New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-07-17

| length he did look, in silence offering his
hand. Silently she laid her own in it.
The agony in his eyes subdued her; wha..
was womans weak petulance in com
parison with this?
For the last time,' said Gerald sorth-
wick. He bowed low over the white
fingers, and kissed them: then walked
away. She heard horses hoofs present
ly,a a furious galop.
The lodge-kecper touched his hat as
Gerald rode up, and he saw with surprise
there were great tears on the old mans
rugged cheeks.
I. "What is the matter Williams?'
Have you not heard, sir? thought
you knew from the rate you came, and the
look of your face.'
''No-no-what is it?''
Williams whispered few words.
Gerald swayed to and fro in the saddle,
and would have fallen, but that the old
man supported him.
"Strange news!" said Captain Hall to a
friend that night. "Old Sorthwick is
ruined and has shot himself'
Nonsense, man he is as rich as Cr9sus
eyes; fabulously so, that is, he mort
gagged every acre years ago, and bought
/ Turkish bonds; that counts for his large
income. They have just stopped payment,
you know, and other speculations have
turned out much worse. The young cock
will crow less loudly now, will he not!
And an evil light cleaned in the sperker's
blue eyes.
Silvery moonlight flooding a farm
house, and an unusually large garden APP
pertaining thereto. Up and down the
graveled walk PAGES Gerald Sorthwick,
moodily smoking fragrant cigar. On
the air is borne sound as of an irregular
bass solo, varied by the occasional squeak
of shriller striDged Instruments
1t denotes that half mile of, in tae
little town of Sorthwick. an archery ball
is being held. The committee, in view
of his fathers recent death and ais own
social ruin, had decided not to send the
customary remainder; but Gerald, with a
poor mans morbid spnsitiveness, misinter-
prets the kindness. With an impatient
movement, expressive Of disgust, losses
away the half-smoked cigar. Italigbts on
the soft turf of a small croquet-grornd
and lies smoking. Then, with curious
smile, he crosses and picks it up careful
] ly.
81 had forgotten myself" The mutters !:
''the last Of the box, and q brand [ am
not likely to taste yet awhile. .s
1 So, with the cigar between bis teeth, he
passed through the gate, and across green
meadowland toward the town.
The music grows distinct as he APP
proaches.
think I am wise," he reflects bit
terly.
"To-morrow by this time shall have
left the old life quite behind me. Gerald
Sorthwick, tea-trader, China. Vague,
that, and it is about all I know but I
shall be better out there. The old po-
sitions, habits, instinct "reminiscences,
would be so many dead weights in
England
A wealthy tradesman passes him, and
touches his hat. Gerald acknowledges
the courtesy with that market politcness
which has ever won him popularity with
his social interiors, but the incident
re-awakens latent eyniclsm.
:" How long would that last?" he won
ders. $ Formerly ii meant you are my
patron, ten times richer than l. Now it
should be for me to doff the hat in greet
ing
The cigar burns close to his lips; he
splits it out and hesitates.
81 must see her face, once he groans
'smy vow Notwithstanding" and as the
church clock strikes ten he stands in the
black shadow of some trees. looking
across a bowling green at the great doors
OF the Assembly Rooms, to which heated
couples come from time to time to inhale
the soft, pure air, and perhaps draw in !
spiration from the moonlight. At length
he sees her, leaning on Captain Halls
arm, and laughing gaily.
/ A bitter imprecation rises to his lips,
but he suppresses it. fare you content
now, stupid?'' he asks himself.
A bird tWitters on bough near him,
and by force Of subtle association, in
j strange mockery, the recollection comes
how he had once startled Maud by a per-
wasfect imitation of her doves cooling; it
when they were most friendly. before
Captain Halls advent
sit shall be your signal when you
want me, and / am talking to disagree
able people" she had said. He wonder
!. ed whether she would remember the in
cident, and a wish grew upon him to try
the experiment.
i They had ceased talking, Maud and.
her partner, and were gazing straight
toward him; but there was safety in the
shadow, be knew.
ssCoo-o-o!'; a soft note, thrice repeat
led.
he saw Maud start violently, and