The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-08-01

W marry i-6Es Uub IL you Sbkt AONS
her spare her to me few months
longer. I may not--cannot live
another spring, even in this soft
climate. but when die Leda will in,
herit all my fortune. though she is
not my child. / told you she had a
history.
When my wife had been married
but two years our first child was
born and died in an hour
"Leda-my wife, Leda-was call
ing constantly for her babe. and the
doctor said it was life or death with
her to have a child. So we took the
babe who has grown to be the COM
fort of my life from foundling
asylum. have no idea who she is
or what was her parentage, but
from that hour she lay in my wice's
arms, and the pressure of her tiny
fingers calmed the wild excite
ment of the brain, she was 20 us our
child.
We never were blessed with one
of our own again, and all the love
that was in our hearts for children
was lavished upon Leda. She was
| ten years old when her adopted
mother died, but she knew nothing
then, and knows nothing of the
the secret of it now. Only two other
persons besides myself know of it.
my brother and my nephew, who
will be my heirs if I leave no will.
s. But | promise you to make my
will before | die, and leave Leda
| independent. You-you do not look
as if this story had shaken your
love-"
+" Nor has it. Lcda will ever be
to me the one woman l love, and |
care nothing for her obscure origin,
nothing for her fortune. Rich or
poor, she will ever be the same to
me-
But you will not urge her to
leave me yet-not until spring?
It's but a few months, but it is all
my life."
" will not ask her to leave you,"
Herbert said, deeply moved by the
pathos of those last words, "but let
me speak to her, win her consent to
be my wife if / can, and have the
right to return here to comfort her
at the time you fear you must leave
her in sorrow and loneliness.
Yes, yes; but must you go?'
/ must. l am here only on bu-
siness, ard I must return to my home
at once. But, if you wish it, I will
return in March,
/ do wish it,
Little doubling his success-for
while Leda was never unmaidenly,
she had never quite concealed her
shy, pure loye-Herbert wooed and
won the maiden he songht for his
wife.
They we're to correspond regu-
larly, and in March Herbert was to
return and remain with the Morri-
sons.
He was filled with new, deep hap
piness as he journeyed homeward,
and every tender, loving letter from
Leda added to his content.
January was over when the letters
ceased.
He waited a reasonable time, then
wrote. No answer.
fastening at once to the house
Herbert found it closed and desert
ID.
The agent whose address was on
he placard announcing the place
To Let" could give no informa-
ion except that he received his or
lers to let the house from Mr.. Nor
ison, the brother of the former
'wner. He was not at the funeral
iimself did not know anything
bout Miss Leda, could give the
ddress of the late Morrison law
'er, and knew that the surviving
rother and his son were travelling.
At the lawyers the news was {
rushing. Mr.. Morrison had died
'ithout a will. and the entire proper a
Y had passed into the hands of the
"He was superstitious, said the u
Iwyer, fancying it would hasten
is death to make a will. Foolish? c
Veil, yes, but not uncommon. Miss o
eda remained q week, but do not u
now what became of her then. q
he brother was very unkind-one
light say brutal. for he had oeen II
alous of her for years, aud UNDER
.ood perfectly well that it was only u
ecause of his brothers neglect that c'
he was left penniless instead of in. az
sriting the most Of his estate. If !"
hear of her l will let you know
.rtainly." y
But thirteen long, weary years &c
lssed by. and no word of Leda 10
ached the faithful heart waiting ul
ID hoping to have the long looked 81
r tidings. &c
No other fair face ever took the
ace in Herbert's heart that Leda's "a
ce filed. 81
No other love ever drove out this p
Ie strong love of his life, and when ga
hooked mon the narting off of by
5 darling every throb of bis heart th
ls as truly hers as it had been
len he babe her farewell and ten
rly kissed away her falling tears. =, -
It was many minutes before he :.
uld control bis agitation sufficient " -
open the letter. ~ ~
The date was that Of the day pre- -
ous to that of Mr.. Morrison 8 W. W.
neral. !.
When at last he opened and read ~ "
tears that were no shame to :; -
erbert Payne's manhood coursed - -
wn his cheeks.
In humble words Leda told him -
lnkly the story already familiar ~
him and her own penniless con-
lion.
- You may not care 60 claim q a.
fe who knows nothing Of her ~
-th," she wrote; "Who stands now WI
terly alone. a beggar. But if--as