The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-07-22

Since Mrs. ElllS's death, She had tie
voted herself to the study of music, and
given lessons with marked success.
81 am very busy, and get very tired"
she said; "but il is sweet To be indie
pendent" Then she added: "Mrs.
Ellis left letter for YOU"
"For mep" repeated Gerald.
She opened the drawer of pretty
cabinet and produced il.
Gerald Immediately opened the seal
and read it. II affected him powerful
ly. II was an earnest appeal TO him,
made with all the pathetic hclplessness
of the dying. to befriend Matialena.
81 have studied you, l believe in
you, and ! leave her virtually i'm your
care. us friend and protector, To take
care of her best interests. have no
money to leave her; she has only he
beauty and innocence. You know ner.
You, only, can understand and befricnd
her."
As Gerald looked up from the sheet,
he caught sight Of his figure in IN OPP
posite mirror. lie was instantly aware
that he looked very much older than
the girl who sat on tho other side of
the hearth, looking absently into the
fire. He was dark, travelled and world
wise; she was singularly chidlike in air
and appearance, yet digniiicd and re-
served, and withal pure Us lily.
81 must unlearn much of the worlds
ways to understand her, l fear" he
sighed. ''But l know the world, and
harm shall never come near her."
He told her what her friend had
written.
She appeared little surprised, and
looked at him earnestly.
"Of course, it will be pleasant for
|. me to have guardian" she said, then
hesitated. ~ will try not to be q
trouble to YOU" she concluded.
Weeks and weeks went by and found
that he had been set to n hard task.
He had been asked to ''bcfricnd Lena"
not to passionately love her, not to
drink all his happiness from her eyes,
not to adore her SO.
And she must not know this. For
her 10 suspect it would end her conf
dence in him forever, he believed.
But was it never suggestive to Lena
this masculine protection and wise
counsel. He knew that he worshipped
her in the truest recesses of his heart,
that to lose her at last, his heart would
break.
He had barely finished dressing one
morning when gentleman was shown
into the adjoining room. He responded
TO the servants summons, and went in.
The young gentleman who had wait
ed upon him ut that early hour in tho
morning he knew very well as one of
the wealthiest men in his set, and of
faultless character. He felt his heart
grow heavy-a darkness came over the
bright spring day, as his visitor, in a
straightforward and manly fashion,
asked for the privilege of paying to
Madalena his addresses; but to his hon.
or, be it said, he was equally straight
forward.
81 have influence with Miss GuicOli,
but no authority, and can only rec
ommend you to her for an answer to
your request" he said. and sent the
young man away with hope in his
heart.
Then it seemed to him that he should
90 mad. He dared not go near Lena,
yet he was perishing for a sight of her.
Wandering. aimlessly and miserable.
along the streets, one evening, he
found himself ut her door and went in.
Her white hands fell from the piano
keys. She came quickly toward him.
"You are ill.," she said, with eyes of
lovely concern.
He caught her to his breast.
II hope l shall die" he said, ''for
you are going to leave me-"
She looked into his eyes, heavy with
pain and longing, and read the whole
story.
mo, am not" she said. II love
you best of all the world"
When four hours had been as so
many minutes, he said:
"HOw-where shall we live, Lena?
With all my labor, l have not got
mOney-not much of it. ] will not
have you drudging at music-teaching
after we are married. l want to keep
you like princess"
She laughed, with sudden rich
rush of color.
1--WE are sure of broad-and butter, a
little" he said, thoughtfully. ''But l
want to be sure that you will always
have some rOse-leavcs to lie on"
lie was SO aDSOrDcu III HIS IhouSnIS
that he did not mind when she left his
kneo and went into the adjoining room.
In q moment she had dragged the
queer, dingy old organ across the car.
pet to his feet, aud it seemed to fall
apart at touch of her fingers.
"See! One lonely day. before you
came from Paris, / found this, and
this" she said. Her hands ran over
with gold and bank-nOtes. ''rhis is
what made the old organ jingle SO, and
stopped the tunes. Old MatteO saved
this for me, and to-day love him. This
will provide my rose leaves dearest"