Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-02-26

morning, my dear. You are too weak and
too much alarmed for further effort OF any
kind tonight"
And. indeed, the mysterious young
! lady did look pale and wan. SO that q
harder heart than gentle Mrs. Forneys
might have been touched with pity Tor
her. But it was not in human nature not
to wonder at these things, and Mrs. For
new was. in truth. consumed with curiosity :,
and this feeling on her part sne at once
communicated to her son.
"You wished for an explanation, mother
dear. and YOU shall have it so far as have
the power to give it to you. But must
begin by telling you that all tins analr Is
almost as mysterious to me as to you. :, l
know the young lady-that is nearly all l
can say by way of gratifying your very
natural desire for knowledge. She IS the
step-daughter of the German gentleman
from VIII om was taking lessons IN that
language last spring. Her name IS Ter
trude Steinmetz. Having seen her it will
not surprise you to know that l was, and
still am, passionately attached to her. l
had hoped to have made her my wife
before now, and proceeded so far as to tell
her so, and to win her consent. went
the next dav to arrange with her as to
when might bring you to call on her,
when. instead of being met by the lovely
and blushing girl who had the day before
promised to be my wife. a note from her
was placed in my hand containing these
words:
ave meet no more in this world. Ask no expla-
| nation. Do not attempt to see me. Fareweii ior'
ever. uhhiHoph'
"Of course did not obey. did ask
for explanations. l did seek to see her
again and again. But all in vain. From
that hour until tonight | never set eyes
upon her: and the events OF this night
the attempt upon her lite, her presence
here. her terror-are all part OF the
mystery which has surrounded her since
| received that note, and which is as in
comprehensive to me as to YOU"
Mrs. Forney warmly pressed her sons
hands Her sympathies. both as woman
and mother, were thoroughly reused,
and for Williams sake she determined to
penetrate the mystery.
But this was far more difficult matter
than she anticipated, and had not circum-
stances favored her. there is little reason
to suppose that she would have overcome
Gertrude's abdurate silence.
The girl was, however, completely
Frustrated by the nervous shock, and un-
able on the next day to leave her room.
Mrs Forney, therefore, felt herself JUS
tilted in sending for Gertrude's mother,
who came as rapidly as the train could
bring her, for she had been quite terrified
by Gertrude's disappearance, and only
needed clue to her whereabouts in order
to fly to her. An evil fate, she seemed to
think, had overtaken her household, for
her husbands son. young Rhinder, had
been drowned the night before. and his
dead body had just been brought home a
few minutes before she received the tele-
gram from the Forney's.
"Albrecht deadw exclaimed Gertrude,
joyously. Then l am released. My
oath binds me no longer. All! do not
think me heartless, Wilhelm-mother
am so overjoyed from the pressure of
silent dread, now removed. Albrecht was
terrible man. do think he was not in
his right mind. He loved me and strove
to marry me, and when he knew that
loved Wilhelm, his rage was too fearful.
He made me swear a terrible oath never
to marry while he lived, and he swore
that he would kill Wilhelm if ever spoke
to him or let him see me. Oh | was hor-
ribly frightened! could not resist his
rage, his wildness. | was sure he would
kill Wilhelm, and that only gave me
strength to keep my oath. Last night he
was in fearful rage He threatened a
score of times to kill Wilhelm, and when
at late hour he left the house followed
him. Hither and thither he led me, till
at last he took the train that brought US
here. and still | followed, not daring to
let him out of my sight Just as we en-
tered this street.-the must have found out
in some way that you lived here, Wilhelm
he turned suddenly and met me face to
face close at his heels. He knew me. and
in a moment knife cleaned above my
head. flew past, and fled for my life,
but he pursued me, and gained on me, and
then, as felt the cold steel Craze my
flesh | shrieked aloud, and l must have
fallen in a faint. No doubt he thought he
had killed me, but | was only terrified out
of all sense and reason"
"And it was to save me that you suf-
fered this torture my darling?" William
whispered, caressingly.
"Would not die for you, dearest?"
was the fond answer
'Do better, my own," said the happy
lover. Live for me, Gertrude"
And Gertrude promised. and she kept
her word-nor is William behindhand in
responding to her devotion; they most
truly live for each other.