The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-16

SAD, SOFT ana gentle as a woman s.
"lt is very good Of you to come thus
speedily, Mr.. Hartop," he remarked, 81
thank you much"
| "My time is ever at the service of my
parishloners, Sir Leicester | said, TAX
ing the seat he himself placed tor me.
IL am glad, however, to find that your
need is not so grave as was led by your
steward to believe"
He regarded me, as he laid back in
his chair opposite, with faint, transient
smile.
"It is quite as grave, I can assure your
he ans cred. Morrison did not exagge-
rate. am dying, as he stated. In less
than two hours I shall have ceased to
live"
II started in amazement, while my
wife's assertion seemed to gain contirma-
ton. TO me, Sir Leicester had seldom
looked better.
1t is scarcely to a clergyman I should
make confession I am about to-" he
proceeded. "But the name you bear, for
all that is good and charitable, tells me I
my trust to your secrecy. I am dying,
Mr. Hartop, because am poisoned, the
poison being self-administercd. Yes, you
behold one who has just taken his own
life"
"Sir Leicester!'' I cried, leaping up,
''what are you saying? You are either
hooking me and my calling, or, if true,
medical aid must be instantly obtained
i As I moved towards the door, he caught
my arm gently but firmly, and forced me
back into my chair, while with an earn
estness almost painful he exclaimed, "It
| is no mockery! 1t is true, and the most
skillful could find no antidote for the
Eastern drug 1 have swallowcu, which two
hours after it is taken generally produces
painless death. If you, Mr.. Han TOP
feel any compassion for me, don't lie.
these two hours be lost. I have trusted
in you. beg you will not disappoint
me, for you see before you the most
wretched man on ealth."
II can not comprohend--" I began,
confusedly.
''Listen to my story, and you WILL" he
said.
"He IS mad, surely!' reflected, look
ing into his face, "There is no trace of
death there. I will humor him.
| Perceiving me quiet, he proceeded.
"Mr. Hartop, have great favor to
ask Of you, but before that my narrative
must be told, and briefly, for a quarter OF
an hour is a ready gone. Left an orphan
at an early age, I vas brought up under a
maternal uncle's guardianship, and with
his only daughter, Gertrude, my cousin.
To describe her is impossible. Did 1 do
so actually, you would attribute my words
to lovers exaggeration, therefore, Judge
yourself" Taking a miniature from his
bosom, he handed it to me. 1t represented
a young girl of scarcely eighteen, and
one Of the S. ee,est, loveliest coun-
tenances I had ever beheld. Even the
eyes of the picture seemed to thrill the
observers very soul.
"Seelng her," proceeded Sir Leicester,
you will not wonder when say 1 loved
Gertrude better than life She--capable
of the purest and truest affect1on-re-
turned my passion; and being then the
presumptive heir, my uncle fostered my
suit. Gertrude and we're consequently
! looking forward for the confirmation of
our happiness when my grandfather died,
and it was found that, owing to personal
animosity to my uncle, another grandson
had been put in my place.
/" At the same period, Lord Worth
elderly, but immensely rich, paid mars ed
attention to Gertrude. Secure in the
knowledge Of our mutual love, no fear
assailed us, until one day, to our horror,
my uncle informed us that was COM
paratively beggar, our engagement
must be broken, and that Gertrude must
accept the addresses of Lord Worth.
shall not describe our agony, our useless
supplications. was banished from the
house my cousin was kept prisoner in
her room. Yet by her maids assistance
we managed to meet, when we decided
to elope.
"Ah, why did I not mistrust that WON.
an? Why did not the fatality which at
tended all my plans put me on my guard!
l thought of not ing but the joy of soon
calling Gertrude mine.
"The night arrived. Gertrude, accom-
panied by her servant, met me, and ia the
postchaise had provided we started for
the cottage of the maids mother, where
the former assured us there would be a
clergyman waiting to unite us.
"On our meeting IN the dwelling, sit
uated in a lonely part of the country, VIC
| iooAN AN A11AloIC1 CllC1C liz md1O
assured us the falling rain might have
prevented him, but that certainly he
would be here before morning. We wait
ed: The night went BY spent 1t out
side the cottage. would not pass it even
beneath the same roof that covered nv
poor Gertrude. My anxiety was all fol-
her; and at daydawn,I would have started
for another clergyman, when the maid
entreating me to forgive her, stated that
in the confusion she must have made a
mistake in the date, for the clergyman's
} reply came the 9th, not the 9Th. She
showed me the letter and believed her
We yet waited, the night came, and SO
did the clergyman.
eve had already taken our places be.
fore him when the door was burst open
and my uncle, Lord Worth and three
} serving men rushed IN. Instantly I was
borne from Gertrude, firmly held by the
servants, and moe ed by my uncle, while
Lord Worth grinning and grlmacing took
my place opposite my beloved as hel
bridegroom. In vain the poor girl resis-
ted; her fathe1~threatened her with public
exposure. He confessed that the cottage