Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-31

Moment after moment crept by. The
moon went down, darkness fell entirely
over the sluggish waves of the river and
yet the strange pair were sill
The high banks Disappeared. go
grew narrower, and at length the stranger
drew the boat close up to the shore.
madam" said the figure, bending closer
to DIuriel, "tell me what you think about
this affair"
II think that you have shot some one, !"
replied Muriel. awakening partially from
the like feeling which had crept over
her.
"You are right. Tonight became the
murderer of Fred Warner"
Erred Warner is my husband, and was
in the river listening to his voice" she
said, in the same calm tone.
You will listen to his voice no more. The
woman that he brought to Rocky Hill is my
wife"
And then Muriel knew the name Of the
man who had rowed her boat that night.
1t was Ralph Resseguie, the banker and
the millionaire: whose home and happiness
her husband had ruined.
She had never met him before, but she
had heard often of his generosity and of
his great wealth.
Good have mercy tonight upon four Of
His miserable creatures" she said, still
calmly.
"Three," corrected Resseguie, grimly.
"Muriel Warner, know the entire history
of your life. l learned it while was hunt
ing your husband down. I ask no SYM
pathy. have done a deliberate murder.
1 do not wish you to conceal the mode of
my escape. Fred Warner was your hus-
band. He would have returned to you
after time. I have made this impossible.
You have neither home nor friends. I
have money, the accused stuff with which 1
bought my false wife. In a short time 1
shall be hung for this murder. have no
relatives on whom to bestow my wealth. 1t
will all go to strangers. Accept this packet
then; it is yours to do with rs you think
best, and l cannot but be thankful for the
chance which has thrown you in my way"
Apacket dropped into Muriel Warmers
lap as these words were spoken. The boat
rocked slightly as the tall figure sprang
upon the shore, and then she was alone in
the darkness upon the river.
After this she wandered about the world,
a woman whose life and feelings seemed
benumbed forever. She knew what had
happened at Rocky Hill, but she had no
desire to return there and gaze upon
%
She had no wish to return to the friends
who had grown cold when misfortune came
upon her. She knew that Ralph Resseguie
had made her wealthy woman, but she
felt none of the scruples which she once
would have felt about accepting his
money.
She never spoke of that night in the
boat to any with whom she came in con-
tact. She never heard whether Ralph
Resseguie was captured or not. She never
knew what became of his miserable wife.
Her past life seemed half forgotten
dream. and she was only dimly conscious
of the reality of anything.
At IS years Of age, Muriel Warner was a
beautiful and cultured woman. She had
visited nearly all of the countries OF the
old world. Acquaintances she made, but
never friends, and these often wondered
when in reply to their inquiries she would
say:
II never read a newspaper. I never
write nor receive letter."
But her time of awakening came, and
the one to stir the dormant emotions of her
| woman's heart was q stranger, and man.
1t was at the Bahama Islands where she
first met Norman Van Ness.
He was 40 years of age-a Hercules in
the fullness of his manhood, and he
seemed to be attracted, nay, to love her
from the very first.
Her deep blue eyes soon grew to watch
for him, and became soft and tender be-
meath the light in his dark ones, and with
the growth of her new love many of the
feelings of her youth came back to her.
Father and mother, long forgotten, be-
came dear once more to her, and often she
caught herself thinking.
"If he ever speaks, and if after I have
told him all, we are ever married, will
Scl ulill " lltht uc uOuo W uly parents.
But be did not speak. Weeks grew into
months, and the longed-for love-words
never came. Muriels heart again began
quivering with pain. She knew now that
its numbness had departed forever.
Sometimes she felt that she ought 10
move on; to get away from influences which
more than likely would prove saddening to
her, but she could not at once bring herself
| to do this.
While she was debating the subject in
her mind the crisis came.
A storm had been sweeping over the
Bahamas, a vessel was going TO pieces upon
the reef. Muriel was out upon the wave
washed shore, her eyes bright and her
cheeks rosy with excitement. Her golden
brown hair had been loosened by the Griv-
ing wind, and she was that rare but de-
licious creature, woman beautiful when