Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-06-05
From The victoris Naea,ana
4 HUNDRED YEARS HENCE.

Tho clock had struck six when Mr.. En-.
stone WAS announced. Gertrude pretend.
ed to have been writing, and arose to mee,
him a. If still engrossed by her papers.
am in great dificulty;" said he. when
the door WAS closed behind him. and aven
she, pre'occupied and nervous a. she was
could Lot help observing that he spoke
under strong emotion.
~Some time ago made PROMISE" be
continued, "and now l. want you to release
mo from is-the promise l mean which j
made to you in the Blue Crotto, ut Capri
"Am too rash, too preeipitate, in wiah.
ing to be free from my promise, Gertrude p
said no, as she remained speechless, max.
ing him no answer in words. "Only give
mo some si ign if l may speak"
Then she turned towards him. and said
softly:-"Say whatever you wish"
He was quite free t. speak now, but
each recognized at the same moment that
speech had all At once become ,innecessa-
~, and Gertrude felt herself engaged to
Cecil Enstone, a. he too felt bound 70 her,
before either he or she accepted it. "What
told yeu 10 many weeks ago, at Mn.
Grantham's ball-What l said I might
never hope tor when we met in tho rrotto
ut Cspri-that l repeat to you now, dear.
est Gertrude; but love YOU, if possible.
now, more than did then. II YOU tsll
me this time that you cannot learn to love
cannot be my wife-1 believe that |
shall never recover it Gertrude your an
swer is life Or death to me. If you will
take me, place your hand in mine."
She, with tonder grace and sweetness,
put her band within his, and 10 she did 20
telt oil the truet ~ we'll ~ love. which
make up tho basis Of happiness."
Why lengtben out q closing song ~
arc words that have often been quoted.
but they are apt ones hero.
NO man was ever in q more nainfnl
state Of uncertainty than when entorad
this room" said Cecil, some minutes after
" but shall leave it the happisst man in
England"
80 you toll me now," replied Gertrude
with . sweet, provoking smile.
"You will find that shall tell YOU 20 to
the end Of my life. I'll make you confess
it every year," id he. "Poor Thorne p
he added, thinking Of bis friend, who
would have to wait 60 long for his hsppi-
ness.
Poor Rosaliudw thought Gertrude,
but nevertheless she went very early the
next morning to tell her friend Of her now
prospects. /" shall give up .he Treasury
now you know" said Gertrude, when al
the important things had been com,uuni-
Gated. ut was not right, of course, to be
without an occupation whilst was un.
married but now shall relinouish It,
after due notice. Anyone can fill nv
Posy." ~.p''
"On tho whole, perhaps you are right"
replied Miss. Gran,ham. aAnd Ses-
Gertrude, whenare you to Re married ,"
." Late in the autumn, l suppose. That
is directly after We come back from ". o"r
summer tour. Cecil is absurd abont Il
and says why can it not be earlier. bnt
that is impossible. Now, ackno wledge.
my dearest Rosalind, that l was right To-
60 and kill the whales. You think such
sport not elevating, but if 1 had mover
gone, should ever have met Cecil 2 and
l could never havo married any ono else. I
am cor:ain. Dear fellow, and now no ia
50 happy. They told me only two or
thre" days ago that he loved somebody
else, bu: that, you see, is quite untrue.
But IL must seem unteeling OF me TO chat
ter on about my own happiness, Posy,