Litchfield enquirer., 1875-02-11
WHOLE NO. 2593.

Guernsey might come to execute his threat. Where should she turn for ref uge? Half delirious with grief and ter- TOT. she thought of one friend, one pro tector, and while yet the shock was fresh, she fled. Walter would keep her. Walter would go to her father. Only to find | him.
 In his own studio Walter Leigh was busily engaged, when @ telegram was handed him, dated Albany.
 Herman Grantley died here suddenly, | of heart disease, last night His daughter has left, and cannot be found. Your card is with his papers. Gan you come on A. G. HALL, M. D. l And while the horror was still upon him Ernestine stood in the doorway. A strange feverish glitter in her eyes, deep crim- son flush upon her cheek, made her strangely beautiful, in spite of the terror l in her eyes.
 ''Walter," she cried, "save me Take me home before he comes He will force me to marry him by some now plot of cru city, unless you save me Walter You love me, Walter?"
 The piteous yearning of the question almost unnamed him, but he saw there was necessity for prompt action. The | girl was fatherless, almost mad with some terror, and had come to him for safety. In one way only could he protect her.
 "Ernestine," he said, taking her little hot hands in his, "will you marry me now?"
 "Yes, if you wish. You will not let Ralph Guernsey come here ?"
 "No. You will come with me, then, to the church. When you are my wife, no harm shall come to you"
 The girl bore up bravely till the words were spoken that bound her to Walter Leigh for life, then fell fainting at his feet. Before night she was raving in de- lirium, but safe from Ralph Guernsey's love or hate
 It was many weary weeks before she could tell Walter of her winter of misery, her rapid flight from Albany, or learn from him of his care for the corpse she had deserted in her mad terror. But the months of happiness melted rapidly into each other, until one morning in May, when Ernestine reminded Walter that it was her twenty-irst birthday.
 ''I know it, he answered, ''for yester- day I received formidable legal docu- ment, requesting your presence this morn ing at the law office of H. & H."
 Claw ofice!" said Ernestine, growing very pale "Can it be some new torment of Ralph Guernsey's? Will he injure my father in his grave?"
 It is DO new plot of Ralph Guernsey's but very thorough explanation of his strange conduct. I was bound to silence until today, but it is better for me to ex- plain matters little before your inter- view with the lawyers. Did you know Arnold Dupont ?'
 II never saw him, but he was my moth CTS uncle."
 "You knew of his death ?"
 "Yes. think father hoped he would leave him something for my mothers sake although he was very angry when he fail ed, accusing him of mismanagement."
 "Did you know he was Mir. Willough- by's partner?"
 Certainly"
 "When he died, dearest, a sealed will was found, not to be opened until you came of age. To-day it has been examin- ed, and you are sole heiress to half a mil lion of dollars, securely invested. By the terms of the will, your father was depriv- ed of all control over this money, which becomes absolutely yours today. But. Ernestine, l have been to the office of H. & H-- already this morning, and have seen the will. It was witnessed by two parties-John Wilson, and Ralph Guernsey"
 It was long before the varying emotions of Ernestine permitted her to speak When she broke the silence, it was to whisper
 '"Thank Heaven, Walter, for our love But for that, I might have had faith in the protestations my heart would never answer. Walter, where is Ralph Guern- sey?''
 "In California. He sailed from New York soon after our marriage was publish ed in all the leading papers. His scheme to wed child, and grasp her prospective fortune, was bafied by her courage"
 "No, Walter, there was no courage there. My safety from Ralph Guernsey was secured by my love and your gener- ous devotion, that threw the protection of your love and name around the frightened, penniless girl, half mad with terror. shall value wealth for your sake, Walter. since I can share it with you