Middletown transcript., 1912-06-22

! there is abundant evidence and testt
mony as to his qualities, / Vouch fol
him"
Robert" answered his brothe' q
need no such testimony; the way in
which he saved Enid, the way he com,
ported himself during that period oi
isolation with her, his present bearing
in short, sir, if a father is ever glad
to give away his daughter, / might
say should be glad to entrust her to
you. l believe you to be man Of
honor and a gentleman; your family ia
almost as old as my own; as for the
disparity in our fortunes, can easily
remedy that"
Newbold smiled at Ends father, but
It was pleasant smile; albeit with
a trace of mockery and a trace Of tri
umph in 1t.
'Mr. Maitland, I am more grateful
to you than l can say for your con.
sent and approval which I shall do
my best to merit. think 1 may claim
to have won your daughters heart; to
have added to that your sanction com
pletes my happiness AS for the dis.
parity in our fortunes, while your gen
erosity touches me profoundly, hard
ly think that you need be under any un-
easiness as to our material welfare"
What do you mean?"
Il am mining engineer, sir; didn' t
live five years alone in the mountains
Of Colorado for nothing"
Pray, explain yourself, sir"
did you find gold in the hills?
asked Robert Maitland, quicker to un-
derstand.
'The richest veins on the continent" i"
answered Newbold.
"And nobody knows anything about
it?"
'Not soul"
Have you located the claims?"
"Only one"
We'll go back as soon as the snow
melts," said the younger Maitland,
"and take them up. You are sure?"
Absolutely"
"But 1 don't quite understand" quer-
led Mr.. Stephan Maitland.
He MEANS" said his brother, that
he has discovered gold"
"And silver too" interposed New
bold.
In unlimited quantities." continued
the other Maitland.
Your daughter will have more
money than she knows what to do
with sir" smiled Newbold.
God bless me-" exclaimed the Phil
adelphian.
"And that whether she marries me
or not, for the richest claim of all is
to be taken out in her name," added
her lover.
Mr.. Stephen Maitland shook the 9TH
er by the hand vigorously.
Il congratulate you," he said, you
have beaten me on all points; 1 must
therefore regard you as the most elig-
ible Of suitors. Gold in these noun
tains, well, WE'LL"
"And may see your daughter and
plead my cause in person, sir?" asked
Newbold.
Certainly, certainly. Robert, will
you oblige me"
In compliance with his brothers
gesture, Robert Maitland touched the
bell and bade the answering servant
ask Miss Maitland to come to the IL
brary.
Now" said Mr.. Stephen Maitland
as the servant closed the door, you
and I would leave the young people
alone. El, Robert?"
by all AIeans," answered the young
er, and opening the door again the
two older men went out leaving New
bold alone.
He heard a soft step on the stair
in the hall without; the gentle swish
Of dress as somebody descended
from the floor above. A vision ap-
peared in the doorway. Without q
movement in opposition, without a
word Of remonstrance, without throb
Of hesitation on her part, he took her
in his arms. From the drawing-room
opposite, Mr.. Robert Maitland softly
tiptoed across the hall and closed the
library door, neither Of the lovers be-
ing aware Of his action.
Often and often they had longed for
each other on the opposite side Of q
door, and now at last the woman was
in the mans arms and no door rose
between them, no barrier kept them
apart any longer. There was no obli5
cation Of loyalty or honor, real or i'm
agined, to separate them now. They
had drunk deep Of the chalice of cour-
age. they had drained the cup to the
very bottom, they had shown each
other that though love was the great
est Of passions, honor and loyalty were
the most powerful Of forces, and now