The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-09-03
III.

And Laura Lindon? Was she really
dead, as Leonard had heard from his
father? No; it was but u cruel scheme
invented by the purse-proud old man to
Illustrate marriage, III which he could
see nothing but disgrace to himself and
sOn. At the same time that he had
was dead, he had been to II man skilled
in such matters, and got him to forge a
letter from Leonard, which said he had
for some time felt how untitled he and
Laura were tor each other, owing to the
latters lack Of education; that he had
hitherto been silent on the matter, en-
deavoring to overcome his doubts: but
he had Mt last felt it his duty to free
Laura from her engagement, and hoped
that she would ere long find husband
better suited to her. At the same time
he stated that he had left his former
residence, and thought it better that
she should not know his present address.
The forgery was SO skillful, the awk-
ward appearance of the letter 80 exactly
like those she had hitherto received, that
the poor girl never for moment sus-
pected any deception, all the less, be-
tuttst WIN
sight, had always behaved to her with
the utmost apparent Kindness, and had
openly professed himself anxious for the
union Of the two lovers M soon M
Leonard should have attained his
majority. The result was exactly what
he had foreseen. Laura, after passing
some days in an agony of grief, had sud-
denly asked Mr.. Leonard if he would
provide her with sufficient money to pay
her passage to America, and, upon his
refusal, had disappeared during the
night, and has never been heard of since.
The old man, confident of the success of
his stratagem, rubbed his hands in salts
faction, and turned his attention to other
matters.
Meanwhile oil was peace and comfort
in the little home in New England over
which Minnie Warren, now Mrs. Vim
cent, presided with all her natty ways.
Minnie, herself scrupulOus neat and
careful of her appearance, was resolved
that everything and everybody about her
should be no less irreproachable, and he
would indeed have been Il happy man
whose wife was better housekeeper.
Leonard passed his days in elegant leis.
sure, his easy nature hattered to the ex.
treme by the affectionate attention of his
excellent little wife. 1t il true that Inc
did occasionally revert in thought to his
old home, and to the memory of hei
whom he had once fanciedso dear to him
but his easy-going philosophy was Mt nj
loss to provide consolation for irremedia
BILE events; and it is probable that, il
such moments of reflection, his train o.
thought resulted in conclusions not ~
very far removed from those which lii
father had made use of to disappoint poo
Laura's hopes.
It was an afternoon In January. New
England weather had of late been doing
its best to maintain its reputation for vari
ability, and, while the streets were still
wet with the recent rain, the still heavy
sky, which was striving to stint the day
light of q few hours Of existence, gav'
unmistakable warning of coming snow
storm. Mrs. Vincent, who abhorret
gloom Of every kind, took the opportuni
ty to pull down the blinds and light III
the chandelier at an unusually early hour
"Now, Leonard" said the charming
little woman, as she sat down on loy
stool ut her husbands feet and crosses
her hands over his knees, edo, pray, pu