The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-17

/ dith could hardly ten, Dut sue Was Lho
principal witness against the man.
who, no matter what he was, she loved
! with every chord Of her heart.
| Her anguish was pitiful to behold as
| she told her story, and sister-women
wept in sympathy as, when all was
| told. with low cry she had fallen
back, white and senseless, and boon
taken from the court room.
When King Emerson entered the
witness-box, the prisoner looked al
him with an expression it would be
hard to understand, but King gave his
evidence. which amounted TO very lit
tie. cooHy and clearly.
Yes, he has seen his cousin and the
dead woman together more than once,
Yes. he had heard rumor connec
their names.
Yes. he had advised the prisoner Il
marry her.
At these words the prisoner leaped
to his feet, his eyes blazing.
| '.You scoundrelr' he cried.
Then his counsel interfered, and h
sat down again.
Late that evening King Emerson wa
closeted with Idelle's father, and h
held a paper in his hand.
Tomorrow week." he said. ''th'
tdebt comes due. If Idelle is my wifi
on that day, you are safe.
you have her promise.
Il want herself" King Emerson an
| swered coarsely.
Later still in the evening IdelIe hearC
of the claim King Emerson held owe
her father.
'tMy home-the home of the Mere
diths for generations-will pass from
| me for ever, our proud name be dis
| honored, and Ii, Idelle, will take mi
own life as sure as there is 4 HEAVIER
| above us. You have given your prom
ise to be his wife. What difference vii
| a few weeks make?p
! Worn, weary, heart-broken, and dis
| pirited, Idelle was no match for tht
| two determined men, and the unwill
ing consent dropped from her lips.
To save her fathers name and honOl
she would marry King Emerson tina
day week.
After King Emerson left MEREDITH
| Grange, he turned down a narrow patti
that led to q short cut in the direction
of his home, and there he came face t.
face with delicate-looking girl, WHIT
stepped right in his path.
A muttered curse broke from hi
lips.
You here?" he said.
Yes, l." she answered, and ther
sank upon her knees.
''Once more, and for the last time, ;
she said, 81 ask You to make me your
wife. Have pity on me and my child
and give us . right to your home. Fol
Gods sake. pity me in my anguish!'
Don't make fool of yourself !? he
said. 81 would not marry you were
YOU the last woman on the earth. Be
sides. in few DAYS lived the pures
maiden in England-Idelle Meredith.
The girl rose to her feet, her fact
conVulsed with anger, and dark witt
newly-born deadly hatred of this mai
who had wrecked her life.
''You will never marry Idelle Mere
1ithr' she said.
The man laughed.
1--WE will see" he said.
1--WE will sec" she repeated
Late that night Idelle sat alone
thinking Of the future. and what i
would be to her as King Emerson''
wife.
Better DEATH" she thought in the
anguish of her soul.
Suddenly the sound of light tap a
the window reused her, but before she
could rise, the easement, which opened
on the balcony, was pushed in, and 6
girl young in years. but weary and
careworn, stood before her.
You are Idelle Meredith?n the
stranger said, and then, in the silence
of the night, she told the Mortified girl
story that made her grow faint as
she listened.
you will tell this tomorrow at the
courtP" Idelle said.
II will, :" the stranger answered.
The next day rose bright and cloud
less, and in the courtroom, crowded
with people, stood Idelle Meredith.
The attorney for the defense was q
different-looking being from what he
had been only the day before, but the
repressed excitement of his manner
could not be accounted for till-till-
Helen Clarke" was called.
Idelle's midnight visitor, the wo-
man who had knelt to King Emerson,
stood in the witness-box.
What do you know of this case?"
the lawyer asked.
"a great deal, she answered slow
"; II saw the murder committed. She
was murdered by her husband"
who was her husband?" the law
yer asked.
She handed him the marriage-certif-
icate.
king Emerson was her husband.
There is the proof of the marriage
the cause of the crime. and
King Emerson had leaped to his feet,
but q hand had been laid on his
shoulder and he had sunk back again,
while the crowd in the courtroom
swayed back and forward in their ex-
element.
Then suddenly q wild cheer broke
forth, for Ralph Greeley was free
man.
The next moment, however, the
cheers were changed to cries of hor-
ror, for, before they had thought of
such a thing, King Emerson had drawn
a pistol from his pocket. and pressing
the muzzle close to his heart, had fall
len. bathed in his own life-blood, at
their feet.
His crime had overtaken him, and
he dared not face the consequence.
Six months later Idelle and Ralph
were married.
''And SO you distrusted me from the
words you overheard. Idelle?" her hus-
band said, talking of the past. poor
Estherl Her father once saved my life,
and he asked me before his death, to
be friend to his child. Her marriage
certificate fell by chance into my
hands, and wanted to proclaim her
marriage. knowing the position in
which she stood. but she feared for her
life if she defied him, and she pleaded
with me to give it to her. He must
have met her on the bridge before
came, but how lost the certificate, or
how Helen Clarke found it, is some
thing cannot tell. When found it
gone had no proof but my word, and
what would be given for mans word
with moose above his head?'s
Helen Clarke disappeared, and as
he nearest-of-kin, Ralph Greeley in
lerited King Emerson's possessions,
lmong which was the mortgage on
Meredith Grange, which be placed in
delle,s hand.
The price of yourself. he said with
smile.
Il am satisfied, since you are the
purchaser. she answered shyly.
And he was satisfied also, as he met /
he beautiful eyes npturned to his. so
al of love and trust
Finding Ont ie Il Was Alive.
sHaye you had any experience in