The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-03
The Dalton Mystery.

l knew there was a mystery in Ralph
DaltOn's house, a shadow over his life. as
certainly as l knew that he loved me and
tried to conquer his love. 1t was q miser-
able JOY to me to encounter him, to make
him fall in love with me over again, when
knew he had been hiding away, battling
with my influence over him, striving-and
vainly-to thrust me out of his heart.
1t was no boy and girl infatuation, for
was twcnty-three when inherited VOLTS
ton from my uncle; a stately old house,
with extensive grounds, named from some
old-world estate in our family. found a
housekecpcr, and brought with me a COM
panion, widow Of sixty, Mrs. Latimer,
and we settled down in the new house very
happily. There was no lack of pleasant
society, and had attention from many
gentleman residing near u.s. But the first
person to welcome nc was Ralph Dalton,
who had been my unclc's close friend for
years, and who lived upon the next place
to mine. He held for ne some private let
ters, some jewels of my grandmothcr's,
and other little matters uncle felt it best to
confidc to private keeping, and after his
trust was over he came again and again
until we loved each other. Then he ceased
his visits, and met him only by chance,
If q persistent effort on my part could be
called so.
What did love in him2 He was many
years older than myself-forty I Judge
without great personal attraction. His
features were large and gave al impression
of strength; he was tall ..and broad -shoul-
dered. l have heard him called an ugly
man, but his large, melancholy brown eyes
were beautiful. Hc was grave to sadness,
and reserved to fault; yet once the ice
of his reticencc was broken, he could con-
verse easily and gracefully upon any topic,
passing far beyond my poor attainmcnts in
the scope of his study and the wide range
of his reading. He was as gentle rs a wo-
man, and his voice, FULL rich and exquisite
ly modulated was perfect music. loved
him utterly-I who had been cold to all
suitors, and self-resolvcd to maintain ever
my maiden freedom.
What did lie love in mc2 Something that
was reflex of his own nobility, for was
commonplace enough elsewhere. With
him wakcned to new thoughts of philan-
throphy, of self-culturc, and my whole
soul was elevated and found strength in in
terconrse with him. | was fair OF face,
they told me who wooed me, and I was
glad If Ralph,s eyes found pleasure in my
beauty.
But had not been Il week at Wolfston
before l heard Of some mystery i'm Ralph's
home. f..
1t had never received pretty name.
but was spoken of simply as "Dalton's. I"
The house was large, yet no visitor ever
stopped there. Ralph was rcputcd veal
thy yet he offered no hospitality, even one
meal, to his friends.
He found rest and pleasure with lis,
knowing we conld not visit them, and I
think our intercourse was bright, happy
one to him, lifting him ont Of some habitual
melancholy, until lie wakcncd to the know
ledge that lie loved me, and was terror.
stricken.
just in one flash of his soft eyes, one in
Election of his harmonious voice, I read his
secret, and answered it, In moment he
was ice Flo apologized for having forgot
ten the respect due to- me, and with stiff,
white lips, and Il chokcd, hard tone had
never heard pass his lips before, he bade
me farewell and was gone.
/ was stunned, then enragcd How
dared he, thought, win my love to scorn
It'll Then I wept for him. I. knew my
pain was less than his, because his nature
was deeper, more intense in all things; than
tiiine.
would not pine for any man, thought,
and dashed into every gayety available in
our circle. But my flirtations were wasted,
rs he did not see them, and my heart was
sick for a look from his tender eyes, /
blushed for myself when I stole out at dnsk
and crossed our garden to look in at the
window of his study to watch him. He
was paler, graver than ever, bending over
his books for an hour at time without
turning leaf, or walking up and down
with folded arms and bowed head, musiug
painfully, as could sec by his rigid lips
and atcrn brow.
I{had been six month at Wolfston, and
the snow covered the ground when Mrs.
Latimer impaired to me the first piece of
gossip ever heard fall from her lips.
"You remember that Mr.. Dalton who
came here 80 often when we were first
here 2" she asked mo, as. we fingered over
a late breakfast. ..l
I nodded assent. aa
"My dear, he has q crazy wife shut up
In that gloomy house of his"
"Nonsensel" l said, sharply, while my
brain seemed aflame
but Mrs. Reynolds told mel She
says that Mrs Dalton Inns q whole suit of
upper rooms, two women to wait upon her,
every care and indulgence, but that she..is
violent maniac. f-E
"But he would not pass himself of for q
single man" began. Il
"Who ever heard him say whether he