Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-10-18
ook an shocked. Mrs. Walter!

WneredS tnelT oTy uoucs atc chouku
in the one case-in the other-well,
in the other, one may let little feel
ing be SEEM"
"Do you really think ii necessary
to tell us more than we know already,
Mrs. GerrardP" interrupted mother;
and knew the stiff protest was sim
cere. Curious as she was, she shrank
from hearing the story of Archibald
Gerrad's wooing told by those scorn-
fully smiling lips; but Estelle would
have her way.
"Quite necessary, IL not for your
satisfaction, then for that of Ludleigb
at large. OF course the gossips are
on the qm Uire to know all about me.
and will metaphorically tear you and
Irene TO pieces if you are not pre-
pared to crafty their curiosity to-
morrow. You cannot deny that"
Mother could not; so she simply
shook her head and allowed her Sis
ter-in-law to proceed.
Tell them that my mother made a
great mistake when she Tilted Archi-
bald Gerard for frank EgertOn's
sake-a mistake she repentad within
n week OF her marriage and TO the
last day OF her life. My father was
a spend thrift, a gambler, and bad
cruel husband; he made her miserable
for fifteen years, and then deserted
her and her last living deserted
her on her death-bed.
She was evidently excited by her
own story; her eyes flashed, but her
voice neither softened nor broke as
mother; her lips sill retained their
scornful curve; there was no touch of
pity in the bril- ant face; and yet, /
hardly. know why. began to feel
certain amount of pity for her. She
looked at me and laughed.
~ on think me very horrible to
speak so Of my own father, Irene; but
IL your experience had been like mine,
you would perhaps have grown as
hard as |. But there is no need to go
into all that now. When my mother
felt that she was dying, and knew that
she must leave me alone in the world,
she wrote out and gave to me n last
despairing appeal to her old lover,
asking him to befriend her friendless
child"
HAS she only just died them" /
asked. as had asked uncle Archie a
little while back, puzzled by her be-
wildering avoidance OF all dates.
"Oh, no-she died ten years since.
when / was just seventeen. But | did
not care to present the letter at once.
! was at war with the all world-with
all the people who had wronged my
mother-and did not care TO meet the
one she had wronged. was strong
and fairly well-educated, and l deter
mined to be accomplished as we'll. /
went as pupil-teacher to a Brussels
school, stayed there for three years.
working hard, and gaining golden
opinions OF my employer-Madame
Ledru-and, more than that, an intro
duction TO n very great family. in
which | remained for seven years as
governess to one girl.
1--WE spent those seven years in
Italy. My pupil married there; and
then the great family needed my SER
vices no more. They did not turn me
adrift in any ungracious fashion; they
rewarded me handsomely, and init
mated, in the kindest manner, that l
was now free TO return TO my home.
My home! had no home, Irene; and,
being always extravagant in my
tastes, had no savings 10 fall back
upon until ] found other occupation.
However, ] was too proud TO say a
word OF this TO my employers. l
thanked them for their presents and
good wishes, and went at once, with a
half intention of returning to Brussels
and asking Madame Ledru TO take me
in. But fate changed my plans.
went to Paris instead, fell In a poor
lodging there, spent all my money,
and was reduced to almost absolute
despair, when | saw your uncle's name
one day in a visitors list.
Then l suddenly remembered my
mothers letter. Why should not in
this strait appeal to the one man who
might help meP i went home, took
the little packet-which | had kept
more from superstitious reverence
than from any thought that l should
ever use it--from the old pocket-book
in which for ten long years n had lain
undisturbed, and, giving myself no
time TO reflect upon or reconsider my
determination, sent it to the hotel at
which. as the newspaper told me,
Archibald Gerard was staying"
"And he came to you at once!" in
terposed excitedly. Dear, generous
uncle Archie would find such an ap-
peal from your mothers daughter
absolutely Irresistible.
'.He came within an hour; within a
week he had asked me TO marry him;
and lin the circumstances, what
should / say but .Yes'p" asked Mrs.
Gerard, fixing her eyes deliberately
upon mine. Now, you know the
whole story of your uncle's marriage,
Irene. and may tell it at every teai
table in Ludleigh IL you choose"
The defiance that had momentarily
vanished from her eyes and voice came
back in full force now. l wondered
more than ever why she had so frankly
told her somewhat curious story 10
people whom she seemed go little