Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-09-19
Idarskhed

done to tho house. Under masculine
rulo for many years, it was out of repair
in many ways kitchen range and clos
cts, and hundred other details needed
ovorhauliug. Respecting the dead, Ger
trude proposed TO remove the furniture Of
the late Mr., Malcolm's room as II was,
to another apartment and keep il as "
had been kept for SO many years together.
Getting the proprietor's permission to
do just as She liked about everything, she
went one morning alono to the house, her
mother promising to join her later in the
day. Walter had spent the previous eve
ing with her, and, half in jest, she said
to him
"Supposo find your unclo's will,
Walter ?"
" Then give it to John, if you do. 1t
is his"
"And will you givo me up ?"
" No. | will work for you until
have earned an income sufficient to satis-
fy your father. will never give you
up, Cor"
She was thinking of tho resoluto light
upon his handsome face as he said these
words, when She entered the room whore
Mr.. Malcolm had died, followed by
servant girl and two men, who woro to
move the furniture.
Revereutly she touched the articles hal
lowed by their associations, packing care
fully tho clothing that had never been
touched since the owner had wore it,
putting aside little articles OF daily use,
SO useless now to tho hands that had SO
often touched them. Tho old man had
been fond Of the pretty, bright faced girl
his ncphew loved, and Gertrude's tcars
tell fast over many portions OF her morn
iug's duty. Twelve o'clock struck and
servants went to dinner in the kitchen,
leaving Gertrude alone in the dismantled
room. \ bright Gre burned in the CRATE,
Tor tho March day was chilly, but the
room looked torlorn even in the fire light.
Looking for lost things, Gertrude opened
closet whore, in one corner, apple Of
books, newspapers and somo odds and
ends had bcou thrown in heap. Sorting
these over she found uudcr all ragged
cashmere dressing gown that had been
very haodsome IN its day.
81 wW put TINS in the trunk OF cloth
ing, " she thought spreading il upon thO
noor 10 fold it. Here are some thing
in the pockets a handkerchief, II snuff
box, and her very heart stood still"
folded paper, the viii !"
There was no misAking tho document
fhoro in her hand lay the will that woul,
take all hi- -unclo's wealth from her lover
break their engagement, defer her mar
riago till tho tar-away time when Waite
could earn fortune, and give to JOIN
LcnnoX the money that she thought right
fully belonged to Walter.
A fierce temptation tugged Mt Gertrude
heart, She was alone. Nobody knew
| that Mr. Malcolm had not repented o
his net and destroyed the will but her
self A bright fro burned beside her
just one moment OF flame and she could
secure to Walter his uucle's fortune, and
no one would be the wiser. She should
havo scornod the thought, have instantly
rejected tho idea, had She been propcr
heroine. But she was not n heroine, only
u warm-heortod, impulsiye girl, who loved
her promised husband vory dearly, and
who had hoped for great happiness in her
marriage with him. Had the money
been hers, had she alone been the loser.
she might not have hesitatod. But it wa,
Walter who was to lose his fortune, Wal
tor who was to lose his bride.
Twice Gertrude stepped toward the fire,
her hand outstretchod toput the will upon
the ruddy Goals, and twice consciencc
held her back. The second time she fen
upon her knees upon the bare floor and
prayed softly, "God help mo to resist
this temptations"
Strengthened, halffrightened at the
thought Of the crime she had been about
to commit, she hastily put on her hat and
shawl and, with the will in her hand,
left the room.
Her feet were still upon the upper stair
when sho heard John Lcnnox in tho hall
asking for Walter.
In moment she was beside him.
Walter will not be here till one o.
clock" she said, " IIo is coming with
mother, and the upholstorer is to meet
them"
81 will return then, in twenty min
utos," he said, wondering il she had work.
ed hard enough to make her face 50 dead
ly y,P2Io. -, .,... .,...o 7
want 70 speak oyou."
Wondering, ho followed her, and when
they were inside she drew the will from
the folds Of her shawl and put it into his
hand. ,.,
" Walter told me if found it that |
was to hand it to YOU" she -aId' " 1
found it in the pocket Of an old dres,ng-
gown this morning"
"My unclo's will ? Do you know Its
value ?"
" know that it takes everything rom
Walter to give to YOU"
" And yet you bring it to me?
at is yours. | did not think it a Just
will" said Gertrude, earnestly; " but IN
law it gives everything to you, and Wal
ter told me to give it to you"
Gertrude" John Lennox sad, grave
/ ", fixing his earnest dark eyes upon her
face, "do you know that | love you -?
More, thousand times more, than d'd
last Summer"
! ~ am sorry"