New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-07-17
Gerald SoathWlck. Tea Trader, China.

Gerald Soathwlck. Tea-Trader. China.
A long stretch of velvet lawn, bathed
in delicious golden sunshine. Four peo-
pie finishing game of lawn-tennls, and
as many looking on with kind of law
interest. On either hand shady shrub.
berries, bordered with brilliant flower
beds; at the end of the lawn a little
brook; in the distance the long sweep of
the Cotswolds.
''Flfteen," courts Captain Hall, trium-
phantly, as vicious stroke of Gerald
Sorthwick's racket drives the bail beyond
bounds. Gerald has played badly
throughout, almost in silence, with
grave face and ccmpr essed lips It does
not matter, for his::partner, Maud Conway,
has exchanged with Captain Hall enough
merry badinage for dozen people. The
young lady is nettled now at an ignomin-
ious defeat.
II could wish you victor in a better
contested fight, Captain Hall"
ut is my highest ambition, Miss Con-
way" There was nothing in the words,
but the meaning, tone, and a low bow
gave them point. Maud bit her lips, and
Gerald threw down the racket, his face
a little sterner than before. She turned
to him, an angry glittering in the violet
eyes:
Your play has been wretched, Mr..
Sorthwick; 1t was never worse. For the
uture we dissolve partnership.
'sCan we? can we, Maud?" He speaks
meaningly now, and it seems strange her
name can come with such tender inflec-
ton from so hard and firm mouth.
MAUD to my friends, sir, Miss Con-
way to you"
He leaves her, and saunters into the
shrubbery, following a little winding
path until it reaches the brook. Then
he throws himself at full length upon the
soft moss, and thinks bitter things of the
girl who has befooled him. Half an hour
alter there is a rustic among the boughs
and he sees her in the act Of retreating.
II am sorry disturbed your SAUNDERS,
Mr.. Sorthwick. I thought you were
gone"
'.You disturb my life, Maud, waking
and sleeping. Come here.'
He spoke with such command, she in
stinctively obeyed, but her whole soul
rose in rebellion. II was novel expert
ence to the spoiled and petted beauty.
lie pointed to low, rustic seat, and
she took it. AS though to measure
strength, they look into each others faces
his pale, determined; hers passionate.
resentful. Then Gerald turns his head
away. lest resolution should fail. His
tone is low, but full of fierce, suppressed
energy:
you have not played with my love for
months, Maud, without learning what it
is. It comes between nae and all other
chance of happiness
He pauses few seconds, wherein she
plucks a wild flower, and picks it to
pieces. Sweet and pensive she looks
now, and unwontedly thoughtful; but
his ewes are on the distant hills.
'frcm time to time, when I would
have spoken, you silenced me, and I
thought it glrlish coyness. You made
me believe you cared, Maud"
If only he would look now, and see
how the girls mobile features answer the
sorrow1ul wall in his voice! But he does
not
II saw you flirting continually, but it
was your nature, and did not mind, for
l thought you gave me more. you
fooled me as you fooled others"
$ Fortune hunters, all of them,' she
broke in.
Possibly and his proud head was
thrown back little. 6 l am free from
that imputation. Rich as you are, Miss
Conway, the Sorthwicks of sourthwick
are richer.''
: It was true, as she knew we'll. Gen
eral Sorthwick. the elder, had the repu-
tation of being the wealthiest landowner
IN the country, and he was the only son.
& :" It's time the farce were ended, he
continued. g have been too long the will
ing slave Of your caprice. It is not fitting
the woman I honor above all the world
should be on terms Of free and easy In
timacy with such a man as Captain
Hall
4 contemptious curl Of the lip empha-
sized the words.