The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-10-13
THE LAWYERS SECRET.

pants, that General Langton, lawyer
and millionaire, listened with bated
breath and palid cheeks to low and
melodious voice that told 4 story of n
life.
The speaker. beautiful woman Of
about thirty,yet ten years younger than
Mr.. Langton, reclined in u low. cush-
toned chair, her attitude bespeaking the
ease which wealth gives, but her face
was full of the deepest anguish as her
lips recounted the story.
you love me-" she said gently, yet
sadly, "and | love You as | never loved
any one before, although am widow.
That YOU knew, but did not know my
husbands name BY my uncle's request
dropped it and took his with the prop
erty he left me. Do not look at me
Gerald, do not shake my voice
or my heart, for when you know who |
am you will not repeat the offer you
made me, and which heaven is my wit
ness tried to avert. "
LET your conscience be at rest
there" said her listener, in n grave yet
me one hope, Maude. By what instinct
knew that you loved me | can never
tell, 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 coquet to
torment me with false hopes. But,
Maude, tell me again, whatever stands
between us, YOU love mc?"
81 love YOU" she said gravc!y, land
it is because love you that | will not
let YOU link your honorable name with
that of the wretch who was my husband.
| was very young-not siXteen-when
he came 10 make visit to some friends
living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard has
4 country seat near the village. first
met Alexander at picnic, where he was
the very life of the party, everybody
cavalier, courteous to all, full of wit and
animation and service to all. | be-
lieye every girl on the grounds thought
she had captvated him, his attentions
were SO well divided and SO impressive
TO each one. He claimed to be no more
than salesman in large wholesale
house with a good salary, but ne had
the manners of n gentleman OF good ed
ucation, and the most perfect beauty OF
face and form that ever saw in man.
1t was not long before it was evident he
wished to win my love, and he had an
easy task. Such love rs 4 child of SIX
teen can give | gave him. He was the
impcrSonation OF every hero Of poetry
and fiction with whom my limited read
mo had made me familiar. Schoolgirl
like, | had made an ideal hero, and fitted
this, nv first admirer, with all his i'm
aginary projections.
"f'rom the first Uncle Richard ditlik-
ed him, pronouncing him false and
shallow, auI assuring me that my per-
suirt attractions had not won his heart;
but the fact of my being an hcircs' to q
large property had gained me the pro-
testations in which 50 firmly believed.
at is painful s.ory 10 me now,
Gerald. Let it suffice mat | had lived
IN world OF pleasant dreams while
Alexander remained at Grassbank.
When he left me he carried my promise
to be his wife at Christmas.
II think if my money had depended
on Uncle Richard. nv marriage might
have been prevented by his threatening
to disinherit me, but both from my
father and my mother | had inherited
money that made me independent in n
pccuniarv sense of his control or con-
sent
Most grudgingly. however, uncle did
consent, after searching inquiry about
Alexander, resulting in no worse report
than that his employers thought him
fast, idle, and just the man 10 be for
tune hunter. Even then my dear uncle
would have protected my fortune by
settling it upon myself; but with the
reckless generosity of extreme youth, /
refused to have this done. Never was
firmly convinced, would my adored Al
cxarder wrong me in any way.
For year after the splendid we'd
ding that made me Aleyander's wife, |
was very happy. / was too ignorant of
value to understand that we were liv-
ing far beyond our income, enjoyed TO
the utmost the luxuries around me-the
constant gaictv that was in such strong
contrast to the school routine from
which | had been released.
Then began life of neglect, often
of quarreling, when | objected to my
husband course of conduct-his drink
ing. MS extravaganza, and his late
hours. Still found my own pleasures
in society, and renewal of some Of my
favorite studies, especially language and
music. | was fond. TOO fond. OF water
color painting, and made presents TO
my friends of specimens Of my skill in
that line.
1T was four years afrer my marriage
when | was thunderStruck by Alex
ander asking me to request a loan OF
money from Uncle Richard, with the
information that every penny Of my
property was gone.
"Since then | have known that 4
large portion of it was lost ut the gam
ing table.
Long before this l had lost al. love
for my husband. Respect had died out
when / knew the dissipated life he was
leading. and foolish as was could not