American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-03-15

WOOeu patiently, I'LL on the summer
morning when he found Hester in the
garden, for wonder, free from the at
tendance of a Juvenile Evans, and made
his declaration in explicit terms
and without one flush on her white
cheeks-if possible, even paler than
usual, Miss Stretton had told him there
was secret in her life that kept her
outside the ranks of happy married
women. Still he pleaded, still she own
ed it was no crime or fault of her own
that separated them; and again he urg-
ed his suit only to meet the repetition
of her declaration.
sin other words. you refuse me-" he
said, with angry emphasis.
The color flushed then over Hester's
face, for there was keen pain as well as
resentment in Alfred's tone. For the
first time she touched his arm, lifting
her soft, dark orbs to his own. There
was thrill in her voice rs she said,
steadily but lii low tones, "Because |
love you, Alfred. If had no affection
for you l would put my hand in yours
and share your wealth, for my life of
drudgery is a weary burden to me. But
l love you, and so bid you go from me
and seek to forget me in happier
smile.''
Something in her 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: Con-
fide in me, then. Tell me your secret,
or, if you will, keep it, and rest assured
I will never try to surprise it,
al can not. 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 conld say
more, and he knew her decision was
final. Mrs. Evans's delight at her
brothers escape was certainly temper
ed by Indignation that Hester had dared
refuse him.
"Whom on earth did she expect to
marryP" the matron thought.
But Hester, bordering over it all, &C.
cepted the pain as one more sorrow in
her Swallowed life, and made no moan,
looked for no sympathy.
1t was hard to see the face that had
been ever full of sympathy and tender
ness turned coldly away; hard to hear
the children wonder ." why Uncle Alfred
never came to see them any more"
but the routine of duty filed each day,
and there was a certainty soon of re-
lease from the monotony of teaching.
October was midway on her golden
tinted journey across the earth when
Mrs. Evans was called upon to find a
new governess. In vain she scolded
and even wept. Hester gave no reason,
but she must go.
1t was not to spy upon her movements
that Alfred, finding the governess leav-
ing the house, followed her in the train
in his deep, mistaken affection, the fear
for her future, the anxiety to be sure all
was to be 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 Kentish Town, where an elderly
woman met her at the door and led her
in, weeping bitterly.
That was all Alfred saw; but the face
of the weeping woman was Hester's
face, should years of sorrow and tears
set their seal upon it.
Restless and curious, in spite of HIM
self, Alfred lounged into a refreshment
place near the little house and called for
something to eat. Close beside him two
officers of police inspectors they SEEM
ed) were discussing some provisions,
and Alfred heard one say, $50 STREET
toms time is up! He came out of the
Penitentiary yesterday"
According to my idea," was the re-
ply, he ought not to have been there
at all. He never did it-never!"
she was wild, though"
"Yes; got on spree too often, and
was in bad company, but never had
any more hand in that bank robbery
than you or l."
Got five years for it, said the 9TH
er, "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-con-
This was the secret, then! A brother
in Pentonville model prison, innocent
or guilty, a convicted felon! Alfred
shuddered as he thought of the fair,
stately woman he loved, with her pure,
proud nature, daily tortured by the Sc
cret of her brothers. crime. He had
vague recollection of reading the trial
of some bank robbers where the name
of Stretton occurred, but it was only
hazy memory at best.
Hester was with her mother in a
home, even if a poor one, with crime for
its inmate, and he had no right to in
trude upon 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 re-
turning to Guildford that night, finding
his way to the West End and a hotel.
Three days passed before he heard
again of Hester's brother, and then the
public journals told the story. He was
lead. Only 26, the papers said; but
here had come comfort at the last hour.
Two of the gang who had been engaged |
in the bank robbery had made a sworn !