Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-25
THE LAWYERS SECRET.

It was in a luxuriously furnished room
where a glowing crate threw genial light
and warmth upon the occupants that Ger
aid Langton, lawyer and millionaire, listen
ed with bated breath and pallid cheeks to
a low and melodious voice that told story
of life.
The speaker, beautiful woman of about
thirty, yet ten years younger than Mr..
Langton, reclined in low cushioned chair,
her attitude and manner both speaking of
the ease wealth gives, but her face was full of
the deepest anguish herl recounted the
story.
"You love me-" she said gently, yet sad
ly, ''and love you as never loved any one
before, although am widow. That you
know, but did not know my husband s
name. By my uncle's last request I drop
ped it and took his with the property he
had left me.-Do not look at me tenderly,
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 tried to divert"
'sLet your conscience be at rest there"
said her listener in a grave, yet tender
voice; you have never given me one hope,
Maude. By what instinct knew that you
loved me I can never tell. Something in
your eye-some tone of your voice betrayed
you. If, as you say, something in your
past life does separateus, 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; "and it
is because love you that l 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. I first met Alexan-
der at picnic, where he was the very life
of the party; everybody's cavalier; courte-
GUS 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 80 well divided and yet
SO impressive to each one. He claimed to
be no more than a salesman in a large
wholesale house with good salary, but
he had the manners of a gentleman of edu
cation, 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 as child of sixteen can give
him.-He was the impersonation of every
hero of poetry and fiction with whom nv
limited reading had made me familiar.
Schoolgirl like had made an ideal hero,
and fitted this, my first admirer, with ali
the imaginary perfections.
"From the first, Uncle Richard disliked
him, pronOuncing him false and shallow.
and assuring me that my personal attrac-
tlons had not won his heart; but the fact of
my beng an heiress to a large property had
gained me the protestations in which I so
firmly believed"
ut is painful story to me now, Gerald.
Let it suffice that lived in world of pleas
ant dreams while Alexander remained at
Grassbank. When he left me, he carried
my promise to be his wife atChristmas."
u think if my money had depended on
uncle Richard, my marriage might have
been prevented by his threatening to disin-
herit me, but both from my father and
mother 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 thelman to be fortune hum
ter. 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 nv
adored Alexander wrong me in any wayn
"For year after the splendid wedding
that made me Alexander's wife 1 was very
happy. was too ignorant of value to
understand that we were living far beyond
our income-enjoyed to the utmost the lux
urles around me-the constant gayety that
was in such strong contrast to the school
routine from which had been released"
Then began life Of neglect, often of
quarreling, when l objected to my hus-
bands course of cOnduct-his drinking, his
extravaganza, and his late hours. Still L
found my own pleasures in society,""
''it was four years after my marriage,
when was thunderstruck by Alexander's
asking me to request loan of money from
Uncle Richard, with the information added