Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-09-24

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their uncle's desk The key fitted; fact
Robert well knew, as it was not the first
time 1t had been tried by the unprin-
ciplcd nephew, and the following letter
written with a hand evidently feeble
from sickness, was eagerly read then as
quickly returned to its hiding place, and
the drawer relocked, as they had found
it.
On the envelope was written ITO be
sent to Sir Reginald Glendenning, Bart,
after my death"
Sir Reginald Glendennng:
MY Dear Brother-You will doubt
less be surprised to receive this letter
from one who has been so many years
separated from her family, in conse-
quenCe of having married, secretly, the
man Of her choice. Allow me merely to
say that when you read this, the sister
that you once loved will have passed
away, and, therefore, she trusts that all
hard feelings that her marriage may have
occasioned will be buried forever. Broth
er, | write to you now in order to crave
q favor at your hands. My only child
died in infancy, and just twenty and a
half years ago, |, with the consent of
my husband, took charge of little girl
of gentle blood and some pleasant future
prospects, and gave her the love of n
true mother. On her twenty-first birth
day she will be at liberty to open certain
documents laid aside for her, and then
will come into possession of her own
property, for some little awaits her ma
jority. Until then, after my DEATH she
will be friendless and alone. Now, / ask
if you will care for her until that date,
October fifth Is reached? Can she not
be in some way of service to you, and
thus compensate for her board and trou-
Bile? DO this for me, my dear brother,
and be kind and care for my beloved
Bthel, and my dying gratitude will be
| yours
Your affectonate sister.
GERTRUDE"
"Of all impudent proposals, that is the
climaxw CALCULATED Belle, Indignantly
Take her into his own family, indeed
The mink don't come here, if | can help
it. She is no earthly relation to HIM"
Your opinion will not be asked sister
mine" returned her companion in evil
deeds; land you must remember that you
are supposed to know nothing of the con.
tents of that letter. But do not be alarm.
ed. Our relative looked too much like n
| thunder cloud to be cajoled into receiv
ing her here"
Need We stop now after relating such
a scene, to describe the wholly heartless
characters of these relations of Lady
Constance Glendenning? INDUCED from
infancy by their own parents as much
as by the Lady Constance, whose Who'll,
affections had centered upon them, il
consequence of the cold manner of hel
moody, passionate husband towards her
self, it is not to be wondered at tina
they developed with each year selfish anC
unamiabe dispositions under her foolish
ly fond sway.
AS for Lady Constance, her natural,
am!dhle disposition had grown hardened
Life with her violent tempered husban,
had proved anything but pleasant, and a
she finally saw his ugly features of char
acter being initiated by these childrei
under her charge, she became morbid
indifferent and cold to such a degree tina
her nearest relatives could scarcely rec
ognize in the proud Lady Constanc
Glendenning the once light-hearted an
gay young cousin, whose society was S
, much sought in former years by the tire
brothers before their fathers death, whe
life had been so different for each. Thi
, morning Lady Constance felt UNUSUAL
, dispirited. Her apathetic heart ha
been moved the night before by singl
larly vivid dream. in which she had mt
f once more her never forgotten early love
and the face of Sir Arthur had appea
r ed in that midnight hour with all tn
q realness of life, while she seemed I
: hear him wall in despair
( "Oh Constance, Constance"
!. Starting from this dreary sleep, 81
h tossed restlessly until morning. and the
:, after rising, found that the impressC
e made upon her mind had not in the lea
0 vanished She sank upon her knees, M
weeping bitterly, moaned:
Is "Oh, Arthur, why was | so unfaithf
Il to thy precious memoryI Why did
d forget thee so soon, my own, my owl
Ie Wretched guilty woman that | have be,
m TO wed for title and inheritance, so Il
feeling and heartess a man as |, ala
rs have done! Oh, heaven, forgive this, II
le sin, and grant me peace with thysC
IL after my weary life is endedw
as Long and bitterly she thus wrestl
ut with her own heart. never stirring fro
ne her lowly posture until she was suddC
ly aroused by a Mortified scream frc
ry lips she knew to be Bellies, while
NJ strange call in tones of anguish for "Au
e. Constance" caused her to rise and op
,ir the door where she, too, was start
n to see the whole household assembled
m the halls, and then the first knowled
of some awful calamity fell upon
a heart.
lee