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

rection 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.
ssYou here?' he said.
Eyes, L" she answered, and then
sank upon her knees.
ssOnce more, and for the last time,"
she said, II ask you to make me your
wife. Have pity on me and my child,
and give US a right to your home.
For Gods sake, pity me in my an
guish p
s'Don't make fool of yourself p
he said. 81 would not marry you
were you the last woman on the earth.
Besides, in a few days | wed the pur-
est maiden in England-Idelle Mer-
edith"
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.
ssYou will never marry Idelle Mer-
edith - she said.
The man laughed.
ssWe will see," he said.
1--WE will see,' she repeated.
Late that night Idelle 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 u light tap
at the window reused her, but be-
fore she could rise, the easement,
which opened on the balcony, was
pushed in, and a girl young in years,
but weary and careworn, stood before
her.
stYou are Idelle Meredith % 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.
ssYou will tell this tomorrow at
the court?" Idelle said.
81 will" the stranger answered.
The next day rose bright and
cloudless, and in the courtroom,
crowded with people, stood Idelle
Meredith.
The attorney for the defense was a
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
slowly 81 saw the murder commit
ted. She was murdered by her hus-
band"
"Who was her husband?" the law
yer asked.
She handed him the marriage GER
tificate.
"King Emerson was her husband.
There is the proof of the marriage
the cause of the crime, and"
King Emerson lad leaped to his
feet, but hand had been laid on his
shoulder and he had sunk back again,
while the crowd in the court room
swayed back and forward in their
excitement.
Then suddenly 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 pistol from his pocket, and
pressing the muzzle close to his heart,
had fallen, 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 husband said, talking of the past.
"Poor Esther! Her father once saved
my life, and he asked me before his
death, to be a friend to his child.
Her marriage certificate fell by chance
into my hands, and l wanted to pro-
claim her marriage, knowing the po-
sition liz which she stood, but she
feared for her life if she defed 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 something | cannot tell.
When l found it gone I had no proof
but my word, and what would be
given for a mans word with a moose
above his head?"
Helen Clarke disappeared, and as
the nearest-of-kin. Ralph Greeley in
herited King Emerson's possessions,
among which was the mortgage on
Meredith Grange, which he placed in
Idelle's hand.
sThe price of YOURSELF" be said
with smile.
81 am satisfied, since you are the
purchaser" she answered shyly.
And he was satisfied also, as he