The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-06-10

abridge her liberty of going out when
ever and wherever she chose, and an
noy her still moro than being watched.
One morning Stella had been obliged
to 60 the city to make some purchases.
She was gone some hours, and when
she came back was preparing to 90 to
her friends, when her mother said:
"Stella, the Keenans have all CONT
out to drive"
81 guess not" said Stella, carelessly,
remembering, with little thrill, that
last night when Mr.. Anderson babe her
goodnight at her gate after seeing her
home, he had whispered,
Tomorrow when you come over, I
wish you'd come to the grape-arbor be-
fore you 90 into the house. I have
something special to say to YOU"
"Of course he wouldn't go out" she
thought confidently, wondering, yet
half guessing from what had gone before,
what the something special" was to be,
and what she should say to it.
"But they have" persisted Mrs. WAL
tiers, "fof saw them, and another gen.
tleman was with them"
"Well," said Stella. with affected
Indifference, looking at her watch,
"rll go over and get book l left there,
and if they have not yet returned of
course Ill come home to lunch" and
off she went.
The grape-arbor was on the other side
of the house. and slowly Stella turned
her steps toward it.
When she reached it the pretty little
summer-house was vacant, though a
book lay on the seat as though it had
been occupied. She sat down and
opened the book. 1t was one of Mr..
Anderson's favorite authors. She read
awhile, but finding that it grew late,
and being somewhat angry-it must
be confessed-that he had not kept
his appointment, she finally went up to
the house.
She rang. No one came to the door.
She knocked-a peculiar knock that
Mr.. Anderson had taught her, and
which always brought some one in a
moment. Still no response. After
walking around the house, and finding
everything shut and locked even to the
kitchen, she came to the unwelcome
conclusion that her mother was right,
that they were all gone.
With burning face she turned her
steps toward home, and not once
again that day did she look toward the
house, pleasing herself with imagin-
ing their wonder at her absence, and
Mr.. Anderson's dismay when she
should refuse his meat request for an in
terview.
The morning brought thunderbelt.
"Why. Stella" cried Mrs. Walters.
on opening the morning paper, and
seeing on the first page sensational look
ing article. with large type headings,
they've found a nest of burglars in our
city! on our street!' she went on, as she
eagerly scanned the headings.
"Where?" asked Stella, languidly,
helping herself to a roll, as her mother
became absorbed in reading.
"Why-why''- Mrs. Wal
tiers, too amazed to be able to command
language, ''it's -it's-the Stuart Hous
its the Keenans! Tom keenan,, tn
paper says, and Bill Anderson! Long
known to the police! Have been
watching them for weeks! Have Sc
cured evidence that will be sure to
convict them! Were arrested yester.
day with two women, and a. servant
who turns out to be the mother of An
derson!'
''It's an infamous lier' shouted Stella,
pale as death, rising from the table.
But though she thus branded it on her
first impulse, there Immediately rushed
into her mind scores of proofs of its
truth. Their singularities-the shut
up life-their bolted doors and win
dOws-their entire leisure during the
day, and their haste to close up at night,
their hatred of tattling servants. and
their curious questions.
Inspite of her protest, and long before
her mother had finished the column,
Stella knew in her heart that it was true.
Mrs. Walters went on, reading by
snatches faithful description of the
house. its elegant furnishing, an &C.
count of the previous life of the two
men, a description of the women; of the
arrest, of the robberies they had been
engaged in.-including their own,-at
which a rush ofrecollections overwhelm-
Gu OtClld OuI Iuc WOISC AOI 0CClld was
yet to come.
In the midst of the excitement the
bell rang, and two officers came in fol-
the purpose of summoning Miss Stella
Walters, as an intimate and one of the
witnesses necessary to convict the pris.
oners of their crimes.
This was the climax! Tears and
agonies and prayers at this disgrace
had no effect on the iron men of the
law. .....
While this was going on, one of the
men looking around the room CHANGED
to see on the table photograph.
'By George! that's luckyr' he ex-
claimed in surprise, pocketing the bit
of cardboard.
The family were in too much con-
sternation at the time to think or care
what it meant, but they learned after
wards that the prisoner Anderson, when
requested to sit for his photograph, to
adorn the walls of the station house,
in what is calledthe ''Rogue's Gallery y
utterly refused.
When compelled to sit, he distorted
his features so that he conld not be
recognized.
The interposition of influential gentle
men of Mrs. Walters acquaintance
procured for the broken-spirited girl a
private examination.
With close questioning she told her
foolish and weak story from the beginn-
ing. including the appointed meeting
in the grape-arbor. Poor Mrs. Walters
was inexpressibly shocked.
1t was not yet evening, but the whole
life of Stella Walters was changed.
Mortified to agony, disgraced for ever
AS she felt that she was, by the arrest
and the exaggerated account other con-
fession, which appeared in big type in
all the papers-the headstrong, pleas
ure-seeking girl was entirely crushed.
and reserved, silent, almost timid
woman took her place. She fell into q
sort of apathy; would never go out OF
the house, nor see friend; she seemed
always on the watch for some terror,
and suspicious of everybody that looked
at her.
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