CHAPTER XLIX. GERTRUDES PROBATION.
Nay, nay, no thought, not any thought, At least not any thought of you, Hut what shall thank, dear love. Nor aught Of love's mistrust; between us tw o Can e\ er creep. Thank God, we keep Too close to let thin doubt slip through. ANON. Aitkr her solitary tea on that evening when Gerald had left her on one of his mysleiions absences, Gertrude drew her low chair to the centre-table, took up her needle-work and sewed under the light of the chandelier. "I will sit and sew till twelve o'clock, and then when I go to bed [ may bleep, and the night will not seem so long." She -uas mteuupted by a light lap at the door. "Come in,'' she said, half honing, half expecting; a note or a mes.-age fiom Colonel Fit/geiald. " Yet why should I look for any when he has- only left me for a night? lam growing billy,*' .she thought, 'as she raided her eyes to .see the waitei enter, followed by another man with a pile of packages in his aims. The waiter advanced and handed her a note, Avhile the porter began to disburden himself of his parcels, and ai range them upon the centre-table. Gertrude recognised Gerald's handwiiting with delight, opened and read hLs note: "My Dkui Littlt'. Tni'i;: I send you something that may amuse you. and help to pass oil' the time of my enforced absence : for I shall not be back to you bcfoie nine to-moiro\v morning, when J will join you at breakfast — Gkkald." She lifted her head and looked around. Both the waiter and the porter had left the room, and closed the door behind them. She pressed the little note to her lips, and then put it in her bo&om. It was the lii&t note or letter that Gerald Fit/.gerald had e\ er written to her, and she resoh ed to keep it for ever. Then she laid aside her sewing, and began to open her parcels with curious interest, to see what they might contain. It was like seeking answers to riddles which she could not gue.ss. They were filled a\ ith beautiful presents. Among them a little packet, the smallest in the lot, which was found to contain an elegant little gold hunting-watch and chain. Gcrtiude uttered a low exclamation of sui prise and pleasure. All her pieaents had delighted her both in themselves and as the gifts of Gerald ; but the watch and chain more than all the others ; thc>e were gifts that were equally useful and beautiful, and that she often desired to possess. She took the watch from its case, ki=sed it, and hung it by its chain around her neck. "Oh ! how good Gerald is to mo. He dof< like me, he does think about mo when he is away, and he doc try to make me happy !"' she murmured to herself, as she took up one after another of hia gifts and kissed them. Notwithstanding all her earnest woman's love for her husband, she enjoyed the pretty presents he had sent her, just as any other young girl might have done. So the evening, though solitary, passed pleasantly away — so pleasantly that Gertrude did not note the flight of time until she heard a distant clock strike twelve. " I thank Heaven the night is half spent. In nine hours I shall see Gerald again. 1 will go to bed and sleep six of them away! But iirst I will wind up my dear littlo watch and set it one minute past twelve — the very first minute of the new day." She did so, and then put away her treasures in her upper bureau drawer, prepared to retire, offered up her evening pi ayers, and went to bed to sleep. Gertrude, when her heart was at rest, was a sound sleeper. She slept until morning. A little before nine o'clock, Gerald Fitzgerald walked into the parlour. If he had ever had any doubt of his littlo Gertrude's devoted love, that doubt must have vanished before the radiant look of joy that lighted up her face as she welcomed him. She did not need to say how glad she was that he had got back she looked it ; but after the first greetings were over, she j did call his attention to her decorations and tell him how much she thanked him for his gifts. " Why, my dear little True, those were only some things thought of and picked up in a hurry, when I left you last night, and j sent to be a little diversion for you in your solitude. But, after breakfast we must go out together, my child, and get what you will want on your sea-voyage," he said, smiling at her delight. "Oh, thank you, Gerald — thank you so much ! It will not be a great deal I shall need. Grandpa, when we were thinking of going to Europe, told me that I should only require one suit for tho whole voyage, and only other clothing enough to last ten days. And that I should take no more than could be put into a small trunk, to stand in the state-room. Everything, he said, could bo purchased so much better and cheaper in Europe," said Gertrude, with a wise air of experience. "Yes, little Moderation; but we shall be on the sea in the month of October — a fine month to cross in, but cold. We shall both need extra- warm outer garments. You must have a seal-skin sacque, muff, and cap, among other things." Tho entrance of the waiter with tho breakfast-tray put an end to the confidential conversation. After breakfast, Gerald ordered a carriage and took Gertrude out shopping. She wore her little country hat and Paisley shawl, and looked quaint, matronly and oldfashioned. Gerald had perspicuity enough to see that that was all in her costume, and resolved to change it. They stopped first at a fashionable modiste's, where Gertrude chose a neat black velvet jacket, trimmed with deep guipure lace, and a little black velvet hat to match. These, Gertrude know, could be worn with her biack silk dress, and would make a good walking suit. Here, also, she ordered a sea-suit of black serge, which was to bo sent to her complete in two days.
