Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-11-22


handed Mrs. Lyle letter.
"Gerardp' she exclaimed, eXcitedly'
when they were alone; come here. 1t
is from Lady Penderleith"'
He was by her side in an instant,
shaking with agitation, leaning over her
chair; so eager, that he could have
caught the letter from her hands in her
impatience to see the contents. As rap
idly, however, as he could have done it
himself, Mrs. Lyle had removed the
envelope. First, was a half-sheet OF
paper, containing four lines of writing,
and an enclosure. The lines ram
"MADAM,-
"The accompanying will explain the
APPARENTLY mysterious disappearance Of
my miserable daughter. Return it when
read. Already I have made arrange
ments to remove her abroad, out of
reach of your sons impertinent atten-
tions, and your avarice.
GERTRUDE PENDERLEITH.
"The mystery explainedH' calculated
the Baronet, needless of the concluding
sentence. Quick; read it, mother!"
Mrs. Lyle, unfolding the enclosure,
complied. The address at the top Of the
letter had been completely Obliterated
by scratches and bIots of ink. It began:
MY DEAR GERTRUDE
"Judge of my surprise, this morning,
to see entering my room your daughter
Alma, in most deplorable state of IA,
tigue and grief. For an instant, fearful
that something terrible had happened
at Penderleith, I stood rooted to the spot,
too stunned to welcome her, when she
astonished me still more by falling Oh
the floor at my feet, and impIoring me
to be herfriend, and to save her from
your anger.
"I saw that some great trouble had
weakened her nerves and produced hys-
terra; therefore, raising her up, I petted,
promised, .consoled and soothed her, till
I elected the truth, which, as write in
hase, I shall condense into as small
space as possible.
at appears that, last night, she con-
sented to elope with some lover, whose
proposal for her hand you had rejected;
that, pleading headache, she procured
the means of keeping her appointment
without creating suspicion; but on arriv-
ing at the place of rendezvous, the east
gate of the plantation, to her consterna-
ton, she found no one there. For four
hours sheswaited in anxiety and terror,
bordering on madness; yet the gentle
man never came. Then a new dread
arose. What was she to do? 1t was i'm
possible to return at that hour; every
door was locked at Penderleith. Then,
! to her, it was impossible to return at all;
for how, in the morning, could she ex-
plain her absence all night from home?
and she confesses the thought of your
anger more than once nearly deprived
her of her sense. The idea occurred to
seek the dwelling of the man who had
broken trust; but, fortunately, maiden
ly modesty and pride proved barrier
to that. Then she recOllected me, and
as last resource, made her way to a
railway-station, and, by the earliest
train, came off here to entreat my inter
cession.
81 need hardly say that much of the
above has been confided to me in strict
est secrecy; but, a mother myself, can
not, in such case, regard my promises
as binding. Therefore, as you no doubt
will understand matters better than l
do, shall keep Alma here till 1 receive
your reply. She appears much depress-
ed and spirit broken with what she has
gone through, which, fancy, has prov
ed punishment enough; so, if you choose
to take my advice, you will control
your anger when you two meet.
Your affectionate sister.
m 'CELEsTINE BURGoYNE.'
"Thank heaveny calculated the Bar
Onet, drawing a deep breath of relief;
she lives! All is not lost. I yet may
win her. Where does this sister reside?
"I do not know; and, from the obliter-
alton Of the address, Lady Penderleith
if determined we shall not"
'What' have you no idea?"
mot the faintest. Our families, as
you are aware, have never been. on
friendly terms. I only know that heI
ladyship has a married sister living
somewhere in one of the adjoining
= counties, and that is all. But what is
the meaning of Alma's going to the
: east gate, when you made the appoint,
3 ment at the west"
s'Sbe must, in the confusion and dOubt
s she was in, have made mistake be.
tween the two. 1t was the west agreed
2 upon, I'd swear" exclaimed the Baro
net, pacing the room, too restless tC
keep still. Everything goes agains
me-"
"Control yourself, my dear Gerard
here is one of the servants"
= 1t was the footman, to ask if his mis-
? tress had any answer, as Lady Pender
Ieith's groom was waiting.
. Rapidly Mrs. Lyle enclosed Mrs. Bur
: goyne's letter in an envelope, with tn,
e words, Much thanks and gave it.
: "Are you going out again, Gerard?'
she asked, as her son took his hat.
d ayes; to make fresh inquiries at tn
e stations. You see, she did go by rail.
y "Of what use, my son? You ar
e scarcely likely to learn the place sh
: went to; and if you do, when you ge
there, most probably Alma will hav
: gone. Better, now we know she is aliv
r, and safe, wait till she herself writes t
u inform us of her wherebouts."
g "They will not permit her to write,
is returned Gerard. They will keep he
l. too closely watched
mNaY: q woman who is truly i'm. IoY