The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-12-04

duce Mr.. Csrrinxt a. had noticed q
stranger who had ,ookel ct me very
earnestly
A tall. handsome man with curling
brown hair and pleas sLt features, wear.
Ing fall beard OF waving golden
brown
No. A tall. grave man. with stern
features suooshiy shaven. and hair ii
must white-quits an old man.
True true, I had forgotten. He
must be fifty FIVE
When be WAS introduced 10 me, I've
fnnched the lockst upon my neck.
Pardon me- be said. If am ton curl !.
Gus; but your name and that trinket
are connected With 20 much Of my life
that venture to ssk you something
concerning them. The locket first. Did
not somsooiy give IT to you-a LADY,
His looks were 30 eager TIT I told him
that the lock-t was yours. Then be led
me on little by little. till told him my
whole life. Ho said he had bean here
two months seeking ynu. He did not
lo"k for . wealthy woman, but one Door
and solitary. Then I informed him
bow poor we bad bee.; and about your
c'usin, and how you bad lavished every
good thing on me- And then. Auntie,
ne whispered half 10 himself, that
had no claim on you. What did he
mean: Are you not my Aunties'
No. dear. there is no tie of blood be-
las~ = - a
love. for you have been the one comfort.
the one sunshine of my lonely life.
Twenty years ago, Elsie. Ralph Car
-rington gave mo the locket you have
upon your neck. . gift of betroth j. for
We loved each other and were en- xaR~d
to be married l WAS poor girl max
ing artificial flowers for bread, an or.
phan. too. He was the assistant cash.
ier Of the Hnpo Bank. where your fa-
ther was nighs awatchmsn. ard Charles
RAlstOn was head cashier. Ralston was
in iovo with me. aud, pursued me with
unwelcome attentions.
One day. to rid myself Of his impor-
tuni'ies. | told him I had promised to
nnrry Ralph. He lett me in . rage.
O"ly one weak later the bank was en-
tered IT night your father shot shrough
the heart, aud Ralph Carrington dis.
covered in the vault trying to revive
him. He was arrested and tried. He told
q story no one credited, that Charles
RAlstou had sent him from his house to
the bank for papers after keeping him
busy there over the books oil tho even.
ing. But kslston swors that hs lad
MT been home that ~ve"inx, AMI proved
It; that the keys Of the vault safe,
fonnd hanging in the ksyhole. WIS
stolen from his desk, and he had not
sent his clerk 70 the hank so Rslt b
was convicted. and sentenced. He a.
capped. Elsie. I had saved fifty pounds
for my wedding garments. / went 10
see him in prison, and, knowing be wss
innocent, gave him money 70 bril'e
the keeper Of his cell. The man took
it. and Ralph was fres. have never
kn ,wn If he lived or died until to.
night.
Alter he was gone you mdthsrws
taken i'll. Before marriage SIZE had
worked for the same establishment
where was employed, and I knew her
we'll. The shock If her husbands
death was tor severe for her. and she
never rose sg siti from her bed. though
she lived three months. When che
died | promised you should be in my
charge, and never know the shadow
upnn your life till you were . woman
Elsie wss snbbing quietly. often lift.
ing to her lips the gentle hand that had
given nsr ell she b ID ever experienced
Of l,fs's blessings
There Vas . long silence after Miss
M.rrimsn ceassd speaking. and the
grsy dawn was creeping in ct the win
dows when. softly kissing her. Aunt
Della told Elsie to 20 TO rest.
But for herself there was no rest.
Fevrri.hly. with an agitation altogether
unlike her usual quiet. she waited the
coming Of her lover who had aed from
his unjust sentence twenty years hseoee,
but who was inuocent now and his In
nos'ence known. The day was young.
and Elsie was sleeping when be came.
Della was waiting for him in the
drawing room. There was no affection
of youth in her silvsty gray silk. and
the square Of black Lace upon her soft
hair: but, instead Ut 3 brooch. there fell
upon the knot Of ribbon at her throat
the pearl locket Ralph had given his
betn'thed She stood mp 70 greet tha
stern faced. elderly man whs advanasd
to meet her. trying 81 6nd traces Of her
lover. Not till he smiled tsnderly did
she recnenizs him.
Then, her own eyes dim with tears.
she said, softly. You ere more than
WELCOME. am rejnsosd. the cloud is
lifted from yonr liis, Ralph z
And be. bsbolding tho trembling
hand fast in his strong oLes answered.:
4 have found you 1t last. / began to
far YOU were dead. Della. Ny love.
my d~rling,'
Ralph. said she, the bright blush
rising to her faded cheeks. you forget
We are gray. haired elderly peopls =
4 forsst everything but that you ere
here. that the hope shst hes srsoed
dream Of madness for twenty years is
realized. I have been in California.
Della, all thess years, an>ssing wealth.
under anoehsg S.snss vortinO tnr gold
to drown tbmehk I havs led . busy
life. but there has not been one hour
when have not pictured such happi-
ness ~ this. You are mime. Della; you
will nee ssnd me frum you. You will
be ny rite.' go.
III ym. wi.h IT, shs .sail softly. her
Own fri.hful heart thrilling under the
sincerity Of his tone. i have never
ceas~d to love yna or to pray for you