McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-02-07
THE LAWYERS SECRET.

THE LAWYERS SECRET.
1t was in luxuriously furnished
room where glowing CRATE threw
genial light and warmth upon the occu-
pants that General Langton, lawyer
and millionaire, listening with baited
breath and pallid cheeks to a low and
mel odious voice that ,old story of
life.
The speaker, beautiful woman of
about thirty, yet ten years younger than
MIR. Langton, reclined in low, cush-
toned chair, her attitude both speaking
of the ease thai 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, "and love you as never loved
any one before, although am widow.
That you know, but did not know my
husbands name. BY my uncle's last
request dropped it and took his with
the property he had left me. Do not
look at me tenderly, Gerald, do not
shake my voice or my heart, for when
you know who [ am you will not re-
peat the offer you made me, and which
heaven is my witness 1 tried to d.
VERT
"Let your conscience be at rest
there" said her listener, in a grave, yet
tender voice; s'you have never given me
one hope, Maude. By what instinct l
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 coquette
to torment me with false hopes. But,
Maude, tell me again, whatever stands
between us, you love me-"
81 love you," she said gravely, 'sand
it is because love that will not let
you link your honorable name with that
of the wretch who was my husband. l
was very young-not sixteen-when he
came to make visit to some friends
living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard
has a country seat near the village. /
first met Alexander at a picnic, where
he was the very life of the party; every
body'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 at
tentions were so well divided and yet so
impressive to each one. He claimed
to be no more than a salesman in
large wholesale house, with a good sal
airy, but he had the manners of gen.
tleman of education, and the most per
feet beauty of face and form that ever
saw in a man. 1t was not long before
it was evident that he wished to win my
love, and he had an easy task. Such
love as child of sixteen can give l
gave him. He was the impersonation
of every hero of poetry and fiction with
whom my limited reading had made me
familiar. Schoolgirl like, had made
an ideal hero, and fitted this, my first
admirer, with all his imaginary perfec-
tions.
From the first 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 heiress to
q large property gained NE the protes-
cations in which l so firmly believed.
ait is painful story to me now, Ger
aid. Let it suffice that have lived in
a world OF pleasant dreams while Alex
ander remained at Grassbank. When
ne left me he carried my promise TO be
his wife at Christmas.
81 think if my money had depended
on Uncle Richard, my marriage might
have been prevented by his threatening
disinherit me, bat both from my
father and mother l had inherited
money that made me Independent in a
pecuniary sense of his control or con-
sent.
H'Most grudgingly, however, uncle
did consent, after searching inquiry
about Alexander, resulting in no worse
report than that his employers thought
MIN fast, idle, and just the man to be
"a fortune hunter. Even then my dear
uncle would have projected my fortune
by settling it upon myself; but with
the reckless generosity Of extreme youth
4 refused to have this done. Never, l
was firmly convinced, would my adored
Alexander wrong me IN any way.
''For a year after the splendid we'd
ding that made me Alexander's wife
was very happy. was too ignorant of
value to understand that we were liv-
Eng far beyond our income-enjoyed to
the utmost the luxuries around me-the
constant gayety that was in such strong