The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-10-17
HYDE PARK VT. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER II, 1877.

watchman, and Charles Ralston was
head cashier. Ralston was in love with
me, and pursued me with uuwelcome
attentions.
"one day, to rid myself of his i'm
portunities, told him had promise 10
marry Ralph. he left me in a rage.
Only one week later the bank was enter
ed at night, your father shot through
the heart, and Ralph Darlington discov-
cred in the vault trying to revive him.
He was arrested and tried. He told story,
not credited, that Charles Ralston had
sent him from his house TO the bank fol
papers, after keeping him busy there
over the books all the evening. But
Ralston swore that he had not been at
home that evening; and proved it ). that
the keys of the ysult safe, found hanging
in the keyhole, were stolen from his
desk, and he had not sent his clerk to
the bank. So Ralph was convicted and
sentenced. he escaped Elsie, 1 had
saved fifty pounds for my wedding gar
ments. went to see him in prison,
and, knowing he was innocent, 1 gave
him the money to bribe the keeper of
his cell. The man took it, and Ralph
was free. 1 have never known if he
lived or died until tonight.
"After'he was gone your mother was
taken i'll. Before her marriage she had
worked for the same establishment
where was employed, and 1 knew her
well. The shock of her husbands death
was too severe for her, and she never
rose again from her bed, though she
lived three months. When she died l
promised you should be my charge, and
never know the shadow upon your life
till you we're woman"
Elsie was sobbing quietly, often lift
ing to her lips the gentle hand that had
given her all she had ever experienced
of life's blessings.
There was long silence after Miss
Merriman ceased speaking, and the gray
dawn was creeping in at the windows
when, softly kissing her, Aunt Della told
Elsie to go to rest. ...... ...-r1 q
But for herself there was no rest.
Feverishly, with an agitation altogether
unlike her usual quiet, she waited the
coming of her lover who had fled from
his unjust sentence twenty years before,
but who was free now and his innocence
known. The day was young, and Elsie
was sleeping still when he came.
Della was waiting for him in the draw
ing-room. There was no affectation of
youth in her silver gray silk, and the
square of black lace upon her soft hair
but instead of a brooch, there fell upon
the knot of ribbon at her throat the
pearl locket Ralph had given his be-
trothed. She stood up to greet the
stern-faced, elderly man who advanced
to meet her, trying to find traces of her
lover. Not till he smiled tenderly did
she recognize him.
Then, her own eyes dim with tears,
she said, softly, "You arc more than
welcome, I am reioiced the cloud is lifted
from your life, Ralph p
And lie, holding the trembling hand
fast in his strong ones, answered: "I
have found you at last. I began to fear
you were dead, Della. Ny little love,
my darling p
Ralph" she said, the bright blush
rising to her faded cheek, "you forget
we are gray haired, elderly people?"
II forget everything but that you are
here, that the hope that has seemed q
dream of madness for twenty years is
realized. have been in California,
Della, all these years, amassed wealth,
under another name, working for
gold to drown thought. I have led a
busy life, but there has not been one
hourswhen have not pictured such hap
piness as this. You are mine, Della /;
you will not send me from you? You
will be my wife ?"
eff you wish it." she said, softly, her
own faithful heart thrilling under the
sincerity of his tone, 81 have never
ceased to love you or to pray for you,
Ralph
Society speculated upon the brief
courtship, for there was quiet wedding
within month, but nobody knew of the
painful past save Elsie, the cherished
child still of Ralph Darlington and Della.
his wife.