The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-01-21

words to lovers exaggeration, there
fore, judge for yourself"
Taking q miniature from his bosom,
he handed it to me. 1t represented a
young girl of scarcely le, and with one
of the sweetest. loveliest countenances
had ever beheld. Even the eyes Of
the picture seemed to thrill the obsery-
er's very soul.
"Seeing her, proceeded Sir Leices-
ter, ''you will not wonder when l say l
loved Gertrude better than life. She
capable of the purest and truest az
fection-returned my passion and
being then the presumptive heir of my
grandfather, my uncle festered my suit.
Gertrude and l were consequently
looking forward to the confirmation of
our happiness. when my grandfather
d led. and it was found that, owing to
personal animosity to my uncle, an
other grandson had been put in my
place.
AT the same period, Lord Worth.
elderly but immensely rich, paid
marked attention to Gertrude. Secure
in the knowledge of our mutual love,
no fear assailed US, until one day, to
our horror, my uncle informed US that
as was comparatively beggar, our
engagement must be broken, and that
Gertrude must accept the addresses of
Lord Worth. l shall not describe our
agony, our useless supplicaticns. l
was banished from the house-my
cousin was kept prisoner to her room.
Yet by her maid's assistance we man
aged to meet, when we decided to elope.
"Ah, why did l not mistrust that
woman! Why did not the fatality
which attended all my plans put me on
my guard thought of nothing but
the JOY of soon calling Gertrud mine.
THE night arrived. Gertrude. ac-
companied by her servant, met me,
and in the postchaise l had provided
ye started for the cottage of the
maid mother. where the former as
sured US clergyman would be wait
ing to unite US.
On our meeting in the dwelling stu
atued in a lonely part Of the country,
we found no minister there. The maid
assured me that the falling rain may
have prevented him, but that certainly
he would be there before morning. We
waited. The night went BY spent
it outside the cottage. [ would not
pass it even beneath the same roof that
covered my poor Gertrude. My ankle
ty was all for her; and at daydawn l
would have started for another clergy.
man, when the maid, entreating me to
forgive her, stated that in the confusion
she must have made mistake in the
date, for the clergyman reply said
the 9th, not the 9Th. She showed me
the letter, and believed her. We yet
waited. The night came, and so did
the clergyman.
1--WE had already taken our places
before him when the door was burst
open, and my uncle, Lord Wol tn, and
three serving men rushed in. Instant.
ly | was torn from Gertrude, firmly
held by the servants, and Knocked by
my uncle, while Lord Worth, grinning
and grimacing, took my place opposite
my beloved as her bridegroom. In vain
the poor girl resisted; her father
threatened her with public exposure.
He confessed that the cottage was one
of ill-repute. and that her stay at it in
my company had ruined her name for
ever were the circumstances known !;
adding. that she would not find anoth-
er with love like Lord Worth's.
81 saw all then; we had been cruelty
trapped. With shrek, Gertrude
tainted, and verify believe she was
not conscious during the ceremony
which took place. Yes I saw her
welded to another! saw her gray
headed husband take her in his arms
and carry her to the carriage waiting.
At that moment, however, breaking
away. she flung herself on my breast.
! that beat wildly against hers. while nv
lips passionately pressed her check.
could not embrace her for my arms
were p,nioned.
"When they dragged her away,
found she had left in my bosom this
tiny bunch Of forget-me-nots preserved
here''-and Sir Leicester held up a
crystal vial. IL entrcat that it may be
buried with MEL
bent my head, and he went on:
When she was out Of nv sight.
blissful oblivion followed. A year al.
ter. by the unexpected death of my
cousin. became Sir Leicester Coming.
ton, and the owner Of wealth, but no
riches could bring me wealth. for |
had learned that Gertrude was an un-
happy and ill-used wife. because she
could not bestow that love she had not
| to give. it being mine. My uncle had
sold her. and broken her heart. We
had one consolation-rhc knowledge
/ that each was faithful to the other,
and though here parted, in the word to
come we should be reunited. 1t is she
! who has first been summoned.
This morning.. proceeded Sir Lei.
cester, "I received intelligence of he.
death. upon which. having arranged
my affairs, instantly prepared to fol.
low her. She waits me, In . few
moments we shall be together"
made . movement. but he checked
me.
Help is useless" he said, ''snd have
one favor yet to ask. Next THURSDAY
Gertrude will be buried in the cemetery
you will see written on that paper. |
have made arrangements that another
grave shall be dug during the night BY
it, in which my body is to rest. Viii
you promise to see this done i''
h>S,fa<nd ~hnn he rriad Nth con