Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-11
Godfrey and |.
BY MANDA l. CROKER.

was loved by two brothers, Leon
and Godfrey Lamar; but, of course.
could only give my heart to one of
them.
Leon was tall. dark, and of forbidding
mien; his restless eyes insp red me
with anyth ne but tender passion.
"You must love me!' he said to me
one day after he had been pressing his
suit in van. l intend you shall!'
Nor l answered. vehemently. II
shall not: so lhere!"
why notP' he asked. biting his lip
in i'll concealed anger.
because l hate you'll" replied. hot
ly, rising and standing before him.
flushed and excited.
You love some one else. then; tell
me who?" he demanded, insolently.
LAS if / shouldr' said ], mockingly.
'You need not; L IL find OUT" and he
left me.
A forth ght later, he came to me, his
handsome face fairly contorted with
rage. Il know whom YOU are silly
enough to adore" he said threatening
ly; but lttle good will ever come of it!''
Whom do love, Air. Lamar"
asked carelesslv.
''Geoffrevr he Missed from between
his white even teeth: But you will
wish you had loved me instead. You
are not aware. | presume that all this
fine property is mine, and he is penn
less. unless 1 choose otherwise?"
s.Xas. I do knnxy al tbat o,c ,yoraI
contemptuously. "but am not influ-
enced by wealth." and | shut the door
in his face.
custom 10 spend part of each summer
out of the city. on account OF my health.
VIII ch was none of the best And AS
the Lamars were old family fl ends
and lived ut Rose Hill some miles up
the Hudson, it was perfectly natural
that | should spend nv vacations there.
The family at Rose Hill consisted of
Leon, Geoffrev and their mother. all of
whom made me welcome in a verv cor
dial manner at their elegant residence.
1t was during one of these fateful va
cations spent at the lovely country
seat that Leon Lamar fell desperately
In love with me before | was aware of
it.
Godfrey was rs unlike his brother as
one could imagine. OF medium height
aud fair complexion, with winning
ways and soft persuasive voice; it was
hard to bear in mind that they were
brothers.
But Godfrey had told me his love
and won NV heart long before Leon be-
came aware of it; and my preference
for his brother had never entered his
mind. presume.
Perhaps that was why he became so
furious, and ground through his muir
derous looking teeth. that day. that it
was "Geoffrev." | felt. however from
that day on that Leon would do some-
thing very wicked, without scruple,
IL he thought it would bring pain and
sorrow to either of us-Geoffrey or /.
In view of such possibility. l con-
fided Icons threat to my lover, telling
him also my fears. He said but little.
and pretended that he did not mind.
although | knew by his looks that he
felt uneasy for long time afterward.
/ saw but little of Leon after his
threatening interview. as he was away
good deal on business, and ! seldom
visited at Rose Hill after our disagree
able "scene."
Geoflrey ran down to- my home in
BROOKLYN occasionally; and one morn
ing in MAY | expected him. as he had
promised TO accompany me TO an en-
tertainment.
/ busted myself with the plans of
the entertainment all the forenoon.
not noticing how the time was flying,
until the bells chimed midday.
"NoonT ] CALCULATED. land Godfrey
not here? Whyl What-P" and n
dozen calamities thrust their posi-
bilty on me. as thought of Leon s
threat.
''Oh. Geoffreyr' choked down tn
words and hurried down stairs. A
servant handed me n letter. and. as ii
was laid on my outstretched palm. q
chill of terror froze the blood in my
veins.
81 expected it." was all | said to
mothers look of anxious inquiry; then
/ sped away TO my rooms Once there,
/ opened the letter and read:
DEAREST: As am called away on very
urgent business this morning, and cannot
find time to run down to tell you, beg TO be
excused and forgiven for disappointing you
90. will call, however, as soon as | return.
"Yours till then, GEoFFREY."
Strange" said |. "that Geoff.
couldn't write moro than that when he
is generally on the verge of being pro-
lix." Turning the note over. IL struck
me that II was not my lovers writing.
! hurried 10 my escretoire and com
pared the chirography with that OF a
half dozen letters he had written ne.
The handwriting was not the same. and
the difference could easily be detected.