The Red Cloud chief., 1879-06-26

z o"H oIAsAS N&oS -
half Of herself, how much more was che
afraid to ssy that her diamond WIS no
longer hers! Accordingly she made
haste 10 put the matter INTO the hands
of the law and the mouths of the Hamp-
ton gossips. Doubtless Greta would
have been lodged in jail at this time had
not Mr.. Grafton secretly espoused
her cause, while he undertook the
case Mrs. Stoughton had ~intrusted
10 him. Mr.. Grafton was q wealthy
bachelor, somewhat gray, and a good
deal bald; he hsd smiled upon Greta
more than once, without receiving any
answering smile; perhaps he thought
now that every thing arrives TO him who
can afford TO wsit-thst this was his OPP
portunity. His housekeeper had once
engaged Greta TO make carpets a. Graf
ton Place, and he had taken pains 10
show her over the house and grounds,
and had nearly snatched a kiss in the
shadow Of the lindens, as he put her in
TO his carriage TO send her home
Greta had never worked there again ,
but perhaps she was too grateful at Ind
ing a friend at her side in such stormy
~CaAutA ~ ECiboS q AA'Aa 49,
Grafton, and perhaps she had forgotten
his ~audacity. Yet in the midst of her
humiliations Greta remembered with q
heart-throb that she had lover TO come
10 her rescue il she chose TO call him
that she should not be dependent UPON
Mr.. Graf,on's tender mercies after Ste
phen Sotherne had been notified Of her
strait. At the same time, she felt disin-
clined TO break the bad news TO him till
alter ell was over. For how could it be
possible for an innocent person to suf-
fer? But Greta was not a little stunned
one morning on receiving a letter in the
handwriting Of Ter "true love-" which
ran in this wise:
MY DEAR GRKTA-It Il some time since /
had the pleasure OF hearing from you, and II
has occurred 10 me to ask IL time and
distance were not weakening our hold upon
each other; TO wonder how long you would
continue 10 love a man whom you only saw
once or twice a year, since II seems 10 me
that owing to the bad times our marriage Is
as indefinitely postponed a. the millennium.
Now, NV dear girl, / do lot wish 10 stand 10
your light; IL you were not engaged 10 me,
some more eligible partner would seek you.
| Re l certain. Moreover, nv health IL pre-
4 tAl IA ahtA lt ubSAOlh boNt ~ W ~ -,
try the air Of California. IL is q prescrip-
tion more nauseous than drugs, since must
leave you bchind me; but / could not, In
honor, carry YOU promise with me for an
indefinite space OF time for my own selfish
satisfaction merely. At the same time, be-
lieve me. it is no easy thing for me to say
=" adieu" TO the dearest girl in the world.
Sincerely, STEPHEN SoTHERNE.
To say that Greta was surprised would
be the same as if we should call an earth.
quake "u~npleasant." She was thunder.
struck, overwhelmed, with just spirit
enough left TO return Mr.. Sotherne's
letters and presents by the next mai
without q word.
ale has heard all about the diamond,
and believes it," she thought. 1t would
be a comfortable arrangement if one
could cease to love the instant a lover
proves unworthy, but hearts are moi
fashioned after that manner. When
every thought and motive Of ones life
is woven up with those Of another, one
can not unravel the tangled web all a,
once. "Another such shock will send
! me 10 the insane asylum" sighed Greta
| But there was another yet in store fol
her. Mr.. Grafton had taken to drop,
ping in upon her after her days work
One evening he said:
Miss Greta, what if you should bt
found guilty of this-this-"
"H they should find me guilty
How can they fiud an innocent person
guiltyP If l took the diamond, where
is itg"
MIR. Grafton smiled indulgently
" People have been imprisoned, brand
ed, exiled, hanged, and quartered fol
sins they never committed. Ii you wer'
guilty, you would he more likely TO es
cape; you would have laid your plans
Greta gave an involuntary sob; TIL
tears shone in her eyes. "And there i
no one to help me-" she grasped, think
ing aloud, rather than speaking to MIR
Grafton.
"Yes, yes, there is some one read,
to help you, Greta," said that gentle
man AZ will help you, if you viii onl.
give me the right" he p%etitioned.
"You, Mr.. GraftonP What right ca
l give you? l don't understand"
"If you were my promised wife
All! my dear Miss Greta, don't turI
away your head disdainfully; hear m
out. Mr.. Stoughton is under some OF
legation TO me if you were my prom
ised wife, l could write him. Their
would be no more said about the miss
ing diamond; it would be accounted 70
in some natural manner. You woul
be no longer suspected. No one coul
suspect the woman whom Thomas Gra-
ton delighted to honor"
w.. rnr, ~ unru lind than
you; but l do not love you, MI. Gra
ton"
al don't ask you to love me. G
course you don't; the idea has never
perhaps, entered your head before.
only beg that you will marry me. Low
will come sooner or later, as l desery
it at our hands. And, my dear Grets
/ what better can you do? Who will Civ
| You employment, with this blight upo
you? How will you earn your dali
bread?"
? 81 don't know" returned Grets
show shall l, indeed? But, all the am
it would be contemplate to reward yor
4 unselishness by merely marrSin ing 70
tor q home"
"Only agree to marry me, and l wi
not quarrel with the motives" he in
: plored.
What could Greta do? Her lover hs
e deserted her; her good name wa Ia
S nished. Without home, friends, {
4 work, was it not the height of folly
4 refu.e such q way of escape? And We
d how could she love him? But mig
t not one survive the luxury of loviDs
Come wealth, ease, and position; va
(? ish all illusions that make life swee
She begged a fortnight for consider
e ton: something might turn up to b
/: advantage-the diamond, for i
stance. But the fortnight passe
d as fortnights will; nothing happene
II except that Mr.. Grafton, feeling con.
dence in the woman who hesitates, I
!. fuxniShod his nsrlor in hl,aa aa.;a o..