.
Il thought had heard about ring
that Ada gave to you some time SINGER"
She touched with her finger a finely
carved cameo set in kand of gold on
Erwins hand.
"You are slightly in error about
this, baroness. That Walter Bramont,
Ada's brother, was my dearest friend,
| you, of course, know. We went to
school and afterward to college togeth-
er. The friendly relations between Ada's
brother and myself date back to those
days. When the poor lad lay on his
deathbed, he desired to leave to me
token of his friendship. By his sister,
! Ada, he sent me this ring. Since that
| day it has never left my hand. But us
she was merely the exeoutrix of her
brothers. will, have no right to base
false hopes upon his gift
81 look upon it as an indication that
Ada loves you," said Baroness Defoe
musingly. ''To make sure of it, I wish
you to sue for her hand i'll marriage.
Be brave and ask her to dance with you.
The rest will take care of itself"
The baroness dismissed Erwin with
graceful wave of her pretty hand, then
followed him slowly from affair."
Making his way through sea of silk
and satin trains, Baron Erwin Won Gcrz
stood at last before Ada.
May heaven bless them," whisper
ed the baroness fervently, and for tho
nonco her hands were folded as if in
prayer.
The ball given by tho Bramonts was
for days the sole topic of conversation
among the upper ten of the capital.
The toilets of the women, the splendor
of the arrangements werc discussed by
enthusiastic and envious tongues alike;
but the sweetest morsel of gossip was
Ada Bramont's engagement to the Mar
cheese Luciano, which had been an
nounced before the evening came to a
close.
The Baroness Defoe informed her
husband of their friends unsuccessful
suit. He came too late,'' she wrote,
therein lies the secret of his defeat. {"
The Marchese Luciano was not painted
in fiattering colors. He is n handsome
man, and chivalrous enough to win any
young and romantic girls heart. But I
believe that he is insincere and that
mercenary motives have prompted him
to ask for her hand''
Tho baroness was not alone in her es-
innate of the handsome marchese's char
acter. Her opinion was shared by many
of Ada's friends.
Ada Bramont's father was a man of
sterling qualities, who had made his
way i'll the world by dint of energy and
business sagacity. He was considered u
very rich man. His integrity and prac-
tical knowledge of human nature had
never been questioned, and many were
therefore surprised that he should give
Ada into the keeping of man who was
at best considered to be fortune hunter.
Though she could not confide to Ada
the thoughts that disturbed her, Bar
oness Defoe. with her usual tact, touched
lightly upon the events of the night
soon after Ada had dismissed her guests
and joined her friend in her room.
Ada's face betrayed agitation when
Erwin Won Gerz's name was mentioned.
but she regained her self control.
II do not deny that like Erwin
Baron GerZ. 1 mean,'' answered the
young girl. 81 like him very much in
deed. might have married him if cir
cumstances had brought us together
sooner, but he lived most of tho time in
the country and showed no inclination
for more. than formal acquaintance.
How could l guess that he desired to
marry me? When he asked me at last.
it was too late. The marchesc had INV
word, and 1 saw no reason for al
tering my decision. You know, it is
papa's pet scheme to have his daughter
a marchesa Why should I upset it
now?''
81 thought as much" murmured tho
Older woman. Erwin has come too
late"
A few days later the Baroness Defoc
returned to her home in the interior of
the state. The separation from her