Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-10-11
THE LAWYERS SECRET.


NAL light and warmth upon the occu
nants that Gerald Langton, lawyer
and millionaire. listened with bated
breath and pallid cheeks to low me
iodious voice that told story OF lie;
The speaker, beautiful woman OF
about thirty, yea ten years younger
than Mr.. Langton, reclned IN low
cushioned chair, her dress, her att
tude. both speaking of the ease wealth
Gives. but her face was full OF the
deepest anguish, as her lips recounted
you love me- she said gently, yet
sadly. "and | love you as | never
loved anyone before, although l am
widow. That you knew, but dld
not know my husbands name. By
INV uncle's last request | dropped IL
and took his with the property be left
me. Do not look at me tenderly, Ger
aid. do not shake my voice or my
heart, for when you know VINO J. am
You viii not repeat the offer on made
me, and which heaven IS my witness
tried to avert.
Let your conscience be at rest,
there. " said her listener, in a grave
vet tender voice; YOU have never
given me one hope, Maud 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 not separate us, you
have been no couquette, to torment
me with false hopes. But Maude, tell
me again, whatever stands between
us, you love me:'
Il love YOU, she said gravely, and
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 TO visit some
friends living at Grassbank. Uucle
Richard has a country seat near the
village. first met Alexander at a
picnic, where he was the very life OF
the party, everybody's cavalier, cour- /
teous to all, full of wit and animation
and service to all / believe every |
Girl on the grounds thought She had |
captivated him, his attentions were so
well divided and yet so impressive to
each one. He claimed to be no more /
than a salesman in a large wholesale I
house with good salary, but he had
the manners Of gentleman Of good
education, and the most perfect beauty |
of face and form that | ever saw IN a /
man. Ii was not loug before It was
evident he wished to win my love and /
he had an easy task. Such love as a /
child of sixteen can give | gave him. |
He was the lmpersonatlOn OF every f.
hero of poetry and fiction with whom
my limited reading had made me IA |
miiar School girl like, | had made |
an ideal hero, and fitted this, my first
admmer, with all his imaginary per
fectons
From the Grst Uncle Richard dis
liked him, pronouncing him false and
shallow, and assuring me that my per
Sonal attractions had not won his
heart: but the fact of my being an
hewess TO a large property had gained
me the protestations IN which / so
firmly believed
1t is painful story to me now,
Gerald Let it suffice that l lived in
"a world of delicious dreams while
Alexander remained at GrasSbank
When he left me he carried my prom
Use TO be his wife at Christmas.
II think il my money had depended
ON Uncle Richard, my marriage might
have been prevented by his threaten
ing to disnberit me, but both from
my father and my mother had in
herited money that made me indepen-
dent in pecuniary sense, of his con
tro' orconsent.