The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-02-03

lnOla! My g0dS0n, you KNOW"
Gertrude had the check in her hands,
and viewed it with delight.
you see, my love, the action 10 fore
close the mortgage has just commenced,
and could not rest moment till this
business was arranged. You can do il
for me, and Bess here will keep me CON-
pany.'
Gertrude was quite relieved to find
that it was anxiety more than illness
which had prostrated her aunt; and she
at once set about performing her task,
which she did by calling on an old
friend-a lawyer--to aid her. She had
the satisfaction of leaving the old lady
calm and comfortable III the evening.
She found it quite dark when she
reached the house, and felt a symptom
of relief that the family were not yet
returned. The children, 70 her surprise,
we're in bed, a state OF affairs which she
did not doubt had been accomplished
by bribery.
But the silence and rest were never
theless sweet. ana she sat down to the
hemming of some interminable ruffles
with which Mrs. Chumleigh kind y
kept her employed. After time shut
ting OF doors, laughter and cleaning
lights woke up the quiet house, but no
one disturbed her.
The next morning Francia swooped
in just as lessons began.
! well, you look SERENE" she said.
"Do you know there's an earthquake
downstairsP"
"Oh, what fibber you are, Francia
! Dormer y cried Rod, Indignantly. "1f
there was an earthquake it would hove
US all up"
"Weil, look out Bad boys get swal-
lowed the first thing" said Francia.
This, however, is financial one.
They've ost ten thousand dollars in
coupons"
"LostP" questioned Gertrude.
Yes; just fancy-Bertha's dowry!
It's been stolen, and, what's worse, Won
Arnhem won't be married without it.
He is desolated, but firm; it's the law
of Vaterland."
Francia was just as careless, as in
souciant and smiling, as she talked of
this loss, as if it had been a pleasant bit
of gossip.
Gertrude, with her ready sympathy.
was on the point of asking several ques
tions, when she noticed the open-eyed
children.
"Oh, l forgot. l was to ask you TO
| step down into the library" exclaimed
Francia; and then, after popping a
sugar plum into the children's faces, she
danced away.
Gertrude went down with a feeling
| that she was to be called to accoun: tor
her absence the day before but quite
convinced that her reasons would sat-
isfy any right minded person. So she
| MET Mrs. Chumleigh with a face so Sc
rene that the aforesaid lady was some-
| what staggered in the belief to which
she had rapidly come within the last
hour.
81 hear-and must say I am exceed
ingly annoyed to hear-Miss Winthrop"
the lady began, with extreme acidity,
"that y0u absented yourself the whole
of yesterday from your duties without
leave. Was this premeditated thingP"
Certainly not" Gertrude began,
impulsively; and then as rapidly as
possible explained the affair.
"Do you know what has happened
he rep" asked the lady.
about the coupons" asked Ger
hude.
Eyes; it's robbery, you know"
81 scarcely understood. | am sorry
it is great loss" said the gil.
cit was taken by some one in the
house." Mrs, Chumleigh went on, ex-
citedly. MY desk was opened, the
the key put in the usual place" and she
fixed penetrating glance on Gertrude's
face as she spoke, and adGed, after a
seconds silence: 1t was taken yester-
day after we left the house."
Even then Gertrude listened with a
polite sympathy, without feeling any
direct reference to herself in the case.
my servants | know thoroughly"
Mrs. Chumleigh went on. Even Bet
sey the last conner, has lived with me
before, and l cannot suspect them, only
of course they must all be searched.
You must feel, Mrs. Winthrop, that cir
cumstances are somew hat against you-
you leave the house in such an account
able manner"
Gertrude's face flushed.
"Shame on you, Mrs. Chumleigh.
You insult me because / am poor, be-
cause 1 have no one"
Eric opened the door with mad burst
at this moment, and caught the sound
of these last words.
4" No one P" he cried. "You have
me! | have heard these insane suspi-
cions. Mother, you are mad! l stake
my life upon this young lady's honor.
Why do you not suspect me ?"
Mrs. Chumleigh faltered and turned
pale.
MY son, what have you to do with
this young person."
II have this to do with her." he
cried, impetuously. - wish to make
her my wife, if she can care enough for
me-"
"My God!" exclaimed Mrs. Chum-
leigh, fallin back in half faint.
mice time for your declaration"
cried Francia Dormer, who had heard
these words, and now hurried in with
restoratiVes, her own face ashen pale,
but still with malicious CLEAN in the
eyes; "at all events you won't ne able
TO get recommendation for your wife
from uer last place!"
BY this ii ae Won Aruheim had come
in, and Bertha. 10 Gertrude the room
seemed full of staring, talking people.
She stood among them like a queen,
tall, erect, with undaunted eye, but q
fierce pain at her heart
Mrs. Chumleigh opened her eyes TO
say, tragically:
"Saareh her things I" and then sank
away again.
Won Arnheim, with true politeness,
said:
"It will not be veil to suspicioned
someone's nit not no grounds to stand
on" which was very lucid, but not
mu3h calculated to console Gertrude
on the whole. Bertha sat crying in one
cOrner-husband and fortune and core
net al TO disappear like the haseless
fabric OF a vision. Oh, 1t was too
much
Won Arnheim, who was really not
mercenary, stroVe to comfort her.
Gertrude walked up to the nursery
sar.r IA nj 1lrv.n nd 4 L.,