Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-30
BREAKING THE BONDS.


Oh! what an ordeal! l shall certainly
make goose of myself, and disgust
Charlie"
The lady addressed, turned from the
glass, and very deity paced the droop.
ing moss rosehuds in her companions
dark hair, artistically arranged tiny
bunch Of the same exquisite flowers in
the belt of the slender waist, and at the
white throat, and then stepped back tc
admire the effect.
"Exquisite! Gertie. You are looking
lovely tonight. Such color-such eyes
Take my word for it, Charlie Denton
cannot be disappointed"
Gertie Melton turned and flashed a
glance at herself in the great pier-glass
which disclosed slight girlish form, ex.
quisitely rounded, robed in snowy muslin
rutfed, and fluted, and festooned in the
fashion OF nova days. But tears were in
her lovely eyes, as she turned away from
the glass, saying:
''Cousin Annie, / am a miserable
coward, and shall utterly fail in making
the desired impression. Oh! Annie, dear
take my name and placeju for tonight
We shall be able TO deceive him, know,
for every one talks of how much we re.
semble each other. We both bear the
name of Miss Melton, and twill be easy
to exchange positions. Besides, it will be
such fun and she laughed in an almos,
hyster1cal manner.
And the ring, Gerti?''
"YOu must of course wear it for to-
night, 'and she tremblingly took from ner
hand magnificent diamond ring, and
placed it upon her cousin 8 finger. 'Now
remember. You are to be Miss Gertie
Denton, and | your cousin, Annie Melton.
Act your part. and l will mine"
The two girls, as they stood with
clasped hands, looked strangely alike,
both in form and feature, but thew were
as unlike in temperament, and manner,
and voice As possible. Gertie was all en-
thusasm, graceful, sparkling and impul-
sive to a marked degree, while her cousin
was calm and lmpassive as summer sea,
matter Of fact, and devoid of the leas,
romance in her composition-one of the
class of women who make excellent,
methodical housekeepe:s, and whose en-
tire life is an accumulation of hard facts
without single dream.
Charles Denton, The subject of SO much
discussion, had that day arrived from a
forei On shore, and had taken rooms at
one OF the fashionable hotels. he had
intended to call Immediately upon his
afhanced, but had met with an old friend
the only one who would be likely to
recognize him after an absence of five
years, from the fact that they had been
fellow-srudents in German university.
II saw Miss Melton" he told him, "at
the opera, last evening, and she informed
me that she would attend the ball at Mrs.
Vandevere's tonight I can easily pro-
cure you an invitation, and you will have
plenty OF time to dine and dress. You
will certainly meet the lady there look
ing her lovsliest. What say you, Charley,
I will call for you with the carriage''
"a pleasant arrangement, old chum.
Especially as feel slightly nervous about
our meeting. All, ne! how time changes
ones feelings. l am not half as eager, |
presume, as I ought to be. or as l would
once have been."
'How in the name of divinity did y
come to bind yourself, Charley? Has
courtships, and g. speedy execution for
me. Gracious! I could not live five
mortal years bound, and yet not tied, as
you have been-would not for king
DOM"
did you never hear the romantic
story? Well, Gertie may have changed,
but five years ago she was as lovely and
sparkling a fairy as ever danced among
the moonbeams and flowers I was not
twenty, she but fifteen, when we fell
madIy in love with each other. Of course.
old Squire Melton and my governor OBJ.
jected to the engagement, upon the first
ground of our lack of years and cxper-
fence. So, one day the dear child con-
OF that it is enough to say that we were
followed and found, by our frantic and
enraged PARENTS before the tying of the
knot was completed. Just as we were
about to be pronounced man and wife,
the proceeding came to an abrupt termin-
alton | was packed of to Germany to
complete my education and cool nv
boyish ardor, and she, poor child, in
deluge OF tears, was sent away to female
prison. called boarding school. The
only concession we could gain from our
respective parents was this: Gertie was
to be permitted to wear my engagement
ring, and if when we had fully matured
in mind and body We still chung to each
other, they would place no further diff
culties in the way Of our union. NV dear,
sensible old father is, as you know, with
the saints and sages in the better land.
leaving me no master but my own will"
land that is, Charley2;
ITO abide by any decision the lady
may make in the matter"
"She is a trump, old fellow; and I
thinking that after yau have seen b
YOU will use your best efforts to influence
her decision. But OIL reuolr. I shall
come per appointment"
Left alone, Denton sat down and pen
ned and despatched note to Miss Gertie
Melton, informing her of his arrival, and
that he would meet her at the house of
Mrs. Vandevere. It was received as the
young lady was putting the last touches
to her toilet, and threw her into hutter
of confusion.
The elegant mansion of the Vandeveres
was brilliant Light, flowers, and music,
combined with the rich dresses and Jew
els, and fair forms and faces of the
elite OF the city made scene for pain
ter. Through the gorgeous array the
Misses Meltontrailed their spotless robes,
paid their respects to the hostess, and
dropped quietly into retired corner,
where they we're soon joined by many an
admirer.
''See, ANNIE" whispered Gertie to her
cousin, shat is he. Oh! I should know