Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1888-11-09

A TERRIBLE TRIAL.

| was six years old; not as brother,
but as a little lover. As time passed
and | knew her better and better only
loved her the more | was compelled
to 60 South on business one year and
had resolved to speak to Kate on my
return and ask her to be my wife
just before | went away Gerard Hop
kinson came from New York and was
engaged by my guardian, John Gordon,
to work in the counting-room
A handsome, pleasant young man, no
seemed, but had misgiving that be
would bring me unhappiness of some
kind. l had only been South few
months when the shock came that | had
vaguely anticipated. Gerard and Kate
were engaged. On top of this news
came letter from my guardian, stating
that his book-keeper, Evans, who had
been with him thirty years, had found
Hopkinson had committed forgery.
He had been discharged, but no attempt
had been made to prosecute. returned
to Barton hastily on receipt of this letter
and found Kate a nero wreck of her
former self
We had family consultation about her
case and decided that trip to Europe
would do her good. 1t was curious fact
that, in spite Of her lovers descrtion,
she persisted that he was inpoeent.
During the next few months | tried
to free her of this delusion. and al the
same sas tried to regain her love- II
was two years, however, before | asked
her to be my wife, and was accepted.
About week before the wedding,
when | was in great excitement, re-
ccived this letter from my guardian
MY Dear Boy:-You will DO as
glad as l was to hear that Gerard Hop
kinson is an innocent man. Evans died
last week; committed suicide. He has
been robbing me systematically ever
since | took him into my confidence.
The forgery was committed to cover a
loss by speculation, and suicide seemed
his only escape. He left full con-
fession, and fortunately | knew where
to find Hopkinson. wrote to him at
once and he is now in Barton, in Evans
place, and with his salary. Need | say
be is still faithful to Kate l enclose
his letter to her."
There it lay, the letter that was to
destroy my whole scheme Of happiness
Only o day later it would have been
powerless, for should then have been
kate's husband. Only one day! spent
hours of torture trying to be true to
myself, true to Kate, but the tempta-
ton was too strong.
| put Gerard's letter, unopened, into
the fame of the gas-burner, and watched
it burn to ashes. Then folded away
my guardians letter, which had some
business details | intended to copy be-
fore destroying it.
What excuse could | make for delay
ing our return to Barton? Worn out
already with mental excitement, i left
that question open, undecided whether
to take Aunt Carrie into my confidence
in so far as to tell her Of Gerard's re-
turn to Barton.
| heard more than one comment upon
my pale face at the wedding breakfast,
but everything passed on well, and Kate
was my wife had thought my happi-
ness must be perfect when | could call
her by that sacred name. With Kate
nv own, had thought to defy fortune
| to iDiure me but before the honeymoon
was over, knew that my wife would
be faithful, but never loving.
had not thought before of my wealth
10 connection with my marriage, ex-
cepting that was glad to have it in my
power TO give every luxury to my wife
but Aunt Carrie confessed to me, only
Yesterday, that she had urged Kate &c
accept me because she did think of my
fortune. do not think she would have
urged her TO merely merceDary mar
riage; but when all else was favorable
she thought it no harm to secure rich
husband, us well as loving one.
We had been married nearly two
months, when one morning Kate cam'
into the private purlor Of our London
hotel, where | sat reading. Upon one
pretext and another | had delayed ou
return to Barton, and VIC had been SOM
weeks in London. | looked up as Kat
came in. and her ghastly face and Sc
lips absolutely frightened me. Befor
could speak she held out to me m.
guardians letter.
"You asked me to clear up your tabl
drawer" she said, "and this was folde'
in another paper, but SO that | read on
line, Gerard Hopkinson is an innocen
man = Then / read the letter. | onl
ask you one question Did it reach 20
before we were married :"
I could not lie to her, with her eye
riyeted on my face.
. Before" said
"And you destroyed the enclosure
eyes"
She uttered no reproach. She stu
ply put the letter upon table befol