The Red Cloud chief., 1879-04-10

III OoS SHouuo, ma VI seueU
desire to read in the very room whW'
the needlework was in progress, wha
could o prudent sister do more?
1t was some comfort that the ''infat
u~ation." = Mrs. Evans mentanyterm
ed it, was all on one side; that The palt
face v flushed at his coming or tht
soft, dark orbs wooed him TO her side,
But Mrs. Evans could not believe it pos
sible for Alfred TO Offer his hand and
fortune TO any woman and be rejected
So she fretted secretly, while Alfred
wooed patiently, till on the summer
morning when he found Hester in the
garden, for a 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 a 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 asd again he urg-
ed his suit only 10 mat he repetition
of her declaration.
"In 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 Alfrsd's tone. for INC
first time she Touched his arm, lining
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 I had NJ 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
love you, and SO I bid you go from me
and seek to forget me in a 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: Soon
fide in me, then. Tell me your secret,
or, if you will, keep it, and rest assured
l will never try to surprise it,"
81 a not. Nothing but death can
free me, and your life is too useful, too
noble, to be spent in waiting for me.
Forget Inc, 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
cd by indignation that Hester haddared
refuse him.
"Whom on earth did she expect to
marry?" the matron thought.
But Hester, bordering over it al, ac-
copied 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 hsar
the children wonder |" Why Uncle Alfred
never came to see them any more;"
but the routine of duty filled each day,
and there was a certainty soon of re-
lease from the m%onotony of teaching.
October was midway on her golden
tinted journey across the earth when
Mrs. Evans was called upon to find q
new governess. In vain she scolded
and C wept. Hester gave no reason,
but she must 60.
1t was not to spy upon her movements
that Alfred, finding the g%overness leav-
ing the house, followed her in the train
that took her to London. 1t was only
in his deep, mistaken affection, the fear
for her future, the anxiety to be u 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 n say, $50 STREET
toms time isup! He came out of the
~Penitentiary yesterday"
"Accordingto my idea," was the re-
ply, he ought not to have been there
at all. He never did it-neyer!"
"He was wild, thought 10Y
ayes; got on a spree too often, and
was in bad company, but never had
any more hand in that bank robbery
than you or l."
SCOT 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, s.and won'tiast a week-con-
symptom
This was the secret, then! A brother
in Pentonville model prison, innocent
or guilty, q convicted felon! Alfred
shuddered as he th0ughts Of the fsir,
stately woman he ioved, with hse pure,
proud nature, daily tortured by the Sc
cret of her brothers crime. He had Q
vague recollection of reading the trial
Of some bank robbers where tho name
of Stretton occurred, but It was onlys
hay memory at best.
Hastor ma