New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-08-19
THE LAW YER'S7 SECRET.

1t was in q luxuriously furnished
room where glowing CRATE threw gem
ial light and warmth upon the occupants
that General Langton, lawyer and mil
lionaire, listening with bated breath and
pallid cheeks to a low and melodious
voice that told the story Of life.
The speaker, beautiful woman of
about thirty. yet ten years younger than
Mr.. Langton, reclined in a low cush-
Toned 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.
"You love me-" she said gently. yet
sadly, "and I 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 re.
quest / 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 repeat the
offer you made me, and which heaven
is my witness tried to divert"
Let your conscience be at rest there. :"
said her listener, in grave, yet tender
voice; "you have never given me one
hope, Maude. BY what instinct 1 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 sepa-
rate us, you have been no coquette to
torment me with false hopes. But,
Maude, tell me again, whatever stands
between us, you love me?"
II love you," she said gravely, ''and
it is because love you that I 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 visit to some friends
living at Grassbank. Uncle Richard has
country seat near the village. l 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. l believe
every girl on the grounds thought she
had captivated him, his attentions were
SO we'll divided and yet so impressive to
each one. He claimed to be no more
than a salesman in large wholesale
house witha good salary, but he had the
manners of q gentleman of education,
and the most perfect beauty of face and
form that ever saw in 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 q child of six.
teen can give I gave him. He was the
representation Of every hero of poetry
and fiction with whom my limited read
ing had made me familiar. School girl
like had made an ideal hero, and fitted
this, my first admirer, with all his mag
mary PROJECTIONS.
From the first, Uncle Richard dis.
lked him, pronouacing 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 pro.
testations in which SO firmly believed.
ut is painful story to me now, Ger
aid. Let it suffice that have 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.
u think if my money had depended
on Uncle Richard, my marriage might
have been prevented by his threatening
to dislnheirt me, but both from my
father and mother | had inherited
money that made me independent in q
pecunlary sense Of his control or consent.
Most grudglngIy, however, uncle did
consent, after searching inquiry about
Alexander, resulting in no worse report
than that his employers thought !,im
fast, idle, and just the man to be a for
tune hunter. Even then nv dear un-
Gle would have protected my fortune Nv
settling it upon myself; but with the
reckless generosity of extreme youth
refused to have this done. Never, was
firmly convinced would nav adored AL
exander wrong me in any way.
For year after the splendid we'd
ding that made me Alexander's wife !
was very happy. 1 was too ignorant of
value to understand that we were living
lar beyond our income-enjoved to the
utmost the luxuries around me-the
constant gay ETY. that was i'm such strong
contrast to the school routine from
which [ had been released.
Then began life of neglect, often of
quarrellng, when objected to nv has
bands course of conduct-his drinking,
his extravaganza and his late hours.
Still found my own pleasures in socie-
,ty.
1T was four years after my marriage.
'when l was thunderstruck ~ Alexander
asking me to request loan of MONEY
from Uncle Richard. with the informa-
ton added that every penny Of my
property was gone.
"Since then I have known that a large
portion of it was lost at the gaming a5ie.
Long before this l had lost all love
for my husband. Respect had died out
when | knew the dlssipated life he was
leading, and foolish as / was could not
continue to love man whom despised.
refused The errand and brought down
atorrent of such great abuse that real
~ expected that Alexander would end
by striking me.
"Day after day the request was re-
nemed, but l would not Yield. Upon
my marriage, Uncle Richard had sold
the city residence and taken perman-
emit abode at Grassbank, where, knowing
my husband to be an unwelcome guest.
never visited him. wrote OCCASION.
ally, bat the love OF years, like that of a
father and child, had been SO sadly
strained by my persistence in marrying
Alexander that even our correspon-
l..