Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-03-29
THE SECRET LEGACY

IdE oEChEI LEGACY
!" You will obey this whim Of your
uacle's2 You will allow romantic
sense Of duty to destroy the happiness of
two lives I"
Very passionately the words were
spoken, and Leor Hartzberg paused in a
hasty walk up and down the long draw
ing-room. to com fort his betrotheG with
flashing eyes and angry brow. He was
tall, strong, handsome in a commanding
style, with heavy brown beard. and large
dark eyes /; anan who seemed born to
lead-to be obeyed.
And little Aida, small, delicately feat
ured. bl eyes and timid, was his very
opposite-yielding, gentle, submissive. -
She was pale now, with eyes weary from
long, painful watching at sick bed, and
her deep mourning dress made her pallid
loveliness very pathetic. Yet she did
not shrink from the flashing eyes, but
said firmly:
i promised Uncle Frank to wait one
year for Elton's return I"
"But he asked more ="
81 promised nothing more. l loved
you, Loon, and will be true to you"
"And | am selfish brute to doubt
you," Leon replied, in sudden spasm
OF penitence. but l had SO hoped you
would go with me to Brazil I"
There was sigh strangled before Aida
could answer this, but presently she said; /;
This separation is very hard to me,
Leon, but we will be faithful and pa
tient."
There was moro lovers talk, soft
spoken VOWS of constancy and hope, and
then, after straining Aida to his heart in
one long, farewell embrace, Leon strobe
down the avenue to the gnte, and out
upon the road, not daring to look back
upon the tiny, black-robed figure watch-
ing him, not seeing his betrolhed as she
sank down beside the window, sobbing
with all maiden's pain over the first
icNo
She had not moved when carriage
drove hastily up the avenue, middle
aged lady alighted, and came swiftly
across the porch into the drawing
Not until a soft voice said
aida, child, / am here 4! did the
weeping child stir. Then she sprang to
her feet with cry Of gladness q" Auntie
May, at last !"
Dear child, l came as fast as steam
could bring me. Fortunately l was in
London when your telegram came to my
bankers. Tell me all, Aida"
Not now! You must be tired -
Come. Your room is ready, and Mar.
garet will be in ecstasy to see you. You
must rest and have some supper"
And not enc sorrowful word would
Aida speak until her aunt was refreshed
and rested. Then with many tears, they
spoke Of the dead Frank Elton, who was
Aida's fathers brother, while Mrs. May
Wharton was her mothers sister, and
now to be her own protectress and COM
forter. But after there had been long
confidential intercourse, Mrs. Wharton
asked
Where is Leon Hartzbsrg?"
He was here to-day. TO morrow he
sails for Brazil, upon business for the
firm employing him. He is to establish
branch of their business in Pernambu.
co, and will be gone year."
" But thought that was to be yenr
wedding trip"
"We hoped SO. But-at the last,
Uncle Frank bound nae by promise to
remain al Eltonglade one year, before we
gave up hope of Eton>s return"
"Elton Graham Why, Aida, you
surely do not expect him -
81 think he is dead. Uncle Frank
must have thought SO, too, for he made
his will last Winter, leaving me Elton
glade and his entire fortune. But Just
before he led he made a memorandum,
a sort of will, and gave it to me. lie
made me promise to keep, it, to show it
to no one, unless within one year Elton
Graham returns here. If he does, / am
to return to him tho fortune he rejected
when he left here in anger, six years
ago."
"And you-wiia. will you have then?"
"Nothing ! Unless land Aida blush
ed" marry Elton. You know that is
SO il Elton returns, Leon
will have portionless BRIDE"
"Your Uncle Frank told me years ago
that you were betrothed to Elton when
he went away"
"Years ago, Auntie May, and I am
not twenty-five a! 1t was because Elton
refused to agree TO this farce of betrothal