The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1878-01-24

and a large, old-fashioned garden
"That ls where Abagail lives now," she
said, "bnt, when [ FIRST knew her, sb.
was poor. Her father had been the
decor of the village, but he never saved
anything, and, when he died, Abagai
had nothing but the little furnished
house in which he had lived But she
had been well educated, she took some
scholars, and gave several young ladies
lessons upon the harp. I was among
them. We were about the same age.
had no sister, and she had no friends
We. soon loved each other truly and ten
derby.
"Soon there arose another tie between
us. My only brother, Gerald, was in
duced to settle at Harbury Market. Ee
had been studying medicine in London
and wished to practice there, but mJ
father could not bear to have him SO fa1
away. He gave him 41 900 to stay here
and Gerald, who was not insensible tC
the advantages of fine hunting country
and a practice ready waiting for him
made kind Of nherit of his concession
and stepped into Abagail's fathers place
/ "One day, Abagail and were togeth.
er in my fathers drawing-room She
was leaning over the harp, but not play.
ing. We had finished the lesson, and
were talking softly Of my engagement to
Ralph. Suddenly bright blush over.
spread her face, and turning, saw Ger.
aid standing in the open door watching
us.
| From that hour he did nothing but
watch Abagail. He got tender-con.
scienced, as well as tehder-hearted, and
my father and he had warm disputes
about Abagail's right to a sum of money
for the goodwill of her fathers busi-
ness. Father got first to dislike he1
| through this, for when he absolutely re-
fused to offer her the e50O which Gerald
thought she ought TO have, then Gerald
offered her the sum himself. Abigail
was in love, and thought this act splen-
did ; of course she positively refused it
hnt then father never liked her after
ward.
s'AIl the more Gerald followed he1
wherever she went. He sent her flowers
and books, and was continually bribing
me to say good words in his behalf
| There was not any need for me to do
that for, though Abagail was shy and
proud enough with him, one woman
reads another, and I knew very we'll she
loved my handsome brother with all her
pure, good heart.
every soon every one began to con-
meet their names, and one day after din:
ner, when father had drunk more than
usual, he got very angry about it, and
said, Gerald must go back to London.
"Gerald said & it was too late now
that he preferred Harbury.'
"'But, said my father, you can not
trife with Miss Fisher, sir! Her father
was the doctor of this place for forty
years there is not man within twenty
miles who would not defend her-and
you can't marry her, sir!!'
I" THAT is my intention, sir, replied
| Gerald.
"Father looked for a moment as if
ne would throw his wine-glass at him;
but the next he was quite calm, and
said: we won't quarrel, my boy, about
/ girl that is no kith nor kin of ours; if
/ you will come with me to the library, I
have something to say, which will per-
| haps make you reasonable
| 81 do not know what passed between
them, but the next day Gerald begun to
make arrangements for return to Lon
don. Of course this could not be done
! at once. He had young friend whom
| he wished to put in his place, and he
without some certainty of Abagails love
Poer girl She could not bear to keep
him at distance, with the prospect of a
! long parting between them. SE rank
| ly acknowledged that he was very dear
to her, and he promised, over and over
again in my presence, that DO woman but
Abagail should ever be his wife.
&c am quite sure be meant all he said
No one could help loving Abagail, and
Gerald was not by any means the only
| lover she had. 1t was this fact that
made him 80 anxious; he knew that
Mark Gaudy of Harrow Hall followed
her like shadow, and that the rich
| banker, Joseph Butterfeld, had been
her suitor for a year. But Gerald also
knew if Abagail promised, she wopld
never deceive him.
"He was proud, happy man the
| day che promised to be his wife; and [
| agreed to watch carefully over his love
while he was away. All at once great
lear about his going took hold Of me; L
| begged him to remain at Harbury. 1
could see nothing to gain, but every
! thing to lose by the movement.
! "Then it came ont that there was an
other lady in the case. My father
corn-factor in London had left his daugh-
! ter ESQ, 600, and it seemed there had
| been for years scheme between the
parents for uniting their children. The
/ heiress-whose name was Caroline Waite
! had been at school when Gerald was
| studying, and they had therefore never
yet met. 1t was now evident to me that
Gerald had been heavily bribed to go to
| London for one year on this business.
"Gerald was always ready for change
and pleasure; he had secured Abagails s
| love, and he had no fears or scruples
about trifiing awsy time in meaningless
attentions to girl whom he had never
seen, and whose influence over him he
| could not estimate. Now to play with
Caroline Waite was to play with fire.
! She had dazzling beauty, a passionate
temper, and an indomitable will. When
I had been in her company half an hour
/ knew that, while ne was with her,
| Gerald would be wax In her hands. Ii
she should wish to marry him, his only
chance of escape would have been fight.
"But Abagail and had no suspicion
of what was going on in London. We
were very happy; 1 had been quietly
married to Ralph, and Abagail never
missed her weekly letter, and a letter
once a week in those days was very
great attention indeed. These letters
never named Caroline, nor indeed any
thing which could lead us to suspect that
Gerald was really leading the very wild
est and most extravagant life. There
had been no necessity of labor or study
imposed upon him; he became acquaint.
ed with class of young men far above
him ia fortune and social position, and
he only too readily joined them in dissi.
pations far beyond his means. tiL
"My father paid his debts several