Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-09-29
!. James Harcourt was here.

him. James Harcourt was here.
and
Il suppose he told You he was poor
man now. and that he would not claim
your promise TO be his wifeG'
The girls face paled
IL do not understand you, father"
she said. Tell me what You mean"
"simply that James Harcourt Is a
ruined man"
"a ruined man! do not understand
yet"
Il will explain In few words, Lulu
The banking house of Haroourt & Ell
letslie went down In the panic. and
James Harcourt has given AIS private
fortune to meet its liabilities. | sup
posed he came to tell you himself to-
day. for of course you understand that
all Is over between you,
"All over between usl" the girl re-
peated, her face paling-"all over be-
tween us, Father. in all honor and
faith | promised James Harcourt 20 be
his wife. and in all honor and faith I
will keep my promise"
At this instant servant entered.
A letter for Miss Lulu"
Lulu lifted it OF the salver. and,
opening IL, read;
My Own Lulu: I will call you so
once again. though In this letter | re-
sign all right to do SO; for. Lulu. | am
to-day your dread-,a poor man; your
father will explain all
81 went to tell you this morning,
with the intention OF telling you all.
to me till | was able to claim you. or
would you face the world with me as [
am, but your words. spoken without n
knowledge of the change in my cir
cumstances told me how vain my
dream was.
Il do not blame you, Lulu; reared
all your life in luxury | do not wonder
you fear TO face poverty, even lighted
by love. You are free, Lulu, | with
draw all claim 90 your hand. but God
alone knows what suffer in doing so,
for | have loved you as a woman Is
seldom loved.
Il will not see you again, for the
day after tomorrow | start for Cali
fornia, and could not trust myself to
look on your face again, lest | should
forget my manhood. Once again ! Will
sign myself your lover.
JAMES HARC0URT"
She read II to herself. then aloud.
$50 he has saved you the trouble of
brea6iEg your engagement" Helen
said, codly; you ought to feel very
thankful"
Decidedly honorable said her
father.
Lulu looked from one TO the other,
her pretty face growing firm.
Il love him." she said, and he loves
me. and-and. Will be true to my
heart"
Mr. Merton. seeing how pale her face
was. thought it better to say nothing
then. so he left the room rs Lulu
threw herself down beside the SOFA ana
sobbed as If her heart were breaking.
'Helen-He1en!" she said, now
cruel and heartless my words must
have sounded to him"
4 do not care to see Mysteries,
neither do like private theatrieals' so
If you do not spare me | will spare my
self" Helen answered, rising to her
feet and leaving the room.
For a long time Lulu knelt. her face
hidden by her hands. but when at last
she arose she was calm and collected
ct will be hard to do. she SAID
"but | was in the wrong and he VIII
not come TO me-
the next day James Harcourt sal
for the last time in his private Office
sat alone, holding in his hand Tiny
miniature of fair, young girl.
He was going away, bidding farewell
to his old life. leaving behind him
wealth and position, but even then,
with everything around him to remind
him OF the fortune he had lost. he was
not thinking of It; all he realized was
that he had lost Lulu Merton
NAY" he said, looking down on the
smiling pictured face. you say truly,
you never were made for poor mans
Wife it would be cruelty to ask you
to become such. but oh, my darling, |
would have made up in love what you
would have missed in wealth"
81 will be satisfied with that" said a
low. sweet voice behind him, and the
original of the miniature laid her
daintily gloved hand on his shoulder.
"Lulu--Lulu!"
Eyes" she said, the sweet, shy