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


heart, so deep it could never be resur-
rected, she, thought; and he, after
learning that she was about to marry
another man, had left that part of the
country.
There had been no declaration of his
love to Ethel Wilbur: but as well as
one human heart can understand an
other, she felt that he loved her. but
she knew that her uncle disapproved
of him, because his fortune was yet to
be carved out by his own hand, al
though she did not know of the pre-
mature information that Mr.. Elyerton
had given of her marriage.
Edward Gerry loved his young and
beautiful wife as much, perhaps, as
such natures as his are capable OF low
ing but his life was absorbed by his
business, and so engrossing was it that
he saw comparatively little Of her, and
their princely home was to her literally
a cage with gilded bars.
She had no desire to 90 into So
ciety, and strove to fill that void in
her heart that should have been occu-
pied by husbands love with literary
pursuits.
AS time passed on an Unsuitable greed
for gold seemed to take possession Of
Edward Gerry, and even the two lovely
children that were sent to cheer their
monotonous lives failed to stir the tur-
bid depths of his sordid nature but
with the young wife and mother it was
Notwithstanding to love and live
for and life seemed henceforth more
endurable.
Five years of welded life with Ed
ward Gerry weary years, too, and then
he was removed by death and Ethel
did not affect grief she could not feel
for the stern, cold-hearted man.
She went back to her uncle, who was
growing more feeble and capricious
than ever. When her husbands af-
fairs were settled, it was found that he
ad been specializing largely in stocks,
and of his immense fortune there re-
manned literally nothing still Ethel
had no pecuuiary fears.
Her uncle would care for her and
the children, for the old man loved the
little ones dearly, and she had no idea
of want.
Two years more; two years that had
glided by peacefully as a quiet river,
and then came another change in her
life.
Just such change as death with his
arbitrary power can make in any Of
our lives.
Mr.. Elverton died suddenly and Ethel
Gerry mourned sincerely; for if he had
at times been somewhat exacting, still
she knew he had been to her a kind
friend
She was not prepared for the reveal
ton that a settlement of his estate
brought to light.
He too had lost all in some luckless
venture, and she found herself alone
and penniless with two little children
to be clothed and fed .
Out of the furniture given her by her
uncle she saved enough of the plainest
to furnish two rooms comfortably on a
back street in the city suburbs. The
remainder she sold at an immense
sacrifice, but it brought her little
ready money, which would last, she
hoped, until she found some employ
ment.
She was highly educated, and might
have taught, but she could not leave
the children. She kept her piano, hop
ing to obtain music scholars she adj
vertised; she went out and applied at
numerous places, but she was invari-
ably asked for references and recon-
mendations, which it was impossible to
give, till at last she gave it up and tried
to obtain fine sewing. OF this she found
a limited supply, but the remuneration
was mere plttance.
In the meantime expenses went on
and daily her little hoard of money
dwindled away, till finally she was COM
PEELED to sacrifice her costly piano, her
landlady CONSIDERABLY offering to take
it in payment for the rent of the next
three months. Ethel redoubled her
exertions, but pain in her side and n
hacking cough made it evident that
sewing must be relinquished.
There remained still dernier resort
her pen.
She had, in her 'girlish days, dashed
off, occasionally, a bright little sketch
for some magazine or weekly which
had been favorably received.
Just for the fun of the thing then,
but now it would be in sober earnest.
She set herself to work and wrote a
charming little story that was sent to
the publisher of a journal. who was suf-
hcently impressed by its merits to send
her three dollars with the hope that he
should hear from her again.
Her little venture success! Why,
she was on the high road to fortune!
True, three dollars would not go very