The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-04-17

the Count, who is aghast at the result of
his diplomacy, linda that his words fall
on careless ears. "A pleasant voyage
brings herhome again, pfematprely old
lsnd worn, but with sealed lips. She
tells no one her secret sorrow. ,t
This Accidental meeting bn the street
corner was the first time She Had seem
Gerald Alston since she beheld him
riding in the coupe with the woman.
She had thought Inc old love dead and
buried, but the ghost Of it seemed rising
in ner heart now.
Halle was standing at the window.
She did not see her aunt's meeting with
Alston, but she saw him directly alter
pass iii a preoccupied manner, without
even glahcing at the pretty picture IN 4
the window, She shook her little list al,
'his. sretrsatihg figure, and 'muttered,
:, Nov, Halle hidn,t Quite tell the, truth. \
Tor She had been at one time alrtipsL in 4
love with him; but his utter ihdttferShce I
to her charming self angered her, ahd she,
secretly styled him to her friends 'hs a.
.scross, Grabbed old bachelor,"
''Pll play MIN b trick, worth two Of
that" she thought, as she Watched him|
out Of sight.
Gerald AIston felt little LONELY and
depressed as he sat sfnokiitg IN his BACH
elor den, and thinking or Harriet Huh
ter,s strange c0hduct, as he styled IL.
His reyerie was interrupted. by the9
|cnambermaid handing him a note which \
had been left for him. 1t looked like
Harriets handwriting, but not SO nice
as it used, he thought. He opened 1t and
read: IN. 7.aa,.,....,. a -.su,JJ g.ni,
but please call on me as soon as conpe-
nient. I have an Important question to
"9A '' v HARRIET HUNTER.
lssWhat can lshe'want of me after all
these years2" he mused. Eyes, will
go and tell her what q wreck she has
made of my life." eis..-. yl,sz .aa,.s..
istrange thrill OF astonishment when a
servant presented card with Gerald
Alston's NAME on 1t. and told her the
|Rentleman waited. igAs., - saa..lg sa
She did not hesitate, but passed Inn
| lmediately into the 'parl6r.
When Harriet stood before him, AL
IFston' forgot the note within his pocket,
and cried: '- ls .i+i
"Why have you treated me sooruelly,
and left meiin darkness ell these weary
yearsW .g .Ats .....t..l II t
! with ,scornful look she replied:
ssWhere As your. dark-eyed wife and your
rose. severed Italian cottageW d.
ssMy vile! my cottagep' gasped Ger
aid. s'Impossiblel" !" he cried, t'you could
not have thought that Alice was my
wifeW
..I do not know whether her name WAS
Alice, but Count Malio told me about it,
and / saw you with her looking into her
eyes as men look at those they loYe.D
| 'eAye, SO i did love her" responds
Alston; ssbut listen. You know, II you
have not forgotten, that l had a cousin
Alice, who ran away from home and
married a poor italian. Her father
never forgaye her, and her name was not
mentioned in the family. In Rome, after,
diligent search, 4 found her and her hus-
band. He was sick of malarial fever,
and soon died.. Alice was falling fast
with that dreadful disease, consumption
I knew she would not live long, and so
did all in my power to make her last
days happy. / hired the cottage and
placed her in it. For a long time she
refused to see any one, but consented for
me to bring you atlast; but when went
for you, you had gone. I waited until
she passed peacefully away, and came
home."
aGerald,1 said Harriet, contritely, 81
was young, foolish and proud, or would
have sought you and asked an explana-
tion of Count Malio's story. VIII you
forgive meW
Gerald readily promised, and stroking
her bonny brown hair fondIy, he said:
"Do you know, dear, should not have
been here but for your note.H hi
"My note! sent you no notew
uWhatt Not thisT' holding up the,
missiye he had taken from his pocket. i
She glanced over 1t rapidly, and i'm
mediately guessed the author.
"This is a piece of Halle Hunters
mischief" she said. --'~ ft
/ "Never mind,y responded Gerald; SIT
has wrought a good work"
Shortly after Halle was surprised by
receiving the wedding cards OF Gerald
Alston and Harriet Hunter.
When the wedding was over, she con-
fessed that she Initiated her annt's hand
writing and sent the note.
81 hadn't the slightest idea" she said,
| ssthat you two had ever met. / thoug ht
lii would be such q good joke for Mr.
Alston to call on Aunt Harriet and show
her the note. i thought 1t would tease
lher, and discomtit that proud Gerald
| slso il did, Hallie." responded Gerald,
"and will ind you o good husband fol
your pains"