The Press., 1883-09-27
THE LAWYERS SECRET.

THE LAWYERS SECRET. It was in luxuriously furnished room where 8 glowing grate threw genial light and warmth upon the occupants, that Gen. eral Langton, lawyer and millionaire, lis t..ned with bated breath and pallid cheeks to low and melodious voice that told a story of life. #
 The speaker, beautiful woman of about thirty, yet ten years younger than MT. Langton, reclined in 8 low cushioned chair, her attitude, both speaking of the ease wealth gives, but her face was full of the deepest anguish, as her lips recounted the story.
 ssYou love me-" she said, gently, yet sadly, s'and I love you as I never loved anyone before, although I am widow. That you knew, but did not know my hus- bands name. By my uncle's last request I dropped it and took his with the proper ! ty he left me. Do not look at me tender ly, 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 witness tried to avert. ;"
 'sLet your conscience be at rest there, {" said her listener, in grave yet tender l voice 'syou have never given me one hope, Maude. By what instinct I knew that you loved me can never tell, some- thing in your eyes-some tone of your voice betrayed you. If, as you say, some thing in your past life does separate us, you have been no coquette to torment me with false hopes. But, Maude, tell me again, whatever stands between us, you love me ?"
 'I love you," she said, gravely, "and 1t 1 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 make 8 visit to some friends living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard has 8 country seat near the village. I first met Alexander at 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 atten- tions were so we'll divided and yet so i'm pressive to each one. He claimed to be no more than salesman in large wholesale 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 man. It was not long before it was evident he wished to win my love, and he had an easy task. Such love as child of sixteen can give gave him. He was the impersonation of every hero of poetry and fiction with whom my limited reading had made me familiar. Schoolgirl like, I had made an ideal hero, and fitted this, my first admirer, with all his imaginary perfections. --..- "From the first Uncle Richard disliked him, pronouneing him false and shallow, and assuring me that my personal attrac- tions had not won his heart; but the fact of my being an heiress to large property had gained me the protestatons in which I so firmly believed.
 'It is painful story to me now, Gerald. Let it suffice that have lived in a world of pleasant dreams while Alexander re- mained at Grassbank. When he left me he carried my promise to be his wife at Christmas.
 'I think if my money had depended on Uncle Richard, my marriage might have been prevented by his threatening to dis inherit me, but both from my father and my mother I had inherited money that made me independent in 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 fortune hunt CT. Even then my dear uncle wonld 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 Alexander wrong me in any way.
 l s'For 8 year after the splendid wedding that made me Alexander's wife was very happy. I was too ignorant of value to un- derstand that we were living far beyond our income, enjoyed to the utmost the lux uries around me-the constant gaiety that was in such strong contrast to the school routine from which I had been released.
 "Then began life of neglect, often of quarreling, when I objected to my hus- bands course of conduct-his drinking, his extravaganza, and his late hours. Still I found my own pleasures in society, and renewal of some of my favorite studies, especially language and music. l was fond, too fond, of water color painting, and made presents to my friends of specimens of my skill in that line.
 'It was four years after my marriage, when I was thunderstruck by Alexander asking me to request loan of money from Uncle Richard with the information added that every penny of my property was gone.
 'Since then I have known that large portion of it was lost at the gaming table.
 'Long before this l had lost all love for my husband. Respect had died out when knew the dissipated life he was leading, and foolish as was, I could not continue to love man whom despised. Irefused the errand, and brought down torrent of such great abuse that I really expected that Alexander would end by striking me.
 "Day after day the request was renew. ed, but would not yield. Upon my mar riage, Uncle Richard had sold his city resi-. dence and took up permanent abode al Grassbank, where, knowing my husband to be an unwelcome guest, never visited him. I wrote occasionally, but the love ot years, like that of father and child, had been so sadly strained by my persistence in marrying Alexander that even our cor respondence was languid and common place. S
 ''I would not, therefore, write to him tc ask a favor that knew would not have been necessary without criminal reckless ness of expenditure, and each refusal made my husband more furious. Then came an overwhelming blow. Alexander forged g check, end drew e2, ,00O of Uncle Richards money from the bank. don't think my uncle would have prosecuted him, had he guessed who was the forger; but he hand