The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-02-27


not met for long time, talk will nc
doubt prove interesting"
A good deal of impudence lurked in
his tone.
Dalton Dial, you have held my hap
piness in your hands," the governess
continued, after quite a long pause
What we have been to one another
has nothing to do with our present talk
l can never, never become your wife
I hope you do not indulge hopes now
You know that / love a man who has
been forced to fly his native land, be.
cause of certain words of yours. Know.
ing what you do-that love him, and
can never become your wife-will you
not let him come back? Tell me the
truth: Guilty or not guiltyF
The mans faint smile suddenly disap.
peared, and his lips parted to utter one
word, and that in tone of deYilish
triumph.
"Guilty of the murderi"
For moment Grace Haldon looked
resentingly into his face, and as she
stepped forward and touched his arm,
she said boldly:
"Dalton Dial, you have liedw
He recoiled as if stung by an adder.
"Prove It'll" he said, almost fiercely.
II give you leave, Grace Haldon, to
prove that 1 have iedp
I may not be able to do so now, but 1
know that standing before one of the
highest courts in the land, you have de-
liberately perjured your soul. My whole
life henceforth shall be bent to the pur-
pose of proving this, and l tell you
boldly that 1 shall not cease my efforts
until the stain of crime has been washed
from his garments, or brand you one of
the greatest villains in England"
Exactly, Grace" he answered, with
an obsequious bow; and the next
moment she turned away.
She had encountered one of the men
whom she had desired to meet.
He had not changed in the two years
that had rolled over his head since
Grace had met him. His eyes could
flash the same lurking light that ap-
peared on.the surface when he testified
against Oscar Morgan, who had won
Grace Haldon's heart.
Hers was then home surrounded
with all the enjoyments that a lavish
expenditure of wealth could bestow.
Her beauty and accomplishments had
created her one of the reigning bellies of
certain aristocratic quarter of the
metropolis.
But blight had fallen Unexpectedly
upon her, and her sudden disappearance
from home and society had not ceased to
be topic of conversation in some cir
cles, though two years had fed.
She had the courage to tell her father
that she believed the young merchant,
Oscar Morgan, guiltless of the crime of
nocturnal murder, and he in his anger
had commanded her to recant, or leave
his sheltering roof. Grace chose the
latter, and one night a carriage bore her
down the wide avenue; and thus the
high-born girl entered upon the career
of a governess.
Her father said she had gone to COM
plete her already brilliant education:
but there were not few who believed
that she had secretly Joined her lover,
who had managed to fly the country.
As the steamer approached the quay
in the city of its destination, Grace saw
the man again at her very side. He
held small valise, and did not appear
to have noticed her, and she soon lost
sight of him in the throng of noisy peo-
pie, and entere d cab. 1t was with a
powerful effort that the governess could
refrain from the loved mansion on the
terrace; but she steeled her tried heart
against the temptation, and entered a
private lodging house.
Three months passed away.
Mrs. Belmont and the children were
wondering what had become of Grace
Haldon, and the white-haired man was
yearning for the return of his only
child.
But Grace had duty to perform, and
until she had succeeded, her feet could
not cross the old threshold.
1t was quite early one night when the
governess entered room on tiptoe and
seated herself beside low bed, upon
which lay the emaciated form of q
woman whose beauty had faded before
the ravages of disease.
"You have come in time" the sick
one said, feebly. az want to tell all
now, and then want to sign the con-
fession."
In cracked voice the white.faced
being told a story of dark deception and
wrong which blanched Grace Haldon':
cheeks as she wrote it down. The
woman who had madly loved Dalton
Dial was dying. She had clung to him
through thick and thin, to be deserted
at last for the very woman who sat Al
her bedside.
"Now bring justice in and let him
attest the paper"
Grace retired, and soon returned with
the nearest Justice Of the Peace, who
was startled by the confession which h,
was compelled to read.
Before another day had passed Daltor
Dial was arrested in one of the fashion
able club houses for perjury and mur
derl He denied the charge with mucl
vehemence, but when the confession
was thrust into his face, and he stood il
the presence of the repentantone, cling
ing tenaciously to life, his courage failet
him and he acknowledged his guilt.
Grace Haldon's life work was almos
finished, and the carriage that bore he
from her humble lodging house one day
landed her in the arms of the forgivini
father.
Bright were the days when Osca
Morgan returned from exile, declares
innocent by the courts. Dalton Dia
stood in his place, and the woman VIII
had betrayed him was in the grave.
1t was glorious triumph, and er
long Grace the governess was lost i
Grace the wifel
LITTLE Nellie Maslonkinp at MWnnlf,