Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-04-23
Mrs. Gwynne smiled. .'You know she

Did one ever see clearly how one stood
with her? He departed crestfalien; in
wardly tuning. She had seemed some
times to like him well--very well, and
she was certainly very handsome girl,
and he, we'll, he was undoubtedly in
love with her, and there was the mon
ey 1t appeared outrageous to the
young man, whose own patrimony was
less ample than he could have wished
it, that mere girl and a stripping
should each have inherited such
wealth. That was the STRIPPING riding
by now, and the tall, dark fellow with
him was his tutor. 1t occurred to Tom
Revery to wonder, in passing, whether
the tutor ever saw much of his pupils
sister.
Must be rather rough on the poor
chap il he's susceptible at ali ~
1t was week later, and Miss Brock
ton was not only home this time, but
had been sitting with Mr.. Revery for
nearly an hour.
There had now fallen over the room
heavy silence. 1t lasted only few sec
onds, but the pause seemed All endless
one. Miss Brocktonihad risen sudden
ly and was standing with an elbow
against the mantel. AS her visitor
seemed helplessly to tumble for the fit.
ting word, she repeated little nerv-
ously:
II am sorry-very sorry-for this mis-
understanding. But--I-cannot marry
you, Mr.. Revery. / shall never marry
at aIl.''
AT this unlikely statement the sutton
regained courage.
miss Brockton Geraldine %
"No; it is improbable that I should
ever marry. Of course, MANY men
,frhf hr, f<,r tod 10 -
thinking me rich. But my property
will soon, by my own desire. be so dis.
posed of that shall have only moder.
ate income. Even should l marry, my
will is so made that nothing / have, in
case of my death, would GO to my hus-
band. so you see, such considerations
may act as deterrents."
Miss Brockton, you-you cannot
think, it is not possible that you would
believe me-" Revery was turning, in
rapid succession, from red to white,
from white to red. The girl pitied his
discontinue.
"Not at all, Mr. Revery. I suspect you
of no interested motives. But do not
care for youth the way you mean"
Five minutes afterward she was sit
ting by the fire alone, a scornful smile
on her lips that presently faded away
and into a sigh. Some one came in at
the door as she sat there, but turned
again, retreating. At the sound Ger
aldine glanced around.
Don't GO, Mr.. Severn; let me tell
you of an Interview have just had"
She had started to her feet again, and
stood in the attitude she had assumed
little before, with her arms resting on
the chimney top. Dusk was coming on
and the room was in penumbra, save
for the freight. These leaping flames
Illuminated the face above them. Such
face Author Severn felt dizzy for
moment He had never seen her look
like that. She had never flashed that
smile, that eyebeam. upon him. She
had never addressed him in that friend
ly, testing tone. She was suddenly all
life, all softness, all charm. She
seemed to wish to atone for her sullen-
ness, her arrogance. What will O. the
wisp she was! Changeiul as witch.
San interview" said the young men
guardedly. He would not let himself
GO. He kept tight rein on himself.
with Mr.. Revery; yes-tancy l
have all at once come to the conclusion
that wish to be married, if l am mar
ried at all, for myself. The heiress,
Miss BrocktOn, will in a short time have
practically ceased to exist and there will
remain only Geraldine Brockton,
though moment before he had offered
his hand and heart to Miss Brockton,
the heiress"
She was laughing now, Her eyes con-
tinued to flash upon him with that
strange, lambent persistence. 1t was
like a challenge. What could she
mean? Again Severn seemed to turn
dizzy. He kept his outward compos-
ure by a tremendous effort.
eff what you say is true, Miss Brock
ton, you will regret it, perhaps"
Regret giving nearly all my fortune
to charitable institutions? All, you
judge as the world judges, do you? l
had thought differently of you, Mr.. Sew
ern. Why should [ wish to be so
rich ?" she cried. with sort of fierce
stand the test. I could not. 1t was
making me hard, suspicious. It was
making me doubt the whole world. 1t
was sitting me. I shall have enough
left for the decencies and COM
forts of life. And I am free Yes, I
am free now. Before [ was a slave-a
slave to fatterers, to fortune hunters,
to every form of human hypocrisy.
Other people may feel themselves ex-
allied by such position. l felt myself
degraded %
She stopped. She almost seemed to
pant. The blood rushed to Severn's
brain. He took step forward. What
was he about to do-what to say? What
ever it might have been the porter was
drawn aside and Mrs. Gwynne came in.
The words remained unuttered on his
lips.
But Miss Brockton spoke. A strange
spirit seemed to possess her, urging her
on, goading b er to abrupt disclosures.
"Ah, Aunt Martha l wonder if
you'll be surprised, too, at my news? I
have made an announcement which has
stricken two men dumb with astonish-
men already. And yet it does not seem
go strange, does it? Mr.. Severn seems
scarcely to believe that l have given
away nearly all my fortune"
"What nonsense % said Mrs.
GWynne.
Severn had vanished.
you do say such extraordinary
things at times" declared Mrs. GwInne.
''People will really believe. at length,
that you are not quite right, Gerald
ine."
AUNT Martha !" Geraldine stood up
1ioht before hnr siYOu don't holiovo