The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-06-19


"Got five wears 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 prison. innocent OF
guilty. a convicted felon! Alfred shud-
dered as he thought Of the fair, stately
woman he loved, with her pure, proud
nature, daily tortured by the secret other
brothers crime. He had a vague recol-
lection of reading the trial of some bank
robbers where the Name of St1ettOn oc-
CURED, but it was only hazy memory
at best. --- -- --- 3 e, 81
Hester was with her mother i'll home,
even if a poor one, with crime tor its in
mate, and he had no right to intrude up
on 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 any idea of returning to Guild
ford that night, finding his way TO the
West End and a hotel. ..-:=ssks. q
Three days passed before he heard
again of Hester's brother, and then the
public journals told the story. He was
dead. Only twenty 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 a
sworn statement generating him from
any guilty part in it. In so far he was
under the influence Of liquor, was in bad
company and was led by them, he was
guilty.
But he was innocent because he was
purposely kept ignorant Of their inten-
tions and had no knowledge that he was
In bank vault until the hands of the
officers of Justice were upon him there.
Five weary prison years, disease, final
ly death, had PAID the penalty of a youth
of reckless living; but the stain of actual
crime was lifted from his memory, and
the journals that chronicled his trial and
sentence gave publicity to his innocence
and his deceaSe
1t was no shame to Alfrcd'S manhood
that his eyes were misty as he read the
obituary of the wasted life, touched keen
ly by the closing words, "A widowed
mother and sister We're with Strctton
when he died
Alfred could easily picture the fair
pale face bending over the sufferers pill
low, and the low, tender voice comforting
him, though his hand had brought desc
lation into her own life: kH
In the chamber of death, where the still
face upon the pillow was peaceful in its
last sleep, Hester and her mother kept
watch together.
They had suffered most in the five
years that their lives had been separated,
for the widow had been matron in
large hospital, while Hester worked AS
governess in Mrs Evans family. Before
her fathers death there had been home,
happy and united; but afterwards pov-
erty drove them upon the world.
''Mother," Hester said softly, Il have
saved something in these long years, and
we will settle ourselves here and we will
tIy to earn living together
"Yes, dear. l took the house fur
nished, for month, thinking if Oliver
came home willing to work for an honest
living, we would get on somehow. I
had saved little, too. Hester for him,
and now he will not need it.
"Hush. You must not weep now.
Remember how happily he t.ied. mother,
the stain lifted from his memory, his
heart at peace. He was ready to 90,
mother. Ny poor brother!"
Softly the tender lips pressed the dead
mans forehead before Hester led her
mother away from the room. They had
not crossed the narrow passage to the
parlor when the door-bell rang, and
Hester opened the door, to face Alfred
Graves.
Before she could speak he entered,
closing the door behind him and advanc-
ing to the widow, who stood inside the
little parlor. o.. ..-..-.--.-. r~v.-
Mrs. Stretton," he said, lifting his
hat, IL have just heard of your sorrow,
and I have come to ask you to let ME aid
you in any way where a gentleman's SER
vices may be required. am the brother
of Mrs. Evans
You are very kind the widow fall
tered. ''We-as YOU say-our trou-
bic 81
And here the tears stif1ed utterance,
and she could only turn from him and
weep. a-s,z---z-.- ..---s---. ---- -
Hester lifted her eyes appealing, to
meet Alfred's fixed upon her face.
''There IS no longer Il secret between
us, Hester" he said IN low tone. :'Will
you not give me the right Of "a loving son
to comfoft your other.
You know ALL she said, surprised,
'and you are here u -. .g.rsf
81 do" he answered, gravely; "and
knowing your noble reason for once re-
fusing me, am here to ask again the
question asked one summer morning
not long ago. Even as loved you then,
love you now. Hester, will you be my
wife?"
And she, loving him tenderly, with tie
secret of her life revealed, the crime
wiped out by death, put her hand.in kis
and let his lips press the seal of betrotFal
upon her own.
To the world Hester's secret is secret
still. Society does not connect the tall,
stately bride of Alfred Graves with the
obscure convict who came from prison
only to die; and even Mrs. Evans was
never told of any mystery or sorrow rest
ing upon the life of her former governess,
or the quiet widow, who shares the
Graves mansion and finds peaceful
haven in her daughters love and the re-
spectful attentions of a man who fills q
sons place to her.