Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-09-19
GERTRUDE'S TEMPTATION.


from the whcels Of carts and carriages .-
\ dreary day and yet the face at the
window was perfectly cloudloss, an cx,
preston Of watchtul happiness in tn,
clear, blue eyes, and the sweet moutl
curved in smiles. A childlike face, tn,
true index of a fresh young heart, an,
pure, loving disposition.
There was nothing in Gertrude Fan
shaw's character that was extraordinary
in any way. The only child Of a NOR
chant in moderate circumstances, she hat
received a fair education, and carried it
her pretty little head no great intellect
ual treasures, no flashes Of genius, or
sparkling talent. She could play little
sing ballads in sweet voice, was a cap
ital housekecper and had good fund o
very sound common sense.
But her pretty taco and cheerul dispo
sition, her winsomo manners had gained
for her two ardent lovers, cousins to each
Other, and heirs eXpectant to Malcolm
the banker. | said heirs expectaut and
yet Walter Malcolm had little hope OF
gaining any great portion Of his un-
gle's large fortune, whlo John LennoN
vas promised legatoc, although his ON.
y claim was through tho bankers long
pcad wife, his aunt
/ No one could account for the fact that
inco the lads, both educated and brought
fp at MIR. Malcom's expense, arrived al
maturity his whole affection seemed tC
center ON John Lernox, though he mover
Neglected any duty to Walter.
Not, however, until the two becam,
iitors for Gertrude Fanshaw's favor die
lo declare his intention Of making John
lcnnoX his heir and partner in business
Walter was already established in mod
rst stationery store, where he was sue
rccding pretty we'll, but with what Mr.
8 lau>haw considered a starving income.
So in the Summer time when the par
- ties met at Conway, MIR. Fau-ha CAV
Gertrude toundcrstand that John Len
noN was his luvorite Of the rival lovers
b and Gertrude, with the pcrvcrsity Of ho
sex, immediately poured the treasure q
her affections Mt the feet Of Walter Nal
colin. How the matter might have emo
g ed had the banker lived, | eouuot undo
l. tal>o 70 say, but ON the Winter mornii
r. when Gertrude looked out upon Il
q sp'ashng snow, Walter Malcolm ha
/ gone to her fathers counting room
, tell him that all search for his dead III
clo's will had been in vain, aud the tru
tees Of the estate had declared him hcil
ot-law to the property.
" There was will drawn up, signe
and Witnessed" the young man explain
cd to Gcrtrudo's father. "loaying IN
twenty thousand dollars, and the remain
der Of the property to my cousin John.
"ls he your cousin ?"
" No, eiri but we have been brough
up together, like brothers. Myuncle wa
deyotcdly attached to his wife, and wher
her sister died and left John, baby, the,
adopted him. lie was twelve years oil,
when his aunt died, and unclo Malcolm
loved him like an own son. was Gl
teen when my parents died, and my un
Gle gave me u home, and has always beer
a Kind friend to me. But he never loyeo
me as he loved John. Still, am hi
hcir-at-laW; while John has no claim
upon him"
"And what shall you do regarding
this man your uncle loved, now that h,
has destroyed the viii that virtually dis
inherited you ?"
=" John will carry on my unelo's busi
ness, about which know nothing, fo
halt Of tho profits. | shall learn from
him and take my place as partner, Tn,
personal property, the house and furni
turo will be mine, as John declines t.
share my home"
Il'm Yes, see ! You know hr
proposed to Gertrude last Summer"
4" know it sir, but Gertrude loves me
loved me then"
Yes. Well, can consent now t.
marriage, as you arc able to support (
Wife"
SO while Gertrude watched, her love
came to her, splashing through the mud
| dy streets, regardless Of all but his hast
to carry the good news. Was he no
young, rich, in love? Surely the Win
ter sun never shone on two happier face
than those in Mr.. Fanshaw's drawing
room when Walter brought her father
consent to Gertrude.
"But | tell you what, Ger" he saiC
"we should never have had it il tha
viii had been found. Your father tol
me SO in SO many words"
But the will was gone, and propara
tions for the wedding went briskly foI
ward, John Lennox came OCCASIONAL
to see the bride elect, always grave an
pale, most unlike her sunny-lacod be
trothed, who had always a jest and
smile ready. Gertrude sometimes wor
dorod how John could have ever care
for her. He was so far above her inte
lectualy, so much respected by men oil
enough to be her father one whose repu
tation was established in business circle
ms an honorable, upright man. Ther
too, he was over thirty, while she wa
but eighteen four years younger tha
Walter Malcolm.
When the wedding day was Fixed 70
The middle Of April, Walter proposed T.
Mrs. Fanshaw and Gertrude that the
should superinteud the refurnishing an
modernizing Of his uncle's house befor
he took his bride home.
! "There has been no change made sine