Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-12-19

the door as the mantel CLOCK chin
ed two.
There were words of parting
then light steps on the stairs, anC
Elsie came in, not as usual, full o
bright animation but with an earn
estness of purpose quite unusua
to her.
"Did you have a pleasant even
ing, dear I" Miss Della asked.
"Yes-no-I don't know. Are
you very tiredp
The last words are all of the dis.
connected answer the girl seemed
able to give on account of emotion
mo, dear. Why, Elsie, love,
what is it!"
For she was looking troubled.
81 have message foryou,a untie.'
"For me 2"
"From a stranger who was at
Mrs. Walton's, Mr.. Darlington
Ralph Darlington
Della Merriman rose to her feet.
She tried to speak, but the word
would not come.
"Auntie," the girl cried, terri
fed, "don't look so-don't."
1.-THE message" she whispered.
"He told me to tell you that the
man who killed Henry Garman was
Charles Ralston, the cashier of the
Hope bank, who has confessed his
guilt. He said: Tell Miss Mer-
riman that tomorrow | will see
her. Auntie," Elsie continued ur-
gently, "what does it mean. Was
not Henry Garman my father Z"
"Yes, child. 1t MEANS" Miss
Merriman said solemnly, "that the
cross that for twenty years has laid
upon my life is lifted tonight
You shall know all, Elsie at once.
| will not send you to a sleepless
bed, child, with your heart troubled.
Give me few moments to think
of your tidiugs and tell me how
this message came to be intrusted
to you"
"Alrs. Walton came to me late
in the evening, and asked permits
sion to introduce Mr.. Darlington.
| had noticed Il stranger, who look
ed at me very earnestly"
"a tall, handsome man, with
curling brown hair, and pleasant
features, wearing a full beard of
waving golden brown
mo. A tall, grave man, with
stern features, smoothly shaven,
md hair almost white"
"True true! | had forgotten.
He must be fifty-fve."
"When he was introduced to me,
ne touched the locket upon my
leck. Pardon me- he said, If |
I'm too curious; but your name
md that trinket are connected with
70 much of my life that | venture
o ask you something concerning
hem. The locket first. Did not
give it to you-a lady 2
His looks were so eager that ] told
lin the locket was yours. Then
lie led me on little by little till |
old him my whole life. He said
lie had been here two months
eeking you. He did not look for
wealthy woman, but one poor
nd solitary. Then | informed him
low poor we had been, and about
your cousin, and how you lavished
every good thing on me. Aud
hen, aunty, he whispered half to
that | had no claim on
you. What did he mean Are
you not my aunt p
"No, dear, there is no tie of
blood between us. Your claim is
he claim of love, for you have
)een the one comfort, the one
shine of my lonely life. Twenty
years ago, Elsie, Ralph Caring
on gave me the locket you have
lpon your neck, gift of bethroth-
n, for we loved each other truly,
md were engaged to be married.
was a poor girl, making artificial
lowers for bread, an orphan, too.
He was assistant cashier of the
bank where your father was night
Waterman, and Charles Ralston was
head cashier. Ralston was in love
with me, and pursued me with un-
welcome attentions.
zone day, to rid myself of his
opportunities, l told him that | had
promised to marry Ralph. He
eft me in rage. Only one week
ater the bank was entered at night,
your father shot through the heart,
and Rolph Darlington was discov-
cred in the vault trying to revive
him. He was arrested and tried.
He told a story, not credited, that
Charles Ralston had sent him from
his house to the bank for papers,
after keeping him busy there over
books all the evening. But Rails
.on swore that he had not been at
home that evening, and proved it
hat the keys of the vault safe,
'ound hanging in the key-hole,
we're stolen from his desk, and he
rad not sent his clerk to the bank.
So Ralph was convicted and sem
fenced. He escaped! Elsie, l
lad saved fifty pounds for my we'd
ling garments. l went to see him
n prison, and, knowing that he
vas innocent, / gave him the mon