Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1884-11-10

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ears-the voice of Esther Haven.
Scarcely conscious of what she did,
Idelle peeped through the tangle of
briarwood, and her face grew strange
ly pale. Esther's companion was her
lover, Ralph Greeley.
Almost breathless she stood, while
clear and distinct Esther's voice fell
on her ears.
"For Gods sake, Ralph, give me
the certificate. You will not do this.
Oh, Father in Heaven, what shall |
do! Oh, Ralph, give it to me! |
would sooner die than face"
That was all Idelle heard, as, white
and trembling, she sank back on her
seat. All she had heard-but enough.
Her father had spoken the truth.
She sat there stunned and dazed
for mora than quarter of an hour,
then suddenly the voices fell upon
her ear again-at least, her lovers
musical voice.
"You will meet me On the bridge"
he said, sat nine o'clock, and then
I'll give you my decision"
That night, with her face pale as
death, her sweet voice low and faint,
Idelle Meredith gave her consent to
marry King Emerson.
ssI will meet you on the bridge, and
give you my decision" Her lovers
words to Esther Haven rang in her
ears. She would be there as we'll
she would plead with him to do Esther
justice.
A few minutes before nine Idelle
stole out, and as the bell rang out the
hour she stood on the bridge, and
saw him standing as if waiting for
someone.
The moon shone clear and high, and
it was almost bright as day.
"You, Idelle?" he said, his face
changing slightly.
Eyes, l. You did not expect me
here. Has Esther not come yet?''
s'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.
''Idelle," he said, ''can you trust
me? / cannot explain my meeting
with Esther; but, believe me, | have
done nothing an honorable man could
be ashamed Of
She only drew back with gesture
of hauteur.
"You said Esther had not been
here" she said slowly, "but this is
hers y and STOPPING down, she lifted
a small gold locket set with tiny ru-
bies. ssHer name is on it p
''She has come and gone then.
She has mistaken the time, for have
not seen her,"
''Then 1 will go as welI," Idelle
, said.
Ralph Greeley looked after her.
'If she believes Ill of me and mis-
trusts me with so little cause" he
said, 81 will let it pass. l must let
it pass for awhile. 1 can make nc
explanation yet"
The next morning the widest ex-
citement prevailed in Mount Henry.
l 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
intense, and 1t had reached Its height
when Ralph Greeley was arrested fol-
the murder. Suspicion had linked
their names together for some time
2 before
How it happened, who had known
, of her being on the bridge, Idelle
Meredith 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 pitiful to behold
' as she told her story, and sister wo-
: men wept in sympathy as, when all
was told, with low cry she had fall
7 en- back, white and senseless, and
: been taken from the court room.
When King Emerson entered the
: witness-box, the prisoner looked at
him with an expression it would be
hard to understand, but King gave
his evidence, which amounted to very
little, coolly and clearly.
: Yes, he had 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
5 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.''
1 'sYou have her promise. .
81 want herself" King Emerson
: answered coarsely.
Later still in the evening Idelle
7 heard of the claim King Emerson
held over her father.
: my home-the home of the Mer-
: | aHifhS for <~onoraf;anc-will mass