Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-07-24
A TEST OF LOVE.


joining the dancing hall.
'You must be angry with me, at least
greatly surprised. I hastened on at
Ada's urgent request. A day after my
arrival insisted that you should follow
without giving any reason that could
seem adequate to you. 1t was so very
good of you to come that l cannot re-
frain from expressing my gratitude. To
be 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 reciprocates your feeling?"
Il have at times felt convinced that
she does. But a woman's heart, you
know
Erwin's frank and manly face became
sad.
II thought had heard about ring
that Ada gave to you some time since?"
She touched with her finger finely
carved cameo set in a band of gold on
Erwin's 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 a
token Of his friendship. By his sister,
Ada, he sent me this ring. Since that
day it has never left my hand. But as
she was merely the executrix of her
brothers. will, 1 have no right to base
false hopes upon his gift"
~ 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 in 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 afar.
Making his way through sea of silk
and satin trains, Baron Erwin Won Gerz
stood at last before Ada.
May heaven bless them," whisper
ed the baroness fervently, and for the
nonce her hands were folded as if in
prayer.
The ball given by the 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 were discussed by
enthusiastic and envious tongues alike;
but the sweetest morsel of gossip was
Ada Bramont's s engagement to the Mar
chese 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 flattering colors. "He is handsome
man, and chivalrous enough to win any
believe that he is insincere and that
mercenary motives have prompted him
to ask for her hand.'
The 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 in the world by dint of energy and
business sagacity. He was considered q
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 Gcrz' S name was mentioned,
but she regained her self control.
II do not deny that I like Erwin
Baron Gerz, mean." answered the
young girl. II like him very much in
deed I might have married him if cir
cumstances had brought us together
sooner, but he lived most of the 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 marchese had my
word, and I saw no reason for al
tering my decision. You know, it is
papa's pet scheme to have his daughter
marchesa. Why should l upset 1t
now?'
II thought as much," murmured the
older woman. Erwin has come too
late"
A few days later the Baroness Defoe
returned to her home in the interior of
the state. The separation from her
friend tried the young girl sorely. She
was motherless from infancy and had
learned to lean upon the older woman
i'll all the little difficulties that beset a
young girls life. To please his daughter
Mr. Bramont determined to take sum-
mer residence in one of the small wa
teIing places of the Thuringian noun
tains, not far from the Defoe estate
This was not at all in accordance with
the marchese's plans, who had hoped to
spend the summer months at one of the
fashionable spas in France or on the
coast of the North sea. Prudence pre-
vented him from interposing serious OBJ
jections.
The Bramonts were warmly received