Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-17

Ao L dAOfCu toWd4Slo tllC AiOuI, I1c caught.
my arm gently but firmly, and forced me
back into my chair, while with an earn
estness almost painful he exclaimed, ut
is no mockeryl It is true, and the most
skillful could find no antidote for the
Eastern drug I have swallowcu, which two
hours after it is taken generally lr"7uces
painless death. If you, Mr.. Han cop
feel any compassion for me, don't le.
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." = 3
II can not mprohend--" I began,
confusedly.
"Listen to my story, and you WILL" he
said.
"IIe IS mad, surely!" I reflected, look
ing into his face, "Thcre 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
all hour is a ready gone. Left an orphan
at an early age, was brought up under a
maternal uncle's guardianship, and with
his only daughter, Gertrude, my cousin.
To describe her is impossible. Did do
so actually, you would attribute my words
to lovers exaggeration, therefore, judge
yourself" Taking miniature from his
bosom, he handed it to me. 1t represented
young girl of scarcely eighteen, and
one of the saee,est, loveliest coun-
tenances l 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 l say I loved
Gertrude better than life. She --capable
of the purest and truest affectlon-re-
turned my passion; and I being then the
presumptive heir, my uncle fostered my
suit. Gertrude and 1 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 MARI 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 a beggar, our engagement
must he 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 a prisoner in
her room. Yet by her maids assistance
we managed to meet, when we decided
to elope.
s'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!
1 thought of not ling but the joy of soon
calling Gertrude mine.
"Thc night arrived. Gertrude, accom-
panied by her servant, met me, and in 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 lonely part of the country, we
found no minister there. The maid
assured us the falling rain might have
prevented him, but that certainly he
would he 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 my
poor Gertrude. My anxiety was all for
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 50
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 1 was
borne from Gertrude, firmly held by the
servants, and mock ed by my uncle, while
Lord Worth grinning and grlmacing took
my place opposite my beloved as her
bridegroom. In vain the poor girl resis-
ted; her father threatened her with public
exposure. He confessed that the cottage
was one of i'll repute, and that her stay at
it in my company had ruined her name
fl'rever were the circumstances known
adding that she would not find another
with love like Lord Worth's.
II saw all then; we had been cruely
|
ed, and verify believe that she was not
conscious during the ceremony which
took place. Yes; I saw her welded t.
another! I saw her grayheaded husband
take her in his arms and carry her to the
carriage waiting. At that moment, how
ever, breaking away, she flung herself on
my breast, that beat wildly against hers,
while my lips passionately pressed he1
check. I could not embrace her, for my
arms were pinioned.
"When they dragged her away, found
she had left in my bosom this tiny bunch
Of forget-me nots preserved here" and
Sir Leicester held up a crystal vial IL
entreat that it may be buried with me?'
l bent my head, and he went on:
"When she was out of my sight, bliss
full oblivion ensued. A year after by the
unexpected death of my cousin, l became
Sir Leicester Connington, and the owner
of wealth; but no riches could ing me
happiness, fer I had learned Gertrude
was an unhappy and ill used wife, be-
cause she could not bestow that love she
had not to give, it being mine. Her uncle
had sold her and broken her heart. We
had one consolation--t the knowledge that
each was faithful to the other, and though
here parted, in the world to come we
should be reunited.
''This morning." proceeded Sir Lei
ccster, II received intelligence Of her
death, upon which having arranged my
affairs, l instantly prepared to follow her
She waits NE, in few moments we shall
be together!'
made movement, but he checked
me. -.
Help Is useless!' he said; ':and have
one favor yet to ask. Next Thursday
Gertrude will be buried, you will see
written on that paper. I have made ar.
engagements that another grave shall be
dug during the night by it, in which my
body is to rest. Will you promise to see
this done?" : ~
1 hesitated, when he cried. with con.
|vulsive agony "Oh: sir, do not refuse the
last wish of dying man.
Icould not at that moment-it would
have been impossible.
"Sir Leicester" said I, s'it shall be