Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-12-13

your secret, or, if you will keep it
and rest assured [ will never try te
, surprise it.
Il cannot. Nothing but deatl
can free me, and your lite is toe
useful, too noble to he spent in
waiting for me. Forgive me, Al.
fred.'
She was gone before he cou!d
say more and he knew her decision
was final. Mrs Evans delight al
her brothers escape was certainly
tempered by Indignation that Hes.
ter had dared to refuse him.
Whom on earth did she expect
to narry?'4the matron thought.
But Hester, pondering over it
all, accepted the pain as onemore
sorrow in her shadowed lite, and
made no moan, looked for no SYM
pathy.
1t was hard to see the face that
had ever been full of sympathy and
tenderness turned coldly away ;
hard to hear the children wonder
'why uncle Alfred never came to
sec them any morc,' but the routine
of duty filled each day, and there
was certainty of release in the
monctony of teaching.
October was midway on her
goldentintcd journey across TIE
earth, when Mrs. Evans was called
upon TO find new governess.-
Hester gave no reason but she must
60.
1t was not to spy upon her move.
.ments that Alfred, finding the gov
erness leaving the house, followed
her in the train that took her to
London. 1t was only his deep,
mistaken affection, the fear for her
future, the anxiety to be sure all
was to be we'll with her in her new
lite.
She did not dream she was
watched as she took a cab, and,
followed still, drove to small
house on the outskirts of Kentish
Town, where an elderly lady met
her at the door and led her in
weeping bitterly.
That was all that Alfred saw, but
the face OF the weeping woman was
I1cster's face should years of sorrow
and tears set their seal upon it.
Restless and curious in spite OF
himself, Alfred lOunged into a re-
Il -. si,n littln hnnst,
and called for something to cat. =
Close beside him two officers OF
police inspectors they seemed) were
discussing some provisions, and Al
tired heard one say, SO Stretton's
time is up! He came out Of the
penitcntIary yesterday
According to my idea, was the
reply. 'Hc ought not to have been
there at all lie never did it
never =
'I1e was wild though
'Ycs ; he got OH sprees too often,
and was in bad company; but never
had any more hand in that bank
robbery than you aud l.
Got five years for it, said the
other, and he's come out to die
He's over at his mothers there,
jerking his thumb in the direction
of the little house, 'and won't last
a week-consumption.'
This was The secret, then A
brother in Pentonville model pris-
on innocent or guilty. convic: ed
felon. Alfred shuddere6 as he
thought of the fair, stately woman
he loved, with her pure, proud ma
ture, daily tortured by the secret
of her brothers crime. He bad
q vague recollection of reading the
trial of some bank robbers, where
the name of Stretton occurred; but
it was only hazy memory at best.
Hester was with her mother, in
home, even if poor one, with a
criminal for its inmate, and he had
no right to intrude upon her grief,
So he ate the food before him, paid
his bill and went out into the street
again. 1t was quite dark. and he
gave up III IOOu VI ICtuI uluS ~
Guilford that night. finding his
way to the West End and hotel.
Three days passed before he
heard again Of Hester's brother,
and then the public journals told
the story he was dead. Only 26.
the papers said /; but there had
come comfort at the last hour.
Two of the gang who had Been
engaged in the bank robbery had
made sworn statement exonera-
ting him from any guilty part in
it. In so FAR as be was under the
influence of liquor, was in bad
company, and was led by them, he
was gnilty.
But he was innocent because he
was purposely kept innocent ol
their intentions, and had no knowl.
edge that he was in bank vault
until the hands of the officers o.
Justice were upon him there.
Five weary prison years, disease
GrolIu dnnfb bad ,,oid tho yoopoItx Z