The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-04-26

", and consequently, have much to
acquire in that respect"
"True!" sighed she And then enSued
a pause of Il somewhat lengthy dura-
ton.
"Perh0ps, Gertrude, you will under
stand me when l tell you that l do
not wish YOU to be seen by my friends
during their stay at Eagle Tower"
She looked ut him in wonderment,
unable to gather the full meaning of
his words.
Are You ashamed Of your wife,
Sir Basil Dovctree:" she inquired, in
rcproarhtul Syllahlrs, her eyes fixed
searchingly on his face.
'AShamrlr' he echoed, in evident
confusion and avcrting his head to
avoid her SteNdfaSt gaze. Good heav-
ems. why should you think of such Il
thing
"RrcauSc your present behavior to-
wards me induces me to do So" she
returned. with something like severity
in her tones.
Pest" lie exclaimed. impatiently.
Am to be schOOled according to your
primitive and absurd ideas-the ideas of
Il c0untry-bred girl? Do, Gertrude, ac
custom yourself to think and act with
some sense. and like other people. l
VOW you are growing positively ridicu-
lOuS
Il am sorry. Sir BASIL" she replied,
looking, rs She felt. much distressed at
his words. Il am very sorry"
Then, say no more about the mat
ter" he rejoincd, somewhat abruptly,
and seeking to quit the apartment.
Stay. Sir BASIL" she cried out ar
resting his progress. Before you go,
be good enough to let me know exactly
what l am to do, and what | am to
leave undOnc. l am asking for instruc-
ton, nothing more" she added, with an
air of injured pride.
He bit his lips. and strobe to the
easement, anger visibly depicted on all
his features.
Presently, he was standing before
Gertrude again.
Are you not cOntCnted with my adj
miratiOn alOne?" he demanded, with
a froWning brow.
"Oh, Basil! COntentcd with your ad-
miratiOn alone! How can you speak
thus to me, your wife? she answered,
reprOachfully. Whom do l care to
see or to speak to save yourself? My
eyes have no yearning to look on any
other lineamentS save yOurS-my ears
never thirst for the sound of any other
voice but the voice of my husband" !"
There, then, be satisfied that my
friends come hither and go hence with
out the knowledge of your existence" :"
If such be your will, dear Basil,
l shall attend to it in all obedience"
That's Well" he said, in a relieved
tone; and, catching her to his breast,
he pressed Il kiss upon her cheek.
k,1I IL, hot
them-Gertrude being left in a state
Of total ignorance concerning the true
reasons of Basils conduct in the pres
ent instance.
SO Gertrude kept to her own suite
of apartments. and lived like an absO-
lutte prisoner in the dwelling of which
she deemed herself the rightful mis-
tress, while Sir Rasilg quests held re-
vel. day and night, with cards, and dice
and wine.
Sir Basil DOvetree was losing large
sums Of money, of which Pelham War
ringtOn was the winner, and fresh
guests were arriving at Eagle Tower
to partake of it's mad reVels, to gamble,
to riot. to sin.
The creole was hugging himself, re-
jOiced at the success of all his plans,
and counting the gold which he had
wickedly drawn from the Golfers Of
his unWary victin-Of the man whom
he called ''friend.''
The idiot" Warrington would cry
within himself when rejecting on the
ease with which he was enabled daily
to yictimize the barOnet Il will not
only possess myself Of his gold, but
/ will also make myself master of the
pretty Gertrude! Aha! by-and-by the
Gagged bird will get tired of It's prison
bars, and will be glad enough to fly
away from Eagle Tower. I see my
Way-I see it plainly-bUt l will not
act with too much precipitation in
the matter; [ must advance with wary
steps, lest | alarm her, and teach her
to suspect my schemes aga nst her"
Meanwhile, Gertrude uttered no com
plaint, but bore her enforced imprisOn-
ment with admirable patience, reckon
ing that such imprisonment would not
last long, and earnestly trusting that
need for it would never arise again.
During this period Gertrude saw lit
tie of Sir Basil; but what she did see
of him gave her infinite trouble and
pain; for he never presented himself
before her with a clear brain, the
fumes of the wine-cup were always in
it; and his face was becoming more hag
gard and haggard every succeeding
day.
A chill had fallen OH her simple
trusting heart and her hours passed
heavily and wearily along. Sir Basi
loved her no longer, she thought, else
he would never thus withdraw himself
from her. and. in the society of reck
less, riOtOus companions, almost forget
her existence. And Gertrude begun t.
wish that she could eXtinguish within
her own breast the affection that was
hourly dwelling there for one who
was so neglecting her. Still she for
bore to breathe a single murmur of any
kind; she kept all sorrow to herself
resolved, as hitherto, to preserve entire
ly the peace of her domestic hearth.
The cards continued to be cut anC
dealt, the dice ratified, intoxicating
draughts were swallowed and lOuC
oaths yoIIeyed out under the roof ol
Eagle Tower; while Gertrude still sa
in her retirement, in ignorance of how
Sir Basil was Fastening on his roaC
to utter ruin. Thousands and thou
sands of pounds had passed out of TIL
Golfers of the Sparonet into the hands
OF the creole, who was growing bo1de
and more fearless in his wicked de
signs against his unwary entertainer
A whole month of riot and wron.
had gone by, and the baronet's youn;
face had waxed still thinner, and NOR
ghastJy, and his whole presence haC
undergone q most frigktful alteration
which Gertrude could scarcely under
stand or realize.
One night, Sir Basil, being more thar
ordinarily reckless, Pelham Warrington
seized his opportunity for making still
further inroads upon the baronet's pos
sessions.
''Harkye, BASIL" he said, laying ;
familiar hand upon his hosts shoulder
t'what sag you to q throw in the shap