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

go my way and you yours, for we could
never be happy with cloud of mystery
between u.s."
''In other words you refuse men'
There was quick resentment in Alfred
Graves tone, for the refusal of the woman
he loved to be his wife sent a blow al
once to his heart and vanity. He was moi
Il conceitcd man, but when he offered his
hand to his sisters governess he certainly
did not expect refusal. There had been
many meetings before he spoke, and in
some of them he had thought Hester STREET
: tons face betrayed her love for him in
spite of the cold manner that was habit
ual to her. ....s-.E.
!: Scarcely a man to measure his owI
+: merits by the le.gth of his purse, Alfred
Graves could not quite forget that he was
the owner of g fine estate in the country
Sc veraf houses in town and five thousand
Il wear, while Hester StrettOn was his sis
tcr's pOverncss. She had come to Mrs
Evans from female seminary, with let
tiers of introduction; had proved herself
trustworthy with children; and no one
had any desire to pry into her private
affairs during the whole Of the first two
wears.
Mrs Evans considered her a treasure
and the children were much attached tt
her and progressed rapidly.
Then Alfred came back from abroad
and his sister, offering him the hospi-
tality OF her house at Guildford, sudden
" made several discoveries. First, she
found out that although the family had
Thought and spoken Of her brother as an
,:ld bachelor, after all at forty he looked
younger than some men under thirty
Next, that Hester Stretton, though she
vas reserved, was wonderfully falr, and
s:,uld converse with Alfred long after the
lspics were quite beyond the elder lady S
Comprehension.
The old, old story progressed, day after
day. and she could find no good reason
t'r sending Hester away, and surely
ilfred was not to be turned from her
:ouse Mrs. Evans was constantly devls-
ing schemes for shutting Hester in the
hool-room, for sending her long errands
and employing her time in needlework.
BIT if Alfred would lounge into the
school room and insist on hearing his
H. :phews and nieces recite long poems
while he made pencil sketches of Hester's
i,:!ofle; if he would join her just as she
started on the long errands, and was
seIzed with the desire. to read in the very
f,om where the needlework was in pro-
gr,ss, what could a prudent sister do
I:';,re:
It was some comfort that the 'infatua-
1iln," as Mrs. Evans mentally termed it,
w;:s all on one side; that the pale face
ne5er flushed at his coming, or the
s,:ft, dark orbs never wooed him to her
size But Mrs Evans could not believe
it possible for Alfred to offer his hand
al.4 fortune to any woman and be re-
fused. So she fretted secretly, while
Aired wooed patiently, till OF the sum-
mcr morning when he found Hester in
ths: garden, for wonder, free from the
attendance of a juvenile Evans, and made
hisIdeclaration in explicit terms.
and without one flush Of her white
cheaks-if possible, even paler than
ust..l, Miss Stretton had told him there
we: a secret in her life that kept her out
siGd the ranks of happy married women.
Still. he pleaded, till she owned it was
no crime or fault of her own that scpar-
ate,II them; and again he urged his suit
atioil.
I'm other words, you refuse me-" he
said, with angry emphasis.
The color flushed then over Hestcr's
faee, for there was keen pain as we'll as
resentment in Alfred's tone. For the
first time she touched his arm, lifting
her soft, dark orbs to his own. There
was "a thrill in her voice as she said,
steadily, but in low tones: because l
love you, Alfred. II had no affection
for you I would put my hand in yours
and share your wealth, for my life of
drudgery is weary burden to me. But
love you, and SO bid you 60 from me
and seek 10 forget me IN a happier
smile .E
Something in hcr tone and face awed
her lover from any demonstration of
pleasure at her frank confession. He
prisoned the little white hand she had
placed upon his arm and said: "Contide
in nae then. Tell me your secret, or, if
you will, keep it, and rest assured I will
never try 20 surprise 1t.
Il cannot Nothing but death can free
me, and your life is too useful, too noble,
10 be spent in waiting for me- Forget
sne. Alfred.
She was gone before he could say
anOrc, and he knew her decision was
final Mrs Evans delight at her broth
.er's escape was certainly tempered by in
digrNtion that Hester had dared refuse
him{
''Whom on. earth did she expect to
marry the matron thought.
But HesteA pondsring over it all, ac-
ceptcd the pain as one more sorrow in her
shad .,v-ed life, and made no moan, look
ed ft:. 40 sympathy.
tWas hard to see the face that had
been:ever full Of sympathy and tender
ness turnedi coldly awey 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.
Oc:ober was midway on her golden
tinteo journey across the. earth when Mrs
Evan: was called npon to find a new
goveraess. In vain she scoldcd and even
wept.: Hester gave no reason, bu. she
must go.
1t was not to spy upon her movements
that Alfred, finding the governess leav-
ing the hoose. followed her in the train
that took her to London. 1t was only in
his deep, mistaken affection, the fear for
her fi,sure, the anxiety to be sure all was
70 be yell with her in her new life.
Sheldid not dream she was watched as
she took cab, and, followed still. drove
Ito sIsall house on the outskirts of Ken
&tish T:wn, where an elderly woman met
her At ffhe door and led her in, weeping
bitterls- "...=s
Tha. vas all Alfred saw; but the face of
he weeping woman was Hester's face,
hould years Of sorrow and tears set their
eal upon it. .-=... .-.......
Restless and curious, in spite of him
elf, alfred lounged into restaurant
lace Uear the little house and called for
pmetbing to eat. Close beside him two
ticers Of police inspectors the7 seemed)