Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-04-21
HOW DUKE LINTON DIED.
A Thrilling Sketch.

snlVer through me.
II trust not, aunt" said I, clasping one
of her wasted hands in mine; you are no
worse to-day than for months past. Surely
you should not give up all hope"
ssWhy should care-why should I
hope? Life is but one long torture to me,
why need mourn that it is about to go?
Ny woman's heart has borne too much,
my child. Fate wove many darksome
thread for me-
looked in wordless pity at her as she
lay among the pillows, pale and wasted,
and knew that her thoughts had gone
back into the past, by the slight smile
that curved her lips.
tcnderly passed my hand over her
faded hair, and thinking of all the sorrows
she had faced and struggled with, bent
forward, pressed my lips to her brow, and
murmured, softly:
"My poor auntien'
Her large eyes opened and turned to
my face.
'sWinnie, may I tell you?' she inquir-
ed.
Certainly" said in surprise; "what
can you wish to tell me, Aunt Nora?"
'My one great SHINY one great sor-
row." was her answer.
Was my aunt mad? Surely, the ap-
proach of death had turned her brain
Her great SIM Why her life had been
one great sacrifice, her heart the abode Of
suffering, since that time so long ago
when she stood, half-crazed with grief,
over the dead body of her promised nus
band, the handsome young heir of the
Linton homestead, that was now without
tor or nj h1f
serted spot All, we'll IEknew that she had
suffered, but none could say that she had
sinncd. She had lavished her wealth
upon the needy, and in many cottage
was her name spoken at the hour OF
prayer, reverently, with blessing after
blessing upon it.
"Sinned?" said I, softly. "Auntle,
dear, you are but dreaming. Will you
not try to sleep?'
ebay, child, ere long I will sleep
soundly, but cannot die with it untold
Promise me that you will not shrink from
me when I tell you; for, Winnie, since I
took you to my heart, you have won me
to love you as loved but one before
Promise me-"
"Auntie, dear. nothing on earth could
turn me from you? no sin, however dark
could make me love you less"
She clasped my hand convulsiycly.
':Ah, child, you do not know" she
said; "upon my hand is blood, the BLOOD
of one held dearer than aught else or
earth. Winnie, do not, pray do not turr
from me; remember 1 am dying!" for
had tried to withdraw my hand.
"Aunt Nora" cried, in horror, "yo,
cannot mean this Surely, you of all 0,
earth are not the one to shed the blood o
a human being! Auntie, darling, you d
not mean it,"
"Child, listen, while have strength t,
tell, for I know that my hours are nun
bered. Do not condemn until you hea
me. When I vas young and fair la.
many-too many lovers. Heiress to
noble fortune, possessed Of rich beauty,
was no wonder. Life was perfect dream
Of Joy, for my father worshipped his onl
child, and had been too young to wee
when my mother died. 'Gayly as som
light butterfly danced along life's path
way, nor dreamed of sorrow OF care
'Friends had, yes, many a one; bu
Of ali, loved the best one fair-faced girl
We had met at school, and then ha,
fallen in love with her. It was not strang
for she was more beautiful than any pic
ture I had ever seen, with lol golde
hair, large, innocent blue eyes, and rip
red lips, like those Of a tender babe. He
skin was clear as that Of waxen image
and seldom held the least color. She wa
shorter than I, but perfectly formed, wit
tiny hands and feet.
II, with my dark eyes, raven hair, an
tall, slender-fgure, telt nothing besid
her for beauty. although many said wa
falrest.
"Be that as it may; when my fathe
took me too e., Lottie and I wept bite,
ly at parting; but my tears fell fastest,.an
she promised to spend the following sun
mer with me in my country home.
"Ah, Winnie, alas, the day came!
met young Duke Linton, ana loved hil
with the whole wild passion Of my youn
heart. You do not know, child, how
woman OF my nature can love. But h
deep gray eyes ana naughty brow wei
stamped upon the heart of the carele.
girl, and are still cherished in the bose,
of the dying woman. And yet, 0, Coo
that who SO loved him should have lai
him so low.
SIN Heavens name, aunt, do not ga
you killed Duke Linton !" cried, in te
rOr.
"Child said she, calmly, Il did. 1t W;
who drove the dagger to his faithle
heart, who bent above him when
breathed his last.
''Let me tell you all. I loved him
it is the fortune of few women to Low
and he protessed to worship me. Ho
my old heart throbs even now when
think of those happy days! God of Nero
why were they so tew?'
She paused a moment, then went on:
"We were engaged, and the day set f;
our union. In a perfect dream OF bliss
wrote to Lottie Dent. She replied, ar
said she was going to visit me very 500
''May had left us, and June roses we
blooming ere Lottie came to me.
"Mo1e beautiful than ever, more car
less and gay, she sprang into my arm
when I ran to meet her.
"Do you know, Winnie, I have belle
ed inspresentiments since then? For,
stood with her clasped to my bosom,
chill came over my heart, as though Il
icy winds of winter were sweeping aero