Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1876-04-06
Helena, Montana, Thursday, April 6, 1876.

make Hal Ha! a good joke, wasn't it?
Paid him for getting that cup. Always in
tended to pay him off some way. He felt
dreadfully about it. My sister Lucy boarded
him at the time, and there was no sleep in
the house for his tramping up and down his
chamber all night. A little more lemonade,
Ed, and don't care if there's drop Of
champagne in it; it's chilly this morning"
Etheredge waited to hear no more. In
his present frame of mind he felt as if he
could rot bear it. He went home and shut
himself I'D in lis chamber After AL Richard
son had been true. How bitterly he had
been wronge,l! Annie would repent and love
| him more than ever, If she knew the in
! iustic., she had done him. That was a wo-
! mans nature. She atones for wrong by giving
love And what if an reimbursement Should
be brought about? Etheredge felt faint and
! sick. The future shut down dark and blank.
| And only an hour before he had dared to in
| dnlye such glowing visions. He saw his duty
clearly enough, but it is not always easy to
| do ones duty There was a little struggle
| between his heart and conscience A hun
dreG times the temptation beset him to keep
his knowledge to himself, and win Annie for
| his own, She would never know that Rich
ardson was blameless, and his great love
might make her happy. At last he knelt
down and prayed over it. lie always prayed
over those things which were too hard for
| him. After that he rose and sat down BY
| the Winlow-telt the west wind on his fore
head--saw the pale wintry sunshine gld the
long rows of buildings opposite. For him
there was 40 more hesitation. If he could
make Annie happy What matter to him how
| il was accomplished?
He went down to the sitting room about
sunset. He knew he should find Annie there.
Mrs. Eheredge was at d society meeting.
Annie was sewing by IA shaded lamp. She
did not like the glare of the gas. There was
a r,ch color on her cheek, over which the
loose hair dropped low. Milton Etheredge's
heart leaped at sight Of hcr, but he stilled it
down and took a seat beside her.
Annie" he said, II am al old friend,
and think you will not be offended if | ask
you d few questions Not because l am
curious, but because desire your good more
than any earthly thing
She looked up in wonderment, noticing
the strange unsteadiness of his voice and TIE
tremor of the hand he laid on hers.
"Otfended-with you, Mr.. Etheredge." she
| said reproachfully: never that. Go on
am listening.'
annie, you were once engaged to Leigh
| Richardson?'
Her head dropped lower; the crimson came
and went into her cheeks.
| IL was she said ia low voice.
sYou loved him ard he loved you-was it
not SO my child?'
"We called it love
''And you thought him false:'
''As Satan himselt.'
''What il you knew that he was not false
that he was true to you always-that the con-
temptabe letter which. you read, purporting
| h,,h
gery-what then?'
She was looking at him in mute surprise.
She drew long breath.
''Was it forgery?'
''It was. | have just heard the history CT
it. An il-natnred acquaintance OF Richard
sons to crafty petty revenge, wrote the
letter and dropped it where YOU would be
sure to find it. Leigh Richardson was lea!
and true.
| She sat very still before him, not a ]iue of
her face changing. He waited for her to
speak, but she did not seem disposed to do so.
| Annie, my dear child, shall speak to Mr..
Richardson about this mistaken
IF you please, would like him to know
that he is clear in my eyes. | think he would
be glad to know it. Tell him just how it was,
and ask him to forgive me if was harsh
with him."
| 'Is that all?
"That is all.
"Annie -
':Mr Etheridge!"
"Pardon me for pursuing the subject, but
| if you still care for him you will want to
speak to him on the matter yourself.
But do not care for him.
You do not? Why, may l ask p
Sne blushed as red as rose. Etheredge
| put the blush and the portrait he had seen
her kiss together. A sharp pang pierced him.
lis it because you love another? ?"
EYES," she said quietly, cit is because |
love another
"And that other p
She rose abruptly and flung Oft the detain-
ing hand he laid On her arm.
'You have no right to ask me that - she
said hoarsely. Let me go! You torture me!!'
Il torture you, Annie ? ?" What pos
sessed him he did not know-perhaps some
| thing her eyes said to him made him bold.
He put his arm around her and drew her to
his side.
Annie, if you love another, must give
you to him. Your happiness shall be secured
to you, though mine be shipwrecked. did
not mean to tell you, darling; but love you
so it almost kills me to think of losing you.
0, Annie! my little, lost Annie"
Her face grew rosy as the morning. She
put her arm around his neck.
"Not lost, but found, she said softly.
"Annie, he cried breathlessly, " do not de-
ceive me! What of the picture saw you
kissing?"
She laughed little and crimson with con-
fusion drew the locket from her bosom, and
held it up to him. He saw his face.
Forgive me, Milton. got it of the artist,
and have worn it these two years. Leigh
10 fr NM