The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-08-06

And, Tor some reason, the expression OF
her face grew grave. and even gloomy as
she spoke.
Nothing worthy ofrecord occurred for the
next few months, except that people began |
to talk a good deal and say how foolish it
was of Klondike Caxton to allow himself |
to be entangled Gas he was apparently do
ing) into IA second affair with the woman
who had thrown him over so scandalously |
five years before. And while they won
dered he could be so idiotic, they marveled
how she could be so barefaced. The
mothers of marriageables were particularly
strong on this point, and swelled to the
full extent of their corsets with righteous
Indignation whenever they spoke of it.
That he should pass by hundreds of nice
girls in favor of that perfdious and de-
signing creature was incomprehensible, but
that she should spread nets for him, with
out disguise or shame, in the full glare of
the public eye, was neither more nor less
than an outrage on common decency.
Heaven grant her intended victim might
come to his senses and free himself from
her tolls before it was too late
This pious prayer, however, was not
destined To be granted. Six months after
his return 10 y Caxton's Encouragement
To Silkstone' widow was duly announced,
and the corSets of the mothers Of the mar
riageablcs were in serious danger Of burst
ing There was no reason for waiting.
The wedding was fixed to take place at
very early date.
But much may happen in u short time,
and in this brief interval a very important
thing indeed occurred At first came a
vague rumOr-a rumor which people whis-
pered into each other ears with impressive
mods and gestures. But soon it swelled
and asserted itself into louder utterance
and more assertive tones. Klondike Cax
ton wealth had been immensely overrated.
If he had ever possessed a quarter OF what
people had credited him with, it was the
outside. There were two far grayer state
ments to be made-the one, that the
Canadian bank, with which the bulk Of
Caxton's money had been placed on de-
posit, pending investment, had suspended
payment; the other, that the negotiations
for the sale of his Klondike diggings to a
syndicate at high figure had fallen
through owing to an unexpected exhaustion
of the gold, which had suddenly rendered
them valueless.
OF course one cannot believe all that he
hears, and had this been only matter of
hearsay it need not have meant much.
But Caxton himself, in talking to his
friends, admitted the general accuracy of
these rumors To Miriam he had been
more explicit. About fortnight before
their wedding soon as the certainty of
these disasters reached him-he went to
her and told her the truth. From the
wealthy man he had hitherto believed him
self to be he was suddenly transformed to
very poor man indeed. A few thousand
were left-that was all, enough to bring in
a meager income of, say, f200 a year.
Under these circumstances he could not
hold her to her promise. She was free
if she wished to be free. He placed him
self unreservedly in her hands, and 50 on.
Miriam answer quite took his breath
away.
AOh, Charles, she said, gazing at him
with earnest, eager eyes and clasping hel
hands together nervously, "Pm-Pm-
I IN so glad y
Charles started and stared at her in blank
astonishment. He could find no words tt
express his surprise.
.. 7 499A,t ,.e.as.,. that H"' clad for you
sake, she went on to explain eagerly
but L m $3.50 glad for my own -
''Eh p gasped Charles, more and more
bewildered. "EhY'
II must tell you something, Charlie, .
dropping her voice and speaking with un
mistakable earnestness. ''By marrying
Mr.. Silkstone because he was rich [ learned
bitter, bitter lesson. 1t was not unit
after | became his wife that [ realized how
much | had loved you-how much loved
you still And when he was killed,
Charlie, [ was not, | could not be sorry,
for | felt-I-I-knew that-that when
you heard of his death you would come
come back You have heard, perhaps,
how he left his money to me, Charlie
An income of G3, 900 year during my
life or widowhood, but everything to pass
from me if married again, and, knowing
that you would return to me some day, |
at once took small house and lived on a
tiny income, Charlie in order that [ might
save and save and save and have a little
something to bring to you when you re-
turned But you came back rich, Charlie,
and | was so disappointed, and-and-''
She said no more, for at that conjuncture
Charles started forward and caught her in
his arms and for the next ten minutes
nothing was said on either side that could
be of the slightest interest to any except
the two Immediately concerned.
By and by, however, Charles had to
make a confession. Sweetheart" he
said, ''don Danish me into outer darkness
for what | am going to confess to you. 1t
was not until you told me this just now
that II realized that-that [ loved you
still from the bottom of my heart.
thought that when you threw me over and
married Silkstone you had killed my love,
and vowed that if l ever had the chance
I would punish you for the wrong you had
done me- So when | came back here,
Miriam, wealthy man, my design was
simply to induce you to become engaged to
me thinking [ was rich =
'FOh, Charlie, Charlie But L have
deserved it ALL Go on 7
"And then-dont look at me, sweet
est, while l confess my baseness- then
to-to place you in the position in which
you would-would oh, forgive me,
Miriam; 1 thought you only cared for
money-incur the odium of throwing me
over second time, because l was poor
1t was blackguardly design. I loathe
myself for it. p
"Charlie, whispered Miriam, looking