Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-07-28
will inherit all my fortune, though she
is not my child. ! told you she had a

died in nh hour.
Leda-my wife, Leda-was delirious
calling constantly for her babe, and til
doctor said it was life or death with he
to have child. So we took tho bab
who has grown to be the comfort of m,
life from founding asylum. have n
idea who she is or what was her par
entage, but from that hour she lay in m,
wife's arms. and the pressure of her tin.
fingers Gained the wild excitement o
the brain, she was to lis our child.
1--WE never were blessed with one o
our own again, and MI the love that WA
in our hearts for children was lavishet
upon Leda. She was ten years old whel
her adopted mother died, but she knew
nothing then, and knows nothing now
of the secret of her birth. Only two
other persons besides myself knew of it
my brother and my nephew, who will be
my heirs if leave no will.
"But promise You to make will be-
fore l die, and leave Leda Independent.
You--you do not look as if this story had
shaken your love-"
I" Nor has it. Leda will ever be to me
the one woman love, and I care moth
ing for her obscure origin, nothing for
her fortune. Rich or poor, she will ever
be the same to me-"
"But your love will not urge her to
leave me yet-not until spring? Ills but
few months, but it is all my life."
81 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 I can, and have the right to re.
turn here to comfort her at the time you
fear you must leave her in sorrow and
loneliness"
Yes, yes; but must you go?"
must. am here only on business,
and must return to my home at once.
But, if you wish it, 1 will return in
March,"
do wish it,"
Little doubling his Succession while
Leda was never unmaidenly, she had
never quite concealed her shy, pure love
Herbert wooed and won the maiden he
sought for his wife.
They were to correspond regularly, and
in March Herbert was to return and re-
main with the Morrisons.
He was filled with new, deep happi-
ness as he journeyed homewarl, and
every tender, lo' ing letter from Leda
added to his con mt.
January was over when the letters
ceased.
He waited reasonable time, then
wrote. No answer.
fastening at once to the house, Her
bert found it closed and deserted.
The agent, whose address was on the
placard announcing the place "To Let"
could give no information excepting that
he received his orders to let the house
from Mr.. Morrison, the brother of the for
mer owner. He was not at the funeral
himself, did otknow anything about Miss
Lcda, could give the address Of the late
Mr.. Morrison's lawyer, and knew that
the surviving brother and his son were
At the lawyers the news was crushing
Mr.. Morrison had died without will,
and the eLtire property had passed into
the hands of the heir-at.law.
He was supersttious, the old lawyer
said, fancying it would hasten his
death to make q will. Foolish? Well,
yes, but not uncommon. Miss Leia re-
manned week, but l do not know what
became of her then. The brother was
very unkind-one might say brutal, for
he had been jealous of her for years,
md understood perfectly well that it
was only because of his brothers neg
ect that she was left penniless instead
IF inheriting the most of the estate. If
hear of her | will let you know GER
,ainly."
But thirteen long, weary years passed
~, and No word of Leda reached the
aithful heart waiting and hoping to have 7
he long looked for tidings.
No other face ever took the place in
1erbert's heart that Leda's face filled.
No other love ever drove out this one
trong love of his life, and when he |.
ooked upon the parting gift of his OAR
ing every tllrob of his heart was as truly
lers as it had been when he babe her
arewell and tenderly kissed away her
alling tears. ~.
1t was many minutes before he could
ontrol his agitation sufficient to open
he letter.
The date was that of the day previous
o that of Mr.. Morrison's funeral.
When at last he opened and read it,
ears had no shame to Herbert Payne's
coursed down his cheeks.
In humble words Leda told him frank
y the story already familiar to him and
err own penniless condition.
"You may not care to claim wife
tho knows nothing of her BIRTH" she
,rote; "who stands now utterly alone,
beggar. But ii-as my heart will
7hisper hopefully-you still love me,
on will find me here week longer. If
on do not come shall know you de-
pise me for my involuntary deceit, and
shall accept position offered me by
n old friend as governess to hel chill
ren."
"Oh, my darling, my forsaken dar-
ng !" Herbert whispered, "where are
on E? Sorrowing for your wasted love.
'cspising your lover who deserted you
sorrow and loneliness! 1t is too bitter!'
But calmer thoughts came at last, and
ter long deliberation Herbert decided
pom one more effort to gain tidings of
is lost love.
In every city for week one leading
ewspaper contained this advertisement:
LEDA:-The letter written thirteen
ears ago has just reached me. Write
gain. "H"