New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1881-09-28


Chain us to earth; we are far away
From tho higher aims Of 'tong ago"
And tho stainless joys that poor souls know.
A LATE ACHIEVEMENT.
1t was in q luxuriously furnished
room, where a glowing grate threw
genial light and warmth upon the 90
cupants, that Gerard Langton listened,
with bated breath, and palled checks,
to low aud melodious voice that told
the story Of love. Tho speaker, =
beautiful woman OF about thirty, yet
ton years younger than Mr.. Langton,
reclined in q low cushioned chair, her
dress, her attitude, both speaking of the
ease wealth gives, but her face full of
the deepest anguish. as her lips re-
counted this story.
You love me-" she said, gently yet
sadly, land love you as I have never
loved anyone before, although am q
widow. That you knew, but you did
not know my husbands name. BY my
rncle's last request I dropped it and
took his, with the property he left me.
Do not look at me tenderly, Gerard, do
not shake my voice or my heart, for
when you know who I am, you win
not repeat the offer you have made me,
and which,, Heaven is my witness, I
tried to avert"
Let your conscience be at rest
there" said her listener, in grave yet
tender voice ''you have never given
me one hope, Maudo. BY what in
stinct l knew that you loved me, I can
never tell. but something in your eyes
Some tone of your voice betrayed
you. If, as you say. something in your
past life does separate us, you have
been no coquette, to torment me with
false hope. But, Maude, tell me again,
whatever stands between us 4; you love
mer' III
Il love your she said, gravely, "and
it Is because do love you that will
not let you link your honorable name
with that of tho wretch who was my
husband. l was very young six
teen-when first met Stephen at q
picnic. Il was not before it was evil
dent that he wished to win my love,
and he had an easy task. Such love
as . child Of sixteen can give, l gave
him. He was the impersonation OF
every hero of poetry or fiction with
whom my limited reading had made
me familiar. Schoolgirl like, had
made an ideal hero, and fitted this, my
first admirer. with all his imaginary
PROJECTIONS.
From the first my uncle. whose
wardI was, disliked him, pronouncing
him false and shallow, and assuring
me that my personal attractions had
not won his heart, but that the fact of
my being heiress to large property
had gained mo the protestations in
which so firmly believed. It is q
painful story to me now, Gerard. Let it
suffice that lllived in q world of delicious
dreams while Stephen remained near
me. When he left, he carried my
promise to be his wife at Christmas
II think it my money had depended
upon Uncle Richard, that my marriage
might have been prevented by his
threatening to disinherit me, but both
from my father and my mother in
heritcd money that made me indepen-
dent, in pecuniary sense, of his con-
troll or consent Most grudgingly,
however, my uncle did not consent,
after searching inquiry about Stephen,
resulting in no worse report than that
he was thought fast, idle, and just the
man to be a fortune hunter. Even then,
my dear uncle would have protected
my fortune by setting it strictly upon
myself, but with the reckless generosi-
ty of extreme youth, I refused to have
this done. Never, was firmly con-
vincod. would my adored Stephen
wrong me in any way.
"For year after tho splendid we'd.
ding that made me Shepherds wife was
very happy. l was too ignorant of the
value of money to understand that we
were living far beyond our income, and
enjoyed to the utmost the luxuries sur
rounding me-the constant gaiety, that
was in such strong contrast to tho
school routine from which had Just
: been released.
Then began life of neglect, often
Of quarrehing when objected to my
husbands course of conduct-his drink
Ing, his extravaganza, and his late
hours.
1T was four years after my marriage
when I was thunderstruck by Stephens
asking me to request loan of money
from my uncle, with the information
added that every penny Of my property
was gone. Since then l have known
that large proportion Of it was lost on
the turf.
Long before this had lost all love
for my husband. Respect had died out
when knew the dissipated life he was
leading, and, foolish as I was, I could
not continue to love 3 man whom des-
pissed. refused the errand, and
brought down torrent of such gross
abuse that really expected Stephen
would end by striking me-
DAY after day the request was re-
newed, but would not yield. would
not ask favor that knew would not
have been necessary without criminal
recklessness of expenditure, and each
refusal made my husband more furious.
Stephen forged my uncle's name. l do
not think my uncle would ever have
prosecuted him had he guessed who
was the forger, but he handed the whole
matter over to the law, as soon as il
was discovered that the cheque was
forged. 1t was traced to Stephen, who
was tried at the Central Criminal Court.
and sentenced to seven years penal
servitude, and Uncle Richard took me
home. full of heavenly pity aud forgive.
ness for the child who had treated him
80 ungratefully."
Then your husband is in prisonr''
asked Gerard, In hard, strained voice.
mo, no; he is dead He died with
In the first year. My uncle saw the
death in the paper, and attended his
burial. No-I am free but none the
less I am the widow of convicted