The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-07-28


heart-food, a little sunshine of
tie soul, that Paul needed, in
stead of drugs.
And at this very time, Mrs. Lin
aey-and he had some respect for
her judgment-began to hint to.
hm how wretched Ethel was; and
though he could scarcely tell how
she gave the impression, for she
certainly did not put it in plain
words, yet give the impression she
certsinly did, that Ethel desired
separation, and that it was only
justice to her that she should have
it. And, IN the same way, she
gave him the idea that Ethel
loved her son.
Poor Paul, he did not know
what to de-what he ought to do.
He said to himself, that, if he re-
spected and trusted Gerald Black.
he would remove all barriers be-
tween him and Ethel; he would
give her to him, though his own
heart broke. But, feeling tow
ards him as he did, his course was
not clear; he was her guardian,
too, and she was more dependent
on his guardianship than she
knew. For, while she thought,
and everyone thought, she was the
helress of a handsome property,
she was, in fact, absolutely pen
nlIess; for the bank in which her
funds were placed by her father,
had failed, soon after her fathers
death. Paul had kept the knowl-
edge from her, Judging, rightly,
that she would refuse to accept so
much from his hands. This it
was, together with his great love,
that had influenced him in wish
ing her to become his wife, when
| he thought he was leaving her for
ever. He had left her all his
wealth, by will but he had some
distant relatives, who, although
wealthy, were INSCRIPTIONS, and
destitute Of right principle, and
he feared that they might make
her trouble. He felt that sht
} would be moro absolutely certain
of inheriting his large fortune, i
he left her his widow.
What to do, to do right by Eth
el--this was the burden Of hi
thought, day and night.
And, poor fellow, he was very
weak yet; weakened by his almos
mortal illness, and weakened
still more, by SORROW and hope de
ferred. He felt that he could no
: decide-he must have time te
| think; and 80, when the doctor de
/ clded that a short sea-voyage,
: trip to Cuba, was imperativel,
l necessary in his case, he caugh
: at the suggestion. He would g
r away, entirely away, from th,
sweet temptation that was Turin,
l him, may be, from the path O
honor; he would go and think i
t over, calmly, and when he re
L turned, he would decide.
L But how Jared Ethel, in tn
=. days that followed Paul's absence
[ Did he experience a sense of re
0 lief, when the man, who 50 sud
L denly and unexpectedly was force
: upon her acceptance as husband
f was out of her sight? Whe
there were no loving patient eye
n to follow her, as she listened t
d the gallant compliments of th
|, ideal man?
e Why, no; as the days went by
e each Oh seeming longer, more tt
k d1ous, than the last, the compl
ments of Gerald Black SCENE
e coarse, his admiration offensivel
l. presuming; she grew weary Of h
n conversation, his presence. An
), there was a dreary void In hi
y heart, constant longing for tt
If dear friend, who had always bee
l. SO great a part of her life; 81
Il missed him every day, every hou
r. Could it be, she said to hersel
3 that she had been deceived in L
If gard to her own feelings? Coul
t. it be, that she loved him, not wit
l. a calm, sisterly affection, but wit
1T the love that was nearer az
t. stronger?
is But still, the rumor wei
er abroad, possibly from Mrs. Lin,
y, sey, though it would be difficu
S to find the person to whom 81
to told it; still, the impression wei
ii abroad, that Ethel had partt
er from her husband, and was on
waiting for time, to obtain a
/, gal separation.
II On hearing this. rumor, an o
ut lawyer friend, who had alwa,
er done the business Of the famil
n went to visit Ethel. He was