The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-07-20

ElizabethaH lover who feared his fate
too much.
Why had Elise kept the bronze all
this time: She had an artistic eye and
admired its colorinG
Besides, had she not been wise in
| having no desire to revive old memo
ries in Caldwell by sending the thing
back 10 him?
There was one other thing she could
have given back to Caldwell
Hartley felt in his pocket and took
ont "a paper folded ana refolded till it
was lut an inch square. He fitted it
iu ttc compartment in the base Of the
hr0Egr II wcdged in like part Of the
metal lie had found it III locket
they took from his wife's neck when
she was dead, a simple piece of jew
elry her father had given her as Il child
and which she always wore in remem.
brance Of him. for she had loved him.
He had opened it and found the paper
pressed over the portrait of her father
He took the paper from the bronze
jar Ought it to have been buried with
her, as was done with the locket? No;
she had been his wife, and this was a
love letter from another man.
Rather had she been cruel or kind to
Caldwell or himself in showing the
letter that time to her affianced hus-
band, though could she have done 9TH
erwise when that accepted husband
CHANGED upon her with the letter not
yet hidden from him? And was he do
ing a loyal or kind thing to her in read
ing it Il second time? There were hard
lines about his mouth as his eyes scan
ned the hastily scrawled words: Il am
poor, but you, too, are poor. Why must
wealth be such a power and love be
50 defenselcss? love you as no man
! ever loved before. I will work for you,
slave for you
He folded it again. Why had Elise
kept it? And what crazy idiot Cald-
well must be to take 4 iilting as be
had done, and scarcely a jilting either,
for Elise had answered him not a word
CAc would swear to that. for he knew
Elses honor. only accepting another
man who spoke first. And Caldwell
had gone down. What a wreck the
man was, avoided by one time init
mates, debasing his talents, welcom-
ing the maddest excitement at no mat
ter what cost to fame and conscience.
And yet one friend remained to him,
Old Senator Nicholson, the friend Of
the president. The early chum Of his
father. Ola Nicholson held out, offer
ing his hand when others stood aloof.
Only two days ago the papers an
nounced the gaining Of a consulship
by Nicholson for Caldwell, which might
yet save him and re-establish him in
the good opinion of the world. And
Caldwell had Boosted at the club that
he ignored the appointment. Could
love do 50 much to debase Il man?
Caldwell had been loved by Elise
The man had been weak enough to LEI
himself sink because he thought his
feeling had not been rociurocated by
her.
But am ! strong enough to let an
othe. man know how little I was
priced? And vet
II Caldwell were set on his feet again
ana accepted the consulship!
But Elise does not mention his name
in the letter Of Instructions. Did not
her feeling for him wear away when
she discovered how weak he was? Still
she kept his letter. and it is the prov
incc of woman to elevate what she
loves. What She loycs"'
L.,
inlaid desk and let down the lid He
could not write the letter at Elise's
desk
He took the bronze jar and left the
rosy room, locking the door behind him,
and passed on to the library There he
threw the curtains wide, letting in the
sunshine, and, seating himself in his
accustomed chair wrote and addressed
a few lines to Caldwell.
Caldwell was at the club when the
note was handed to him. He was at
his worst
He opened Hartley's note He burst
into a strident laugh. Mrs. Hartley
wished to return to the original donors
all the gifts with WniCh they had hon
orcd her, and, among others, his old
ti2c remembrance had been noticed.
Th%t jar. He recollected the day in
Rome, the lying Old descendant of the
Caesars who sold the thing to him.
Elise had admired it in the little black
shop window, its shape and its color.
They had passed on to the great cathe-
Gral, where Mrs. Date awaited them
and dismissed him. lie had hurried
back to the little shop to buy the
bronze, which the old fellow lovingly
displayed to him, youchiug for its an
tiquity and showing Him the hollow in
h base. 1t seemed that a great chance
opened to him. Mrs. Dale's treatment
Of him in the cathedral told him that
her daughter would see him no more
alone Elise had bGsought him to
send her nc more letters, which her
mother insisted upon opening Hart
ley had arrived and been welcomed by
Mrs. Dale. He bought the jar and in
the hollow wedged his letter Of adora-
ton, fearful, yet hopeful. He sent
the bronze to Elise, was assured that
it was placed in her hand and never
heard word from her The next
month she was married to Hartley.