Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-06-16


much of my life, that | venture to ask
you something of them, Did not
some one give it to you-a lady? ?"
"His face was so eager, auntie, that
I told him the locket was yours. Then
he led on, little by little, I told him
the whole OF my life. He said he had
been here two months seeking you.
but did not look for g. wealthy woman,
but one poor and solitary. He whis-
pered, half to himself, that I had no
claim on you. What did he mean?
Are you not my aunt ?'
"No, dear, there is no tie of blood
between you and me. Your claim is
the claim of love, for you have been
the one comfort, the one sunshine of
my lonely life. Twenty years ago,
Elsie, Ralph Darlington gave me the
locket you have upon your neck, a gift
of betrothal, for we were engaged to be
married. | was q poor girl, making
artificial flowers for bread-an orphan,
too. He was assistant cashier of the
Hope Bank, where your father was
night watcbman, and Charles Ralston
was the cashier. Ralston was in love
with me and pursued me with unwel-
come attentions.
zone day, to rid myself of his i'm
portunities, told him had promis9d
to marry Ralph. He left me white
with rage. Only one week later the
bank was entered at night, your father
shot through the heart, and Ralph
Darlington discovered in thevault try
ing to revive him. He was arrested
and tried. He told story no one
credited that Charles Ralston had
sent him from his house to the bank
for papers, after keeping him busy
there over the books all the evening.
"But Ralston swore that he had
not been at home that evening, and
proved it; that the keys of the vault
safe, found hanging in the keyhole,
were stolen from his desk, and he had
not sent his clerk to the bank. So
Ralph was convicted and sentenced.
| He escaped
"Elsie, / had saved $500 for my
| wedding garments. I went to him in
his prison, and knowing he was inno-
cent, | gave him the money to bride
the keeper of his cell. The man took
the money, and Ralph escaped. l
have never known if he lived or died
until tonight
CATER he was gone, your mother
was taken i'll. The shock of her hus-
| bands death was too severe for her,
and she never rose again from her bed,
| though she lived three months. When
she died, [ promised you should be
my charge, and never know the shadow
upon your life until you were q wo
man."
Elsie was sobbing quietly, often lift
ing to her lips the gentle hand that
| had given her all that she had ever ex-
perienced of LIES blessings.
Merriman had ceased speaking, and
the gray dawn was creeping in at the
windows, when, softly kissing the
young face, Aunt Della told Elsie to
! 60 to rest.
But for herself there was no rest
Feverishly, with an agitation altogeth-
er unlike her usual quiet, she waited
the coming o. the lover who had fled
from his unjust sentence twenty years
before, but who was free now, and his
innocence known. The day was young
and Elsie was sleeping when be came.
Della was waiting for him in the wide
| drawing-room, There fell upon the
knot Of ribbon around her throat the
locket Ralph had given his betrothed.
| She stood up to meet the stern-faced,
elderly man who advanced to meet
her, trying to find traces of her lovers
face. Not untilhe smiled tender, low
ing smile, softening the whole face, did
she recognize him. Then her own eyes
dim with tears, she said, softly:
"You are more than welcomed
Thank God, the cloud is lifted from
your life, Ralph
And he, holding the little, trembling
hand fast in his strong ones, answered:
81 have found you at last began
to fear you were dead, Della My lit
tie love! my darlingp'
Ralph she said, the bright blush
rising to her faded cheeks, "you forget
we are gray-haired, elderly people"
'lforget everything but that you are
here; that the hope that has seemed
dream of madness for twenty years is
realized, and | look once more into
your face. [ have been in California,
Della, all these years, amassing wealth
under false name, working for gold
to drown thought. / have led busy
life, but there has not been one hour
when have not pictured such happi-
ness as this. You are mine, Della.
You will not send me from you? You
will be my wife?
eff you wish it," she said, softly, her
own faithful heart thrilling under the
sincerity OF his tone. 81 have never
ceased to love you, or to pray for
you, Ralph