South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-11-20
Gertrude's Temptation.


melted snow spiashed under the horses feet. !
and sent showers Of mud from the wheels |
of carts and esrriagss. A dreary day aud /.
yet the face at tho window Was PERFECTLY !
cloudiss', 40 expression Of watshful bsppi- !
ness in The clear, blue eyes, and The swee.
mouth curved into smiles, A child like I
face the true index Of fresh young heart,
and pure, loving disposition.
There was nothing in GrRrRuDE FAN
SHAW s character thai was extrso,dinary
in any way. The only child of merchant
10 moderate circumstances, she had received
fsir education, aud carried in her pretty
little head no wonderful iniellsctusl trea- |
sure', no Fl ,shes of genius or sparkling tai.
ens. She could play . little, sing ballads
in sweet voice, was a capitsl housekecper
aud bad good fund of every sound COM
mon sense.
Bat her pretty face and cheerful di.po-
sit'on, hOr winsome manners, had gained
Tor Der two ardent lCvers, cousins to each
other, md heirs sxpectant of MALCOLM, the
banker. said heirs cxpectant: and WAL
TER MALCOLM had little hope of gaining
much of bis uuclo's large fortune. While
John LENNoX was a promised legstse, al.
though his only claim was through the
BANKERS long dead wife, his aunt.
No one could accoun. for the fact that
since the l.d., both educated and brought
up at Mr.. MALCoLM's expense, arrived at
maturity, bis whole affection seemed to oeu.
ire upon JOHN LENNox. though he never
neglected any duty to WALTER.
Not, however, until the two became sui-
tors for GERTRUDE FANsHAw's favor did
he declare his intention Of making JOHN
LENNON bis heir and the partner in his
business. WALTER was already establish
ed 10 modest stationary store, where he
was succeeding pretty we'll, but with What
MIR. FANsHAw considered a starving in-
come.
SO 10 the summer time, when the parties
met at Conway, Mr.. FANsHAw gave G Err
TRUDE 10 understand that JOHN LENNON
was his favorite of her rival lovers and
GERTRUDE with the perversity of her sex,
immediately poured the treasure Of her af-
fections at the feet of WALTER MALCOLM
How the matter might have ended had tho
banker lived cannot undertake to say, but
on the winter morning when GERTRUDE
looked out upon the splasbing snow, WAL
TER MALCOLM had gone to her fathers
counting room TO tell him that all search
and the trustees had declared him heir ct
law 10 The property.
There was will drawn up, signed and
witnessed, the young man explained tn
GERTRUDE's father, leaving me twenty
thousand dollars, aud the remainder of the
property to my cousin JOHN
ia he your cousin 2
No, sir; but we have been brought up
like brothers. Ny uncle was devotedly al
tacbed to his wife, and when her sister died
and left JOHN baby they adopted him
lie was twelve years old when his aunt di
ed, aud Uncle MALCOLM loved him like an
own son. was fifteen when my parents
died, and my uncle gave me u home, and
has been kind friend 70 me. But be ne
YER loved me as he loved john Still am
his heir-st.law, while JOHN has no claim
upon him
And what shall you do regarding this
man your uncle loved, now that he has de-
siroyed tho will that virtually disiuherted
you 2
JouN will carry on my uuclo's business,
shout which know nothing, with half The
profits. | shall learn from him and take
my place as partner. The personal propsr-
~, the house, and furniture will be mine
as JoHN declines TO share my home
ii M Yes, | see J You know be propos-
ed to GERTRUDE Last summer
Il know it sir, but GERTRUDE loves me,
loved me thsn.'
'Yos. Well, | can only consent now 10
your marriage as you arc able to suppcri
wife
SO, while GERTRUDE watched, her lover
came 20 Der sPlasbing through the muddy
streets, regardless Of sll but his haste to
carry the good news. Was he not young,
riob, 10 love? Surely The winter SUP ne
yer sbone upon two happier faces than hose
~ Mr.. FANsHAw's drawiog.room when
WALTER brought her fathers consent to
GERTRUDE
But tell you, GER be said we never
should have bad it il that will bad been
found. Your father told me 30 10 so msny
words
But the will was gone, and preparations
Tor the wedding went briskly forward -
JOHN LENNOx came occasionally 20 call
upon the bride elect, always grave aud pale,
most unlike Der ,uouy faced betrothed, wbo
bad always jes. snd q smile resdy. GER
TRUE wondered sometimes bow JOHN
could have ever cared for her. lie was 90
far above her intellectually, 90 much re-
specied by men old enough to be her faith.
er, one whose reputation, was established
10 business circles a. that Of an upright,
honorable man. Then TOO, he was over
thirty, while che was but oiahteeo-four
years younger than WALTEa MALCOLM
When the Wedding day was fixed for tho
4 a