Frostburg mining journal., 1883-05-05
Selett Stprp.
THE DALTON MYSTERY.


Ralph Dslton's house, as a shadow
over his life, as certain as knew he
loved me and tried to conquer his
love.
1t was a miserable joy 10 me to en-
counter him anil make him fall in
love with me over again, when I
knew he had been hiding away, bat.
tling with my influence over him,
striving-and vainly-to thrust me
out his heart.
1t was no boy and girl infatustion,
for | was % when l inherited Wolf
stone from my uncle, stately old
house with extensive grounds. l
found . housekeeper and brought
with me a companion, a widow of 60,
Mrs. Latimer, and we settled down
in the new house very happily.
There was no lack of pleasant 30.
ciety, and I had attention from the
gentlemen residing near Us. But the
FIRST person to welcome me was
Ralph Dalton, who had been my
uncle's close friend for years, and VIII o
lived at the place next to mine.
He held for me aome private letters,
some jewelry Of my grandmother 8
and other little matters uncle felt it
best to con6de 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 I
met him only by chance, if a persist
ent effort on my part could be called
30.
What did he love in ms2 He was
many years older than myself-40, l
should iudge-without any great at
traction.
He was grave to sadness, but gen.
tie as a woman, and his voice, full,
rich and exquisitely modulated, was
perfect music.
loved him utterly-I who had
been cold to all suitors, and sslf.re
solved to maintain ever maiden
freedom.
What did lie love in mop
1 was fair of face, they told me who
wooed me, and was glad if Ralph 8
eyes found pleasure in my beauty.
But I had not been a week at
Wolfstone before l heard of some
mystery in Ralph's home.
1t had never received pretty
name, but was spoken of simply as
"Dalton's."
The house was large, yet no visitor
stepped there.
Ralph was rsputed wealthy, yet he
offered no hospitality to his friends.
He found rsst and pleasure with
us, knowing we could not visit him,
and I think our intercourse was a
bright, happy one TO him, lifting him
out of some habitual melancholy,
until he awakened to the knowledge
that he loved me, and was terror.
stricken.
Just in one fash of his soft eyes,
one infection of his voice, l read his
secret, and answered it; in moment
he was ice. He arologized for having
forgotten the respect due to me, aid
with stiff, white lips and a choked,
hard tone had never hssrd pass his
lips bafore, he bads me farewell and
was gone.
was stunned, then enrsgsd. How
dare he, I thought. win my love to
scorn it Then I wept for him.
l knew my pain was less than his,
because his nature was deeper, more
intense in all things than mine.
l blushsd for myself when l stole
out at dusk and crossed our garden
to look in at the window Of his study
to watch hip.
He was paler, grsVer than ever,
bending over his books for an hour at
time without turning a leaf, or
walking up and down with folded
aruls and bowed head, musiug pain
fully, as I could see by his rigid lips
and stern brow.
I had been six months at Wolfstone,
and the snow covered the ground F.,
when Mrs. Latimer impaired to me
the first piece of gossip l ever heard
fall from her lips.
"You remember Mr.. Dalton, who
came go often when we were first
here ?" she asked me, as we fingered
over late breakfast.
noddad auoont