The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-07-24

'CoInc 10 me, Robert, if you ever loved me
eether in the quiet home that shall never see
again! Ah if had never left it-or youl You
loved me best, after all; but, then did not be.
lievc il!
And the child, Robert. He bears your
name. and he has your eyes, your smile! For
the sake of the child, at least, come to me- for
L am dying, and must leave him in your care.
Your unhappy
This was the note, written in a faint
and faltering hand-a woman's hand,
mind you!-the note that pretty little
Mrs. Robert Strong picked up off the
carpet of her drawing-room, where it
had been dropped by her husband, in
his hasty passage toward the hall and
from. door.
She picked it up, carelessly enough,
at first. She was an honorable little
lady, and would never have dreamed
of ransacking her husbands private
papers, or desk, or diary, rs so many
women would not scruple to do, if the
occasion offered. Even this letter
would have been laid aside till her hus-
bands return, unread, had it not
chanced to open in her hand, as she
lifted it from the floor.
Her eyes fell upon the first line, and
the red blood rushed instantly to her
face. What woman was this, who
asked Robert Strong to come to her,
by the love he had once borne her
years before, in the happy home she
had left forever with anotherp
Little Mrs. Strong had long, hard
battle with herself before she could
make up her mind to read that note.
But she did read it at last, and hav-
ing eaten of the apple" like her gold
cn-haired ancestress in the garden of
Eden, she instantly became as unhappy
as she deserved to be.
She had been a governess in a family
where Mr. Strong visited Rich, in
fuential. and still wondrouslv hand
some, though he confessed to fifty
seven years ofage, the stately bachelor
the great catch of the season passed
by all the fashionable bellies of his ac-
quaintance, and actually offered his
hand, his heart. and his fortune, for the
acceptance of the little grey-eyed gov
erness whom he had seen now and then
at odd moments only, as she passed
with her pupils up and down the grand
staircase. or through the hall of his
friends house in - street.
OF course she took him, and became
Mrs. Robert Strong as soon as possible.
Yes, Mrs. Gruudy was right there.
Within month of the millionaire's
offer came his wedding-day; and then.
after short trip to the continent, the
happy pair established themselves in
Bel@rayia under the full glare of Mrs.
Grundy's sharp ard stony eye.
But one thing Mrs. Grundy never
knew, and would never have believed,
had you told her till you were gray.
OF course the bridegroom was desper-
ately in love with the pretty little
bride. That Mrs. Grundy was quite
willing to allow.
But it also happened that the bride
was even more desperately in love with
the bridegroom, strange as it may
seem. She was twenty, and he was
tiftv-scven; and every one would have
it that she had married him for his
money and his luxurious home. In
reality, she thought him the hand
soonest, stateliest, and most agreeable
man on earth. But the severely classic
style of his really beautiful face; his
stately form; his dignifed manner;
even the calm firm glance of his deep
blue eyes, frightened aud awed her.
she knew not why. She dared not
show her love for him. even when she
was his WIFE And so he fancied, at
times that Mrs. Grundv was in the
right. That his money had purchased
for him graceful and lovely woman
to sit at the head of his table, and to
take his arm in all places of public
amusement; woman in whose care his
honor was safe; but in whose heart he
had no share.
1t was sad and terrible mistake, and
but for the coming of this mysterious
bHlet-dour it might have lasted during
both their lives.
Mrs. Strong, hiding that tell-tale
note away, sat rocking to and fro in
her own easy-chair, crying as if her
heart would break.
This woman. this wretched womani
Her husband had gone To her, was with
her even then. How dared he leave
his wife like that. And the child. What
child? whose child?
Again the red blood dyed her lovely
face. They had no child Perhaps
he might have loved her better-well,
come what would. she would follow
him now and know the worst. Mrs.
Grundy,n since their marriage. had
often whispered tales to her husband S
diScredit. which she had refused to
hear: now she would see and Judge for
herself.