Omaha daily bee., 1883-10-20
THE LAWYERS SECRET.

ilo IdltiO ilONho w w 'liN
melodious voice that told q story of a life.
The speaker, a beautiful woman of
about 80, yet ten years younger than Mr..
Langton, reclined III u low cushioned
chair, her attitude both speaking of the
ease wealth gives, but her face was full of
the deepest anguish as her lips r%ecounted
the story.
You love me-" she said gently. yet
sadly, ''and love you as l never loved
anyone before, though | am n widow.
That you knew, but did not know my
husbands name. BY my uncle's last re.
quest | cropped it and took it with the
pi operty he left me. Do not look at me
tenderly, Gerald, do not shake my voice
or my heart, for when you know who l
IN you will not repeat the offer you made
me, and which, heaven is my witness, |
tried to avert"
LET your conscience be at rest there"
said her listener i'll o grave yet tender
voice, you have never given me n
hope, Maude. BY what instinct l knew
that you loved me. l can never tell,
Something in yodr eyes-some tone of
your voico-betrayed you. If, as you
say, something in your past life does
separate us, you have been no coquette
to torment me wit false hopesl But,
Maude, tell. NE again, whatever stands te-
tween us, you love mel"
IL love you," she said gravely, ''and
1t is because l love you that l 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 make q visit to some friends
living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard has
"a country seat near the village. l first
met Alexander at a picnic. where he was
the very life of the party; everybody's
cavalier; courteous to all; full of wit and
animation and service to all. | believe
every girl on the grounds thought she
had captivated him, his attention were 30
well divided and yet 30 impressive to each
one. He claimed to be no more than a
salesman in n large Wholesale house with
a good salary, but he had the manne of
a gentleman of education, and the most
perfect beauty of face and form that l
ever say in a man. 1t was not long be-
fore it was evident he wished to win my
love, and he had Nh easy task. Such love
as q child of sixteen can give l gave
him. He was the impersonation of every
hero of poetry and fiction with whom my
School girl like, l had made an ideal hero,
and fitted this, my first admirer, with all
his imaginary projections.
"Fr ,l the nrst Uncle Richard disllked
him, pronouncing him false and shallow.
and assuring me that my personal alta
tions had not won his heart, but the fact
of my being an heiress to a large property
had gained me the protestations in which
he 30 firmly believed.
cit is a painful story to me now, Ger
aid. Let it suffice that / have lived in n
world of pleasant dreams while Alexan.
der remained at Grassbauk. When h,
left me he carried my promise to be his
wife at Christmas.
II think if my money had depended
on Uncle Richard my marriage might
have been prevented by his threatening
to disinherit me, but bothfrom my father
and mother l had inherited money that
made me Independent in a pecuniary
sense of his control or consent
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 to be q for
tune-hunter. Even then my dear uncle
would have protected my fortune by set
ling it upon myself, but with the reck-
less generosity of extreme youth | re-
fused to have this done. Nor, | was
firmly convinced, would my adored AL
e1ander wrong me in any way.
For a year after the splendid wedding
that made me Alexander wife l was
very happy. / was too ignorant of value
10 understand that we were living far be.
yond our income-enjoyed to the utmost
the ~luxuries around me-the constant gal
ETY. that was in such strong contrast ~
the school routine from which / had been
released.
Then began q life of neglect, eften of
quarreling, when l objected to my hus-
Daud's curse of conduct-his drinking,
his extravaganza and his late hours
Still / found my W Pleasures in society,
md a 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 thai
line.
"1t was four years after marriage when
| was thus thuudrers'rack by Alexander
asking Inc to request II loan from Uncle
Richard, with the information added tina,
every penny of my property was gene.
"Since then | have known that a large
portion of it was lost at the gambling
table.
"Long before this l had lost all low,
for my husband. Respect had died GU
when | knew the dissipated life he wa,
leading, and foolish as | was, | could no
continue to love a man whom | despised
| reused the errand, and brought dow
n torrent of such great abuse that reall,
expected that Alexander would end b,
striking me.
''Day after day the request was re
newed, but | would not yield. Upon IN,
marriage Uncle Richard had sold the Cit
Grassbank, where, knowing that my hus
band would be an unwelcnme guest,
never visited him. wrote occasionally
but the love of years, like that of fathe
and child. has been 30 sadly strained b.
my persistence in marrying Alexander
that even our correspondence was langui'
and commonplace.
Il would not, therefore, write to hin
to ask a favor that | knew would no
have been necessary without crimins
recklessness of expenditure, and each re
fusal made my husband more furious
Then came An overwhelming blow. Alex
ander forged a check and drew s. 1000
Uncle Richards money frum the bank.
| Hnnlf thInk NV IN .la WnIIll hnUn prnal