The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-09-21
SHE v KNEW.

49, - a a' n-
SHE NEVER KNEW.
1t was in q luxuriously furnished
room, where n glowing CRATE threw
light and warmth upon the occupants,
Gerard Langton, lawyer and mill
listened with bated breath and
pallid cheeks to a low and mclodious
voice that told the story of q life.
The speaker, y beautiful woman of
about thirty, yet ten years younger
than Mr.. Langton. rcclined in a low
cushioned chair, her dress. her atti-
tudc, both speaking of the east wealth
gives. but her face full of the deepest
anguish, as her lips re.ounted this
story.
"You love a,s." she said gently yet
"and love you as l never loved
any one before. although / am a widow.
That you knew, but you did not know
my husbands name. BY my uncle's
last request dropped it and took his,
with the property lie left me. Do not
look Mt me tendcrly, Gerard, do not
shake my voice or my heart, for when
you know who l am, you will repent
the offer you have made me, and which,
Heaven is my witness, l tried to
avert"
Let Your conscience be at rest
there" said her listener in u grave yet
tender tone; you have never given me
one hope, Maudc. Ey what instinct l
knew That YOU loved me l can never
tell, but something in your eyes-somc
tone OF your voicc-betrayed you. If,
as you say, something in yourpast life
does separate Us, you have been no CO.
qaette TO torment me with false hope.
But, Maude, tell me again, whatever
stands between us, You love meN'
Il love you." she said grayely; "and
it is because | do love you that l will
not let you link your honorable name
with that OF the wretch who was my
husband.
~ was very youngg-not yet sixteen
,-wlicn he came to make a visit to
some frjends1iving ut Grassbank. Un-
ella Richard had atcomntry-scat ncnr
t!!erviliage.ilaI first met Alexander 1T u
picnic, where lie was tho very life Of
the party, every hody's cavalier, cour-
and service for all. ] believe every
girl Mt the grounds thought she had
captiyated him, his attentions Were so
well divided, and yet SO impressive to
each me. He claimed 10 be no more
than q salesman in y large wholesale
house, with y good salary, but had tho
manners Of q gentleman, \ good edu-
cation, and the most perfect beauty OF
face and form that ! Owe saw in q
man.
'lt was not long before it was evil
dent that he wished to win my love,
and he had an easytash. Such love as
u child Of sixteen can give Igave him.
He WAS the impersonation of every
hero of poetry and fiction with whom
lny limited reading had made me IA
miliar. Schoolgirl like, ] had made
anEideal hero. and ftted this, my first
admirer, With all his Imaginary perfec-
lions.
From the first, Uncle Richard dis
liked him, ~prpnouncing him false and
shallow, and assuring me that my per-
sonal attractions had not won his lleart,
but that the fact OF my being heiress to
a large property had gained me the
protesta.ioDs in which / so firmly be-
loved. ~ IA.
sit is a painful story to me now, Ge-
rard. Let il suffice Tint ! lived in 4
world of delicious dreams While Alex
ander remained at Grassbank. When
ho left, he carried my promise TO be
lis wife nj Christmas.
Il think. If my money had depend
ed upon Uncle Richard, that my mar
riage might have been prevented by
his threatening TO disinhcrit me; but
both from my father and my mother |
had Inherited money that made me in
dependent, in II p%ccuaiary sense, ofAhi>
control or consent.
Most grudgingly. however, my IN.
c.c did consent, alter searching enquiry
about Alexander, resulting in no worse
report than that his employers thought
aim fast. Idle. and just the man to be g
fogtmre-hunter. Even then my deal
nnclo would have protected my fortune
b. settling il strictly upon myself; bu!
With the reckless generosity of extreme
youth, ] refused to have this done.
Never, | was firmly convinced, would
my adored Alexander wrong me in any
way.
For q year after the splendid we'd
ding that made me AleXander's wife
was Very happy. Twas too ignoran,
OF the value of money to understand
that we were living far beyond our in,
come. and enjoyed TO the utmost Tho
luyurics surrounding me--the constant
gaiety. that was in such strong contras
10 the school routine from which | hat
iast been released. t
Then beguna life Of neglect, Otter
OF quarrelling, when i objected to M
husbands course of conduct-hi!
drinking, his extravaganza, and hi.
late hours. Still, l found my owl
pleasures in society and q renewal o
some of my favoritc studies, especially
languages and music. was fond, too
OF water-color painting, and mad,
presents to my friends of specimens o
my skill in that line. @ y ~
at was four years after my marriag,
when | was tiunderstruck by AleXan
der.s asking mo 10 request q loan o
money from Uncle Richard, with tn,
information added that every penny O
my property was gone. Since then
have known that u large portion OF i
was lost at the gambling-tablcs.
Long before this l.had lost all love
for my husband. Respect had dipt
out when ] knew the dissipated life he
wa leading, and, foolish rs | was.
could not continue to love n mar whom
| despiscd. l refused the GRAND, anc
brought down such 4 torrent of gross
abuse that ] really expected Alexander
would end by striking me.
Day after day tho request was re
newcd, but ! would not yield. Upor
my marriage, Uncle Richard had solo
his city residence. and taken up u per.
manent abode at Grassbank, where,
knowing my husband to be an unwcl
come guest, | " visited him.
wrote occasionally, but the love o
years, like that of father and child
had Decn so badly strained By my per
sistence in marrying Alexander, tina
even our correspondence was languit
and commonplace.
Il would not, therefore, write TO hin
TO ask q favor that l knew would no
have been necessary without crimina
recklessness of expenditure, and eacl
refusal made my husband more furious
Then came an overwhelming blow
Alexander forged q check, and drew
1000 pounds Of Uncle Richards mon
ey from the bank, l do not think m,
uncle would ever have prosecuted hin
had he uunssnd yuho WAC thn Inr,~r