Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-07-28
HER LAST SERIAL.

In an extremely small and plainly
furnished room, located in the outskirts
of the city Of P, sat pale, ner-
vous-looking woman, bending over a
writing desk. She was apparently about
thirty and earlier in life had unques-
tionably been very handsome, for even
now thore remained traces Of beauty
upon the sweet, sad face.
A little table stood by her side, on
which lay a pile Of manuscript, to
which, from time to time, she added
another carefully numbered sheet.
That she was net novice in the
business, the legibly- written and care
fully punctuated pages showed at
glance.
She threw down her pen at last with
a sigh, and clasped her slender fingers
across her forehead, AZ if in intense
pain.
81 cannot WRITE" she murmured,
''with this binding headache. shall
not have my story finished in time, and
how will my rent be paid without. or
how shall get bread and clothes for
my chi.dren?'
A dreary prospect, surely, if this were
her only resource. A slight, delicate
woman as she was, she looked little
able to cope successfully with the Oh
stacles that must be met by everyone
in the battle of life; and for children
too, for at that moment the door flew
open and two tiny girls, Of four and
seven years, came bounding gleefuly
in.
"May we come, mammal said lrma,
the eldest of the two, rs she nestled up
to her mothers side, while Bessie inn
pulsively sprang into her mothers lap
and cuddled the pretty golden head
against Mrs. Gerry's neck, with the art
iessness of happy childhood.
Writing was over for tile while at
least, and Mrs. Gerry gave herself up to
the "children's hour" with n weary
sigh as she thought of the nights work
before her.
The long, sultry summer day was
nearly over, and after caressing her
darling for short time the mother
arose and prepared their supper.
Soon afterward, putting them to bed,
she resumed her weary task.
Could Robert Erskine have seen her
as she sat there, toiling so earnestly for
her children, he would never have
recognized in her the beautiful Ethel
Wilbur, the girl to whom ten years be-
fore he had given all the love of his
proud sensitive nature.
Time and trouble had wrought sad
changes in the face he once thought
so fair,
She had loved him far better than he
knew. but she was the heiress of a rich
old bachelor uncle, imperious to the
last degree, who discovering an attach
ment springing up between his niece
and Robert Erskine, had forbidden him
the house, telling him too that she was
about to become the wife ola rich man.
Robert, it is true, was only n printer;
but he was ambitious, and was already
receiving good salary. -
He was of Scotch parentage. and
possessing the indomitable energy and
decision characteristic of his race, was
likely to make Il success of his future
life.
Mr.. Elverton, however, could brook
no thwarting of his cherished plans.
He had selected the future husband
for his niece, and he expected her,
with the utmost confidence In his SUI
perior wisdom, to yield gracefully and
obediently IN her acceptance of the
sutton whom he had chosen.
A man fifteen years her senior, stern,
reserved and incapable of arousing the
emotional part of her nature, but pos
sessed of unlimited wealth-a powerful
attraction to Mr.. Electromagnetic
with a shrewd business capacity that
served him well in the accumulation of
his princely fortune.
Ethel's uncle alternately petted and
scolded her, until in sheer desperation
she yielded to his wishes, and became
the wife of Edward Gerry, the man
whom he had selected for her.