United States or Sint Maarten ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For forty years it had crawled silently and sluggishly under the indurated and coldly egoistic nature of Merton Minge, had been dammed up at times by avarice and at others by grim recollections of his domestic infelicity; but finally, after tedious meandering in the Desert of Heartlessness, it struggled triumphantly to the surface one glorious autumn night, when a golden moon illumined the Atlantic waves and kindled a bewitching beauty in the face of Salome, who sat on deck, singing an impassioned strain from La Favorite.
Minge devoted himself to the rapid accumulation of wealth, and by judicious and successful speculations had doubled his fortune, ere, at the comparatively early age of thirty, he was left a childless widower.
"Upon what do you base your supposition?" "Mr. Minge was convinced that her attachment to some one in America was the insurmountable barrier to his success as a suitor; and, if so, she probably returned to her native land. Dr. Grey, I will speak candidly to you of a matter which has doubtless given you some disquiet.
Minge bought the hair and handkerchief, and, after a liberal remuneration for their care of the invalid, he took charge of the watch, and left his address to be given her when she called for her property. That her mind had become seriously impaired, there can be little doubt, since nothing but insanity can explain her refusal to accept one of the handsomest estates in America.
To what shall I ascribe the honor of this rigid cross-questioning?" "To reasons which I shall very freely give you. But first, permit me to beg that you will resume your narrative at the point where I interrupted you. I wish to learn all that can be told concerning Mr. Minge."
I dreaded that artful girl would make mischief between us, would alienate the only heart I had left to care for me. Oh, how I wish she had been forty fathoms under the sea before you ever saw her! before you ceased to love me!" A flood of tears emphasized the sentence, which seemed lost upon Mr. Minge, as he lighted a cigar, tried its flavor, threw it away, and puffed the smoke from a second.
Unfortunately, a few days subsequent to her departure from the hospital, Mr. Minge was taken very violently ill with pneumonia, and died. Conscious of his condition, he prepared a codicil to his will, and bequeathed to Salome twenty-five thousand dollars, and an elegant house and lot in New York City.
The glory of a Sicilian sunset bathed the face and figure that stood a moment under the lemon-boughs, watching the retreating form which soon disappeared behind clustering pomegranate, olive, and palm; and a tender compassion looked out of the large hazel eyes, and sat on the sad lips that murmured, "God help you, Merton Minge, to strangle the viper that coils in your heart, and gnaws its core.
No wonder you look nervous and ashamed, after your recent very surprising manifestation of well, I might as well say what I mean of mauvais goût." Constance Minge impatiently threw off the light worsted shawl that rested on her shoulders, and propped her cheek on her jewelled hand.
She put her foot upon the drifting lemon blossoms, and bit her lip to keep back the bitter words that trembled on her tongue. "Come and sit here on the steps, and confide your plans to one whose every scheme shall be subordinated to your wishes, your happiness." Mr. Minge attempted to take her hand, but she drew back and repulsed him. "Excuse me.
Word Of The Day