They next went to a furrier's, where Gerald himself selected the sealskin sacque, muff and cap, that were to be Gertrude's best defences on deck against cold days and high winds at sea. A few other purchases were made, and then they returned to their hotel. Thoy dined and rested after dinner, and in the evening Gerald took Gertrude to a concert of celebrated performers that some enterprising musical manager had got up, and which was well attended even at that dull interval before the meeting of Congress filled the city w ith its winter population. Little Gertrude wore her new velvet hat and sacque, and her pearl jewellery ; and though thus simply diessed, looked no longer quaint and old-fashioned. This country girl had never been to any public place of amusement, and so she enjoyed her first concert excessively, and was frank and outspoken in her expressions, of pleasuie. And certainly Gerald Fitzgerald's enjoyment of the music was doubled by hie witnessing that of his naive little companion. They returned to their hotel about eleven o'clock, and finished the day with a dainty little supper. The next morning's mail brought several letters — one from the New York agent of the Cunard steamship company, enclosing a diagram of the tir=-t cabin of the Europa, with the state-iooms yet at their disposal marked. This letter Geiald Fitzgerald answered by icturn mail, enclosing the money for four passages, and thus .seeming their berths. The other letter was from Pennyman, his bteward, telling him that the two young servants, Mcta and Jubal, would be sent on to Washington by the next morning's stage-coach from Wildeville. A card was here placed in his hand by the waiter, who had come in to set the bieakfast table. " Ble->s my soul, Geitiude, it is the Rev. Dr. Goodwin !" ho exclaimed, as lie read the name. '• Dr. Goodwin !" echoed Gertrude. "Yes, child. Waiter, where ha\e you left the gentleman V " In the reception room, sir.'' " Show him up here at once/ The waiter Ictfc the room to obey the order. " I wonder what biings him here, by the way V said Gemld. "Oh ! don't you know ? His congregation are sending him to Europe lor his health."' " Ah. certainly ! It would be cuiious., by the way, if he should be going over on the same ship with u?/' " Why, yes -o it Avould. Oh, how I should like that ' Would not you, Geiald ?'' "Certainly, if it would please you," answered Colonel Fitzgerald, somewhat coldly. " Oh, it v, ouM ! Because he plays chc^ so well. And y<<» like to play chess, 100, Gerald. And he could play u ith you, and so help you to beguile the tediou&ne&s of the voyage/ she answered, frankly. And now Geiald blamed himself for the momentary, unreasonable jealousy he had felt of his wife.- old guardian and pastor. The truth U, that the love and -worship oi a heart like little Gertrude's, had come to be a very s.\\ eet and acceptable incense to his wounded spirit, and he could not bear to share it v ith any other lhing man, even though that man -was her grey-liahcd mnii&ter. Ah ! that Iri^h-Italian temperament— that morbid Ficgeiald jealousy ! Gcialdine wa^ it-5 greatest, but not its only, slave and victim. The door opened and the waiter rc-emei cd. usheiing in Dr. Goodwin. Gertrude sprang to v, elcome him vvilh both hands held out, exclaiming : "My dear Dr. Goodwin ! lam ho overjoyed to see you !" "So am I. to sec you, my deal ! How well and happy you are looking," leplied the minister in ;-ome s-urprise and pleasure, tx-i he cordially shook the hand she gave him. " How do you do, sir? I am happy to see you in Washington/ said Colonel Fitzgerald, courteously greeting the visitor. "I thank you, Colonel ! lam very glad to find you and my good child here looking po well/ heartily responded Dr. Goodwin. " Take this easy chair, sir. Do ' You will breakfast with us, of course. I hope you have not breakfasted yet !'' said Gertrude, warmly, a.-* she wheeled up a large easy-chair, and gently forced him into it. "No, my little hostess, I have but just arrived, and only had time to wash my iaoo and brush my hair before coming to see you," pleasantly replied the pastor, as he sank comfortably into the offered chair, feeling much relieved at the sight of Gertrude's perfectly contented face. They gathered around the little breakfast table, and Dr Goodwin, without waiting to be "interviewed/ told his young friends | that he was going to Europe on the Cunard steamer that was to sail from New York on Wednesday, and was midisguisedly elated bo hear from Colonel Fitzgerald that that was the steamer upon which Mrs Fitzgerald and himself were to sail for the Old World. After breakfast they chatted a little while, until the waiter came in and announced that the carriage ordered by Colonel Fitzgerald was waiting at the door. Then Dr. Goodwin arose, saying, simply : " I will not bid you good-morning, for I have a room in this house quite near these ; so I shall see you several times a day while we stay here ; and I supposo that we shall all go on to New York together." "Certainly. And I hope you will take the freedom of our little parlour hero and use it as your own," cordially replied Colonel Fitzgerald. " Do," added Gertrude. " And don't go now, unless you have some business to take you out. There are the morning papers. Sit in the arm-chair and read them until our return. We shall not be gone long. We are only going out to get a couple of small trunks to pack our sea outfit in." " Thanks, my dear little hostess, I will sit here and look over the morning papers for a little while. I wish to see if there is anything in them about Lackland's case. Will the execution take place on next Friday, do you think, Colonel ?" he inquired, suddenly turning to Fitzgerald. "No; the President has respited him. He will probably be granted a new trial," coldly replied Colonel Fitzgerald. " I am glad of that. I never believed that man to be guilty. A new trial may enable him to vindicate himself/ said Dr. Goodwin, cordially. " Why — was there a man here under sentence of death, Gerald?" inquired Gertrude, in a tone of awe. ss The carriage has been waiting half an hour, my child. We must hurry. Dr. Goodwin will excuse us, I know," said Colonel Fitzgerald, without seeming to notice her question, and then left to complete their purchases. That evening Jubal, the Vaici, and Mete, the lady's-maid, arrived by the late coach — both in high glee at the thought of going abroad together, with their master and mistress, " to sco the world." The next day, Saturday, Eoyal Greenleaf made his appearance, and was cordially welcomed both by Gerald and Gertrude, who invited him to stay and dine with them that evening.
"Instead of dining with you, I ought to quarrel with you, Fitzgerald," exclaimed Royal, shaking his finger at the colonel. "Why, pray?" good-humouredly inquired Gerald. •' Why 'l Hear the fellow ! Haven't you run off and married my sweetheart, pray 2" demanded Roy. But here Gertrude gave such a start of surprise and dismay that both Gerald and Royal laughed out. "You must not tease my little lady by making such speeches, Mr Greenleaf," said Colonel Fitzgerald. " Don't distress yourself, my child. You know nothing about the honour I designed you ; it you had, you would never nave taken that fellow," said the irrepressible Royal, pointing to Gerald. Gertrude looked from one to the other in perplexity, and felt much relieved when the entrance of Dr. Goodwin put an end to this, to her. most embariassing raillery. "Royal Greenleaf declined the invitation to dinner, saying that lie had only come to tender the newly -married pair his forgiveness, his best wishes for their prosperous voyage, and his paiting benediction; foi? that he should start for Wildeville by the stage coach that would leu\ c Washington that night. So ho took his leave, bearing with him many tender and affectionate messages from* Gertrude to her friends at Greenwood. Dr. Goodwin, Colonel and Mrs Fitzgerald, and their servants were to leave Washington by the earliest; train for New Yoik, on Monday morning. It was noAV Saturday afternoon. Therefore, to avoid encroaching upon the Habbath, it was necessary to finish their packing before bedtime. By ten o'clock all their preparations were completed. Early on Monday morning the whole paity, collating of Dr. Goodwin, Colonel Fitzgerald, Geitnule, and the two sen ants, started by the early train for New York, where they duly arrived in the evening. Two day* later, as Madame de La Valette and her guest, Mis-5 Fitzgerald, sat together in a pleasant morning-room, madame being engaged in colouring a pencil sketch of flowers, and Geraldine in looking o\er the morning papers, the latter read in the list of passengers that sailed on Wednesday by the Europa for Liverpool, the names of Colonel Fitzgerald and Mm Fitzgerald, and Mvo servants. She stopped 1 coding and looked up, and inquired : " J\la bcUe, when do you return to France?'' We sail in the Asia for Liverpool, a week from next .Satin day. Oh, that you could be persuaded to go with us !"' exclaimed Veronique. " I will go -u ith yon," answered Geraldino A\ith quiet decision. " You w ill V Oh, you angel ?" cried Veronique, suddenly kissing her. " How good you arc ! You fill me with jov — with delight r [To he Continued.)
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Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 2
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2,665CHAPTER XLIX. GERTRUDES PROBATION. Te Aroha News, 26 November 1887, Page 2
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