The Irish standard., 1908-05-23

Ills UlOtleI Ildu uc1uS. loNl utI, IN lQC
poor Spanish he could command and
in the scant English she could compre-
hend, the story of his life. home and
friends. a story that included certain
delicate maiden. his brothers be-
trothed. who embroidered intermin-
ably upon her trousseau and wept be-
cause her lover came not.
The fiery beauty carried the situa-
tion with high hand. More than one
gallant Spanish dandy assisted Senior
Guerrero in escOrting William An
thony out Of town. And from that
hour the younger man was swept for
ward by an amorous eNchantment so
adroitly exercised, so imperious, that
had his heart not acquiesced he could
hardly have escaped standing at the
altar in his brothers place and taking
to wife the woman who was to have
been his sister-in-law. The spell she
wove was deep and lasting. He loved
her, endured her hasty temper, for
gave the love she still bore his brother
(though she called it hate), and died
a heart broken man when, two years
later, the birth of their child cost her
life. The last written word of the
young husband was plea to his broth
er for forgiveness and request that
Lolita's child, Gideon Ingram Anthony,
might find second father in his uncle.
But William Anthony. melancholy,
resentful, was wandering over the un-
peopled wastes of Alta California,
vainly seeking relief from sore
heart. And Gsdeon's grandfather, not
trying very hard it is suspected, failed
to trace the baby's uncle. Letters from
New England found him, however;
told him that the faithful woman of his
early love was slowly fading away.
Conscience-stricken, he fastened back,
married her, tried devotedly and with
apparent success to nurse her to
health, but buried her one year after
their only child was born"
"Oh, my poor, poor mother!" Esther
moaned. "No wonder you are so sad!"
She drew the locket from beneath her
dress and gazed moment on the pic
tured face. Alfred's ring still hung on
the chain, and she pressed it to her
lips before hiding it again. Like
mother, like child" she whispered
scornfully. Roth foolish!" With
sigh she took up the paper and read
on:
Then came from Suffers Fort the cry
of Gold! gold!that peopled California
and swept away forever the dreamy,
pastoral days of hidalgo, fandango and
league-long ranches under Mexican
rule. William Anthony came west
with the first rush, found and claimed
! his nephew, mined, traded and grew
enormously wealthy; though he lived
! always in the wilds, visiting cities only
as compelled.
! "On the bleak side of Washoe
mountain he built palace. the won
der of the decade; sent for his daugh-
ter, and reared the two children in
: an isolated luxury that was the source
of many Aladdin-like tales. But failure
came, removal, wandering; and the
Anthonys were lost to the world that
had known them Later the father
was killed by Indians; and the chill
dren, by this time man and woman
grown, drifted, unknown and unknow-
ing, into the needless stream of hu.
manity.
'The sequel proves that William
Anthony never forgave his brother;
for the boy grew up as dependent,
called only Gideon Ingram, and never
knnu,incv 1,ic rio oh tn h 10,
Senor Guerrero died some years ago,
willing his estate 10 his grandson and
providing for search for him. Yet
1t is probable he would have remained
undiscovered had not the agents pur-
chasing right of way for the Southern
Pacific Railroad company needed his
| signature. His identity was discov-
cred some time ago, but his story is
now for the first time made public"
Here followed the interviews.
my cousin! Oh. he's my cousin!"
Like an open book Esther read many
things that had puzzled her-her fa-
ther's contradictions, his gloom, his
reserves; Gideon, tender, cruel, con-
slant, vengeful; passion, flame;
conquering, yet ever defeated. Poor
Gideon!
Esther dreamed over the strange
tale till she was reminded of her
team, waiting as she had ordered, and
restless. "I'll drive at once," she said,
and hastily prepared, eager for the
Out-of-doors, for motion.
She was taking up the reins when q
card was brought her-Gideon's. She
started back and would not touch it,
till penciled words caught her eye
Stella, have wronged you; but il
you have read the morning paper you
know how your father wronged me.
Blood makes us cousins. 1 must see
you moment must little atone"
How could she see him? Yet she
must Childhood memories, the in
Justice he had suffered, his sorrows,
all pleaded for him. Yet not In the
narrow closeness Of ROOM lt'wouId
be easier out in the open, away from