Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-11-15

But before she could proceed further,
there was confusion in the hall outside
q mingling of servants voices and a ring
ing one, clear and free, rising high above
them all. AS that voice reached them
the two women grew suddenly white,
and, while one hid her young face, the
other stood up, grasping the arm of her
chain tightly, a glad mother light In her
eyes.
A moment later and the door was
wide and Gerald sprang to her out
stretched arms, which she closed around
him with a glad cry.
Gerald Gerald! my sonp'
He held her closely an instant, kissing
the tears from her cheeks; then, putting
her aside, the young man knelt beside
Helen, his eyes tracing hers yearningly.
"NO welcome, love-" he asked, re-
prOachfully; "nO little word after our
long separation / am accused of my
fathers DEATH I have been arrested
and escaped. In an hour I will offer
myself up to stand the trial. Helen, L
was sure you loved me. Do you shrink
now because you think me blOOd-stained?
Is 1t that, dear? Surely, you do not hold
me a murderer
"She barred her face and showed it to
him, then haggard, dTeary, white with
pain; but the dark eyes meeting his
were full of affection.
Gerald" she said hOarsely, "you need
not fear arrest; there is no trial before
you. The stain has been taken from
your name and placed on mine. Listen.
1 Will tell you"
And she told her story; told how, as
she turned from the home which had so
long sheltered her, she had met a man
who calico her daughter; how some
chord in her own heart had responded
to his voice; how she had told herself as
she accepted his protection, that God had
given her this friend in her hour of
need. She had gone with him from
place to place, and he had been kind to
her; he was always well supplied with
money, and she never inquired whence
IL came. Then, a month before, he had
been stricken down by a sudden i'll
ness, from which he had been told
he could never recover, and that when
he was dying-as he did three days after
his seizure-he called her to him and
placed in her hands the record of his
/ life, which she was to read when he was
dead.
The reading had almost slain her, but
! there was much that she had to do, so
she battled bravely with her horror, and
! took up her Swallowed life because 1t
could give hope to others. In a distant
/ prison a man was wearing his life out
| for a crime which he never committed;
/ she must set him free. Gerald VeretOn
was accused of a murder which her
/ father had perpetrated! She must clear
/ his name!
She told him how her dead parent
naming him with a shudder-had stolen
] into the house that night-tO the We're
! tOn's-had seen Mr.. VeretOn in his chair,
and on the moments impulse slain him;
/ 3 4 l.
! had taken, had waited near with the In
| tention of speaking once with the daugh-
! ter whom he had deserted in her In
fancy. He had claimed her and in his
/ way had been kind to her; but the pure
heart Of the girl had nearly broken
when she learned that the comforts he
had given her were the fruits of plumber
and blOOdshed.
Ere she had finished Gerald had taken
her trembling handin mis- and drawn her
TO his bosom. When she had burst into
a wild passion Of weeping, he held her
/ there, his lips upon her forehead.
MY darling" he said, tenderly, "yOu
have borne enough. Let me win you to
forget all the horror of your past. Let
my love comfort and shield you nOWl'
But she put up her handsand held him
off still.
Think she cried brokenly. at was
my father, Gerald, who made you father
lessl You cannot love MS child !" You
must shrink from herl Oh, let me gOi
Your pity would sleri6ce your pea eel'
Mother" Gerald said looking up to
where Mrs. VeretOn stood, with down
dropping tears and trembling lips, and
she bent and kissed the sorrOWing girl
again and again.
"This is not pity, Helen, my child"
she said brOkenly, ''it is love. Accept Ii,
dear; become Gerald's wife and my be-
/ loved daughter. Who viii remember
that a father who was nothing TO you all
your life was a sinful man? Come to US,
| Helen"
And the girl laid her dark head CRATE
fully on her lovers breast, telling her
self that few men could love with a love
equal to that of Gerald VeretOn.