The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-10-29

TANDING beside an open library
window Grace Rsmsay absently
gazed at the bright moon ard
the twinkling stars in the azure
skies above. Grief had cast its mantle
over her life. "A few hours before her
father, Gerald Ramsay, had been
borne to the little cemetery beyond
the city limits. Years before be had
drifted into Verova City. His manly
ways soon enabled him to win the con-
fidence of the people. Before many
months had passed he entered part
nership with James Allen the leading
merchant of the city. At first the peo-
ple wondered-but soon his marriage
to Bertha Allen silenced the vague
wonderings of Dame Curious. Gerald
and his young bride began housekeep-
ing in small cottage and their happi-
ness was obvious to all their friends.
"a year or more passed when young
woman arrived at Verova. In her arms
she bore baby boy. At the time OF
her arrival in the little city Grace Ram
say was being christened at one OF the
churches. Past this church the young
woman went, then paused to gaze at
the little group coming out of the
church. Mere curiosity impeiled her to
gaze lirst at the laughing group. then
at the smiling, happy face of Graces
mother; the strange woman gazed and
mentally thought of her own misery
compared 20 Bertha's; again she leveled
her eyes at the little group, this time
her face became pallid, and the hue of
hatred cleaned from her eyes, for there
stood Gerald Brown, the man who had
won her love, married her against the
wishes of her parents-then deserted
her. Step by step, toiiing and saving,
she had trailed him to VerOya. AS she
stood undecided the others entered
waiting carriages and were driven to
the little cottage. Thither the stranger
wended her way. But not until the
evening shadows had cast themselves
over the horizon had she the courage
to ask for Gerald. Their meeting Oc-
CURED in the little library of the cot
tage. "Gerald, why did you desert me 7
Look at our baby. l have named him
Harold, after your father" The affec-
tionate tone of voice, together with the
smiles of the baby face, caused Gerald
Ramsay to bow his head upon the little
center table while his manly young
form shook with his despairing sobs.
The woman laid her hacd upon his
head aud said: Gerald, because love
you, and because of our baby, | shall
leave you. Be faithful, true, and good
to the girl you have married here.
With tears coursing down her cheeks
the, woman held her baby for the man
to kiss. Suddenly an impulse seized
him and he said: "Anna, l know
have cruelty wrOnged yoo-can you
forgive me?" For an answer the
young woman started toward the door.
way where she paused to say: "Good-by
Gerald; 1 forgive you for humanity's
sake!"
The years passed slowly by and one
bright June morning, as the sun peeped
over the eastern horizon, Bertha Ram
say died. Far away in western state
beautiful lady reclined upon couch
in the parfor of q hotel. A young mar
entered the psrlor and carelessly tossed
a paper to the woman. Idly she
scanned the columns; suddenly shi
rose and-then tainted. The younf
man hastily summoned assistance ant
when the woman recovered from th'
fainting spell he asked: "What was tn
matter, mother?"
"Nothing, Harold-at least no
much"
That night she relived the past. Sh
wondered if Gerald's secret had bee1
revealed to Bertha. Day by day sh
grew fainter until sickness ciaime'
her. Then in q delirium, while Harol'
stood nigh, she relived the hours of tn
past. As she recounted her wrongs h
recalled the way she had deceived hin
Time and again she called for Geral
and the son stood helpiessly BY. How
ever, az soon as his mother had recov
cred from her Illness Gerald stsrte
Cor the East presumably on bushes