Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-05-21
THE LAWYERS SECRET

THE LAWYERS SEGkEI
II was In a luxuriously furnished
room, where a glowing CRATE threw
genial light and warmth upon the occu-
pants, that Gen. Langton, lawyer and
millionaire, listened with bated breath
and pallid cheeks to low and melodious
voice thai told story of life.
The speaker, a beautiful woman of
apuut 80, yet ten years younger than
MIR. Langton, reclined in low, cush-
Toned chair, her attitude bespeaking the
ease which wealth gives, but her face
was full of the deepest anguish as her
lips recounted the story.
s'You love me-, she said gently, yet
sadly, ''and love you as I never loved
any one before, although I 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 left me. Do not look at
me tenderly, Gerald, do not shake my
voice or my heart, for when you know
who l am you will not repeat the offer
you made me, and which heaven liz my
witness I tried to avert.
''Let your conscience be at rest there, +"
said her listener, in grave yet tender
voice; 'fyou have never given me one
hope, Maude. 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
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?"
Il love you,' she said gravely, sand
it Is because / love you that l viii not
let on link your honorable name with
that of the wretch who was my husband.
was very young, not sixteen, when he
came to make a visit 10 some friends
living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard
has country seat near the village. I
first met Alexander at a picnic, where
he was the very life of the party, every
body's cavalier, courteous to sll, full Of
vic and animation and service to all. I
believe every girl on the grounds
thought she had captivated him, his at
ten ions were SO well divided and yet SO
impressive - each one. He claimed to
be no more than salesman In large
wholesale house with good salary, but
good education, and the most perfect
beauty of face and form that ever saw
In a 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 ard fiction with whom my linn
tied reading had made me familiar.
School girl like, I had made an ideal
hero, and fitted this, my first admirer,
with all his imaginary perfections
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
large property had gained me the prot
esFatioDs in which SO firmly believed.
''It is a painful story to me now,
Gerald. Let it suffice that L lived in
world of pleasant dreams while Alexan-
der remained at Grassbank. When he
left me he carried my promise to be his
wife at Christmas. think if my money
had depended on Uncle Richard my
marriage might have been prevented
by his threatening to disinherit me, but
both from my father and my mother I
had inherited money that made me inde-
pendent in pecuniary sense of his con-
troll or consent. Mostgrudgingly, how
ever, uncle did consent, after searching
inquiry about Alexander, resulting in
no worse report than that his employ
ers thought him fast, idle, and just the
man to be fortune hunter. Even then
my dear uncle would have protected my
fortune by settling it on myself; but
win the reckless generosity of extreme
youth I refused to have this done. New
er. I was firmly convinced, would my
adored Alexander wrorg me in any way.
''For year after the splendid wsd-
ding that made ne Alexander's wife I
was very happy. I was too ignorant of
value to understand that we were living
far beyond orr income, enjoyed to the
utmost the luxurles 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 objected to my hus-
bands course of conduct-his drinking.
his extravaganza, and his late hours.
Still I found my own pleasures in socie-
ty, and renewal of some of my favorite
6Cueu0S, especially lang aSo "nN mocIC'
I 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 was thunderstruck by Alexander
asking me to request loan OF money
from Uncle Richard, with the informa-
ton that every penny of my property
was gone.
s'Since then have known that large
portion of it was lost at the gaming
table.
"Long before this had lost all love
for NV husband. Respect had died out