The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-01-14

It was singular that her remarkable
beauty and brilliant toilet did not ap-
pail Gerald at that moment, that the
fact of his no longer being able to grace
that lovely hand with BETTING gems did
not prevent him from Selling it In both
his own and kissing it rapturouslv. But
for that enchanting moment he was al
lowed to forget the gloomy chamber
where his aunt lay dead, and the woman
that waited there for the money he had
been taught 10 consider his own.
cit seems to me that you are very
beautiful this morning." was all that he
could say.
: Emily drew her land gently away
from his cares.
Gerald" she said, ST have some
thing to tell you.
Her accent was cold. There was
something in her manner that caused
him to step back and look at her with
dim premonition of what was to come.
ssYou know" she continued, Show
bitterly opposed is your aunt to your at
lection for me. She has told me her
self that she will never consent to our
happiress. Gerald, am too fond OF
you to wreck your whole life. There
was but one way to end it all"
She paused. He leaned forward, and
still kept his eyes, now wan and bag
gard, upon her face. Then she sank
pale and trembling into a chair, and
covered her eyes with her hand. She
was moved with pity, perhaps, or
vague regret. At last she spoke.
81 have just accepted an offer of mar
riage."
s'From Badge cried Gerald, and
walked to the door. "Your prudence, )"
he added, standing upon the threshold,
''has served you well. You have just
got rid of me in time. My aunt died
this morning, and has lett every thing
she had to her nurse and companion"
Then he got out into the street, and
walked along with faltering, staggering
step. His eyes were wild, his face livid
~ pale. People turned to look at him
as he went by, and two or three wonder
ed what was sending that man to the
devil.
He went home and stood by the body
of his aunt. There was singular fas-
cination about this death-sometbing
very wonderful and tempting in that
mysterious and absolute rest. Sudden
ly he became master of himself, of the
bitterness and despair of the moment.
He walked firmly to the door; but a step
followed him, and turning, he saw the
pale perturbed face of Miss Williams.
Then he remembered her presence in
the room, but his madness and grief had
prevented him from realizing it.
Gust one word, Mr.. Erism, she said.
"Of course you know that I will not
touch one penny of this money!
cit doesn't matter now," he replied.
cit might as well be yours as any
body'sl'
'tBut it is yours she said.
'sOh, as. for me-" said Gerald, 81
shall not want it, He walked on
through the hall. Miss Williams fol-
lowed him stealthily. He entered his
room, but when the door shut him in,
Luane remained. haggard and trembling,
her ear glued to the cold panel between
them. A grim silence reigned about
her. She could hear the clock tick in
the dead woman's room below. Sud-
denly she put both her hands about the
knob and opened the door. Gerald
turned quickly; there was an ominous
click; the pistol fell little as it went
off. The blood soaked through his coat
and t. ckled out upon the floor. Just as
Luane was about sinking at his feet,
Gerald put out his hand to her.
can accident, Miss Williams. he said.
y,
then help me off with my coat. %
This brought Luane to herself. She
fastened to do his bidding, dispatched
Adams, and returning again to Gerald,
stanched the blood with strips of the
pillow-case from the bed. When the
doctor came she held the light for him
while he probed the wound and extract
ed bullet.
IAN inch or so higher" said the doct-
or, ''and you would have been buried
on the same day with your aunt
cit was lucky thing, then, that Miss
Williams had an errand to my room
when she did" said Gerald. Gas she
opened the door, my hand fell and the
pistol went off"
''She has unconsciously saved your
life," said the doctor. Then as Luane
left the room ba addaJ ssCho,, ~