River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-06-19

| her lover from any demonstration OF
pleasure at her frank confession. He
prisoncd the little white hand she had
placed upon his arm and said: "Contide
in me then. Tell me your secret, Of, if
you will, keep it, and rest assured | will
never try to surprise it."
! Il cannot. Nothing but death can free
me, and your life is too useful, too noble,
to be spent in waiting for me. Forget
me, Alfred.
/ She was gone before he could say
more. and he knew her decision was
final. Mrs. Evans delight at her broth
er's escape was certainly tempered 10y in
dionation that Hester had dared refuse
him.
..Whom on earth did She expect to
marry" the matron thought
But Hester, bordering over it all, ac-
cepted the pain as one more sorrow in her
Swallowed life, and made no moan, look
ed for no sympathy.
| 1t was hard to see the face that had
been ever full of sympathy and tender
ness turned cOldiy away; hard to hear the
children wonder ''why Uncle Alfred new
er came to see them any more but the
routine of duty filled each day and there
was certainty soon of release from the
monotony of teaching.
October was midway on her golden
tinted journey across the earth when Mrs.
Evans was called upon to find new
governess. In vain she scolded and even
wept Hester gave no reason, but she
must 90.
1t was not to spy upon her movements
| +bat tfroJ f,pIiufr tho lpay-
1 ing the ho0se, followed her in the train
that took her to London. 1t was only in
his deep, mistaken affection, the fear for
her future, the anxiety to be sure all was
to lie well with her in her new life.
She did not dream she was watched as
she took a cab, and, followed still, drove
TO a small house on the outskirts of Ken
fish Town, where an elderly woman met
her ~ the door and led her in, weeping
bitterly.
That was all Alfred saw but the face of
the weeping woman was Hester's face,
hould years of sorrow and tears set their
seal upon it.
Restless and curious, in spite of him
self, Alfred loungcd into restaurant
place near the little house and called for
something to eat. Close beside him two
officers of police inspectors they seemed)
were discussing some provisions, and
Alfred heard one say, $50 Strett0n's time
is up He came out of the penitentiary
yesterday"
According TO my idea, y was the reply,
"hc ought not to have been there at all.
He hever did it-never!'
"IIc was wild, though
~ ~ ~ nd
in bad company, but never had any more
hand in that bank robbery than you or |. ="
"tiot five years for it, said the other,
ard 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 wGek-consumption.n
This was the secret, then! A brother
in PentonvilIe model prison, innocent or
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 Of her
hrothcr's crime. He had vague Tecol-
lection threading the trial of some bank
robbers where the name of Suetton &C
CURED, but If was only Il hazy memory
~ best
Hester was with her mother in homie,
even if 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 hotel
Three days passed before he heard
again of Hester's brother, and then the
public journals told the story. He was
dead. Only twenty-siX, the papers said;
hut 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 III 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
purpcsely kept ignorant of their inten
tions and had no knowledge that he was
III 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 dccease.
II was no shame to Alfred's manhood
that his eyes were misty as he read the
obituary of the wasted life, touched Ike
lv Ivy the closing words, "a widow
mother and sister were with Stro ton
when he died
Alfred could easily picture tho fair,
pale face bending over the sufferer pill
lew, and the low, tender voice comforting
him, though his hand had brought desc
lation into her own life.
In the chamber of death, where the still
tace upon the pillow was peaceful in its
last sleep. Hester and her mother kept
watch together.
They had suffered most in the five
wears that their lives had been separated,
for the widow had been matrOn III a
large hospital, while Hester worked as
goyerness in Mrs Evans family. Before
her fathers death there had been home,
happy and united; but afterwards pow
erty drove them upon the world.
Mother" Hester said, softly, 81 have
saved something in these long years, and
we will settle ourselves here and we will
thy to earn living together.
YES, dear. ! took the house fur
rishc,l, for month. thinking if Oliver
came home willing 70 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,
flush You must not weep now.
Remember how happily he died mother,
the stain lifted from his memory, his
heart at peace. He was ready to go,
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.
Mrs. Stretton he said, lifting his
hat Il have just heard of your sorrow,
aud have come to ask you TO let me aid
you in any way where . gentleman ser
vices may he required | am the brother
of Mrs Evans
You are very kind, the widow fall
tered We aS you say-our trou-