The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-10-06
: A A T AToNEMENT.

1t was in q luxuriously furnished
room, where a glowing CRATE threw
genial light and warmth upon the oc-
cupants, that Gerard Langton listened,
with bated breath and palled cheeks.
to a low and melodious voice that told
the story of a love. The speaker, q
beautiful woman of about thirty, yet
ten years younger than MIR. 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, a her lips re-
counted this story.
You love me- she said, gently yet
sadly, ''and love you as l have never
loved anyone before. although / am q
widow. That you knew. but you did
not know my husbands name. BY my
uncle's last request l dropped it and
took his. with the property he left me.
Do not look at mt tenderly, Gerard, do
not shake my voice or my heart. for
when you know who l am. you will
not repeat the offer you have made me.
and which. Heaven is my witness, l
tried t. avert" i,
LET your conscience be at rest
there" said her listener. in q grave yet
tender voice '.you have never given
AO ~ AORSs A41uQt. DI WuAt liz
stinct l knew that you loved me, / can
never tell. but something in your eyes
some tone of your voice betrayed
you. II, 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 ; you love
mer' .
"Ilove you'll" she said, gravely. "and
1t is because 1 do love you that / will
not let you link your honorable name
with that Of the wretch who was my
husband. 1 was very young-not six
teen-when l first met Stephen at q
picnic. 1t was not before It was evil
dent that he wished to win my love,
and he had an easy task. Such love
as q child Of sixteen can give, / gave
him.. He was the Improvisation Of
every hero Of poetry or fiction with
whom my limited reading had made
mo familiar. Schoolgirl like, I had
made an ideal hero, and fitted this, my
first admirer. with all his imaginary
perfections. !
From the first my uncle. whose
ward l 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 a large property
had gained me the p~rotestations in
which l so firmly believed. 1t is O.
painful story to me now, Gerard. Let IL,
suffice that lIlived 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 If my money had depended
upon Uncle Richard, that my marriage.
might have been prevented by his
threatening 10 disinherit me, but both
from my father and my mother I In.
herited money that made me indepen-
dent, in . ~pecuniary sense, of his con-,
troll Of 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 tho
man to be u fortune hunter. Even then..
my dear uncle would have protected
my fortune by setting 1t strictly upon.
myself, but with the reckless g-cnerosi-
ty of extreme youth, l refused to havc
this done. Never, l was firmly con-
WINGED, would my adored Stephen
wrong me in any way.
s.For q year after tho splendid we'd
ding that made mo Stephens wife l was
very happy. 1 vas too ignorant Of the
value Of money to understand that we
were living far beyond our income. and
enjoyed to tho utmost the luxuries sur
rounding me-the constant gaiety. that
was in such strong contrast to the
school routine from which / had just
been released.
Then began q life Of neglect, often
of quarrelling when l objected to my
husbands course of conduct-his drink
ing, his extravaganza, and his late
hours.
at was four years after my marriage
when l was thunderstorm by Stephens
asking me to request q loan of money
from my uncle, with the information
added that every penny of my property
was gone. Since then l have known
that a large proportion OF it was lost on
the turf.
Long before this 1 had lost all love
for my husband. Respect had died out
when I knew the dissipated life no was
leading, and, foolish as l was, l could
not continue to love q man whom I des-
pissed. 1 refused the errand, and
brought down o torrent of such gross
abuse that I really expected Stephen
would end by striking me.
..Day after day tho request was re-
newed, but I would not yield. 1 would
not nsk a favor that l 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 ho handed the whole
matter ovor to tho law. a s oon as 1t
W. discovered that the cheque was
forged. 1t was traced to Stephen, who
vas tried at the Central CriminalCo Court.
and sentenced TO seven years penal
.scrvitude. and Unclo Richard took me
home, full of heavenly pity and forgive
mess for the child who had treated him
so ungratefully."
..T6en your husband is in prisonP'
asked Gerard, in y hard, strained voice.
mo, no he is dead He died with.
in the first year. My uncle saw the
death In Is paper, and attended his
burial. No am free ; but mono the
less / am ,he widow Of q convicted
felon."
s.But none the less" quoted Gerard,
.tho woman / love and honor above
all others, and hope still to make my
Tt tool bowaver. more than one in.