St. Charles Republican intelligencer. (St. Charles [Charles City], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1857-07-23
CHATTER II.

Walls.
CHATTER II.
Walter Roscoe, turning away from
his sisters home, thought sadly of the
many days that must elapse before he
entered it again. Of Gertrude, he
told himself again and again he would
not think and again and again her
image came up before him, as he had
seen her last.
"Have | not wronged her?" he
thought, as he paced the floor of his
Office that evening. :" 1t is not possi-
BILE she may be innocent, even though
appearances were against her ? Shall
| see her once more? Pshaw ! what
fool l am Did I not see her there
beside him /? Did I not see his lips
meet hers? If ! asked for better
proof than my own eyes have given
me, l must be madman. l will
leave this place, and never come back
till she has gone away"
He threw few things into valise,
locked the writing desk beside him,
and stepping out into the street valise
in hand, shut up his Office, and walked
slowly up the street. The hotel where
he boarded was at long distance
from the garden of his sisters house,
and vet it was there he found himself
after hurried walk of some five min
utes. He lifted the latch of the little
gate and entered.
at is the last time, Gertrude, that
I shall be 80 weak" he murmured, as
he looked up at the vine-curtained
window, where lamp was still burn
ing. "The last time | shall be so
near you! Oh I! Gertrude, can you
dream what you have done, OF is your
heart all marble 2"
He buried his face in his hands, and
wept like child. The memory of
the happy hours he had spent with her,
came over him too strongly to be
borne. He could only meet such re-
When he looked up again, he was
conscious of an unusual hustle in the
house. Lights were moving hurriedly
iu several directions, and once or twice
he caught glimpse of his sisters
figure, passing the window of Ger
trude's room. What could it be? Was
Gertrude ill?
His heart stood still at the thought.
He could bear never to look upon her
face again /; but oh, the grave must
not cover it from him F.! He sprang up
the steps, and was about to enter,
when the door opened, and Alfred
Egerton came out.
"You here, Walter ?" he exclaim-
ed, starting back, as the pale face of
his brother met his eye. Faith just
told me to go for you, when ] had sum-
moned the doctor"
"The doctor !" said Walter turning
pale, as he found his worst suspicion
realized. Who wants the doctor 2"
"Miss Alewynne is very ill. She is
threatened with brain fever, think"
"Oh, my God !"
The unhappy man staggered, and
caught at his brothers hand to steady
himself. Alfred looked at him a mo-
ment, and then said soothingly--
"Walter, it will not do for me to
stay here a moment. But go in and
see Faith. She will comfort you"
He wrung his hands sympathizing-
ly, and hurried away. Half blind |
with his unshed tears, the unhappy |
young man entered the house, and |
seeing his sister sitting at her writing
desk in the parlor, sank down at her
feet, and hid his face in her lap.
"Will she die, Faith ?"
81 hope not, my poor Walter. But
she is very ill., answered Faith, lay
ing her hand upon his head. "Our
own doctor is with her now, and AL
fred has just gone for another"
"What are you doing ?" he asked,
looking up at the half-fnished note be-
fore her.
Writing for her brother to come
to her."
II did know she had one, Faith"
ooh, yes. l have never seen him,
but she has sent me his picture once.
" You know" she added with a faint
blush, :" it was quite dream with us
when we were girls - that is - she
wished me to marry her brother, and
| wanted her to marry mine.
Sc know--I know" said Walter,
and an indefinable expression of pain
fitted over his face.
And 80 she sends me Edwards
picture. Would you like to see it,
"Yes."
She opened her writing-desk, and
taking out small inlaid case, gave it
him. He gave one startled glance at
it-another-and the picture fell from
his hands, and he uttered loud cry.
"Oh, Gertrude Oh. my poor wife |"
Gertrude, your wife 2" exclaimed
his startled sister. "Oh, Walter, when
will these mysteries cease 2"
Now-with this moment" he an
swered, rising and seating himself be-
side her. "You shall hear all-you
deserve it. Faith, you have had your
wish. For twelve months she has
been my wife"
"Oh, Walter!"
Don't interrupt me- l knew long
ago what your wish was. But ! want |
ed to judge OF Gertrude for myself. l
knew she thought you were my own
sister, and she met me as Walter Ros-
coe, at a fashionable watering-place,
without suspicion Of my identity. l
found her all you had SO often described
followed her to her home, and she
was still more lovely thero Sill I