The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-10-08
BOZEMAN, M. T, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1884,

| "Ies, 1. aou dlL not expect mt
here. Has Esther not come yet?''
| NO. he answered quickly; then
| seeing the scorn and anger in her eyes,
the quick gesture with which she
shrank from him, he held out his
| hands.
| "Idellc," he said, "can you trust
NE? l cannot explain my meeting with
Esther; but, believe me, have done
nothing an honorable man could be
ashamed Of"
She only drew back with a gesture
| of hauteur.
''You said Esther had not been
here she said slowly. ''but this is
hers!' and STOPPING down, she lifted a
! small gold lOcket set with tiny ruDies.
''Her name is on i,!''
''She has come and gone, then. She
has mistaken the time. for l have not
seen her.
'.Then will go as well." Idellc
said.
Ralph Greeley looked after her.
''lf she believes i'll of me and mis-
trusts me with SO little cause" he said,
Il will let it pass. must let it pass for
awhile. can make no explanation
yet"
The next morning the widest excite
ment prevailed in Mount Henry. The
dead body of Esther Haven had been
found. She had been thrown over the
little rustic bridge, and had fallen on
the rocks below.
A little later the excitement grew
more intense. and it had reached its
height when Ralph Greeley was arrest
ed for the murder. Suspicion had
linked their names together for some
time before.
How it happened. who had known of
her being on the bridge, Idelle Mere
dith could hardly tell, but she was the
principal witness against the man,
who, no matter what he was, she loved
with every chord of her heart.
Her anguish was pitifrl 10 behold as
she told her story, and sister-women
wept in sympathy rs. when all was
told. with a low cry she had fallen
back, white and senseless, and been
taken from the court room.
When King Emerson entered the
witness-box, the prisoner looked at
! "AAA "AOA Oh OAPAVoSAOA ~ "Oulu OC
hard to understand, but King gave his
evidence. which amounted to very lit
tie. coolly and clearly.
Yes, he has seen his cousin and the
dead woman together more than once
Yes. he had heard rumor connect
their names.
Yes, he had advised the prisoner to
marry her.
At these words the prisoner leaped
to his feet, his eyes blazing.
'You scoundrel! he cried.
Then his counsel interfered, and he
sat down again.
Late that evening King Emerson was
closeted with Idelle's father, and he
held paper in his hand.
Tomorrow week." he said, ''the
debt comes due. If Idelle is my wife
on that day. you are safe"
'You have her PROMISE
Il want herself" King Emerson an
swered coarsely.
Later still in the evening Idellc heard
of the claim King Emerson held over
her father.
my home--the home of the Mere
diths for generations-will pass from
me for ever, our proud name be dis
honorea, and II, Idelle, will take nv
own life as sure rs there II a Heaven
above lis. You have given your prom
ise to be his wife. What difference will
few weeks make?"
Worn. weary, eart-broken, and dis
pirited, Idelle was no match for the
two determined men, and the unwill-
ing consent dropped from her lips.
10 save her fathers name and honor
she would marry King Emerson that
day week.
After King Emerson left Meredith
Grange, he turned down narrow path
that led to short cut in the direction
of his home, and there he came face to
face with delicate-looking girl, who
stepped right in his path.
A muttered curse broke from his
lips.
"You here?' he said.
Eyes, l." she answered, and then
sank upon her knees.
''Once more, and for the last time"
she said, Il ask you to make me your
wife. Have pity on me and nv child,
and give lis right to your home. For
Gods sake, pity me in my anguish!'
Don't make u fool of yourselfg r. he
said. Il would not marry you were
you the last woman on the earth. Be-
sides. in few days l wed the purest
maiden in England-Idclle Meredith"
The girl rose to her feet, her face
convulsed with anger, and dark with
newly-born deadly hatred of this man
who had wrecked her life.
"You will never marry Idelle Mere
dith!'' she said
The man laughed.
I'VE will see," he said.
1--WE will see," she repeated.
Late that night Idellc sat alone,
thinking of the future. and what it
would be to her as King Emerson's
wife. {
Better DEATH" she thought in the {
anguish of her soul.
Suddenly the sound of light tap at
the window reused her, but before she
could rise, the easement, which opened s
on the balcony, was pushed in, and i
girl young in years. but weary and
careworn, stood before her. s
''You are Idelle Meredith" the 8
stranger said, and then, in the silence I
Of the night she told the Mortified girl I
q story that made her grow faint as 9
she listened. t
'You will tell this tomorrow at the ,
,ourt?" Idelle said. r
Il will," the stranger answered. a
p The next day rose bright and cloud h
ess, and in the courtroom, crowded Il
with people, stood Idelle Meredith. f
The attorney for the defense was l.
lifferent-looking being from what he h
lad been only the day before. but the 0
oppressed excitement of his manner |;
,ould not be accounted for till-till- Il
Helen Clarke" was called. o
Idelle's midnight visitor, the wo- B
nan who had knclt to King Emerson, tt
TODD in the witness-box. s.
what do you know of this case?'' !,
he lawyer asked. q
"A great DEAL" she answered slow
=; Il saw the murder committed. She
vas murdered by her husband" l
''Who was her husband?" the law W
er asked. "
She handed him the marriage-certif- d
cate. II
king Emerson was her husband. H
here is the proof of the marriage tC
he cause of the crime, and-'' fl
King Emerson had lcapcd to his feet m
ut hand had been laid on his
boulder and he had sunk back again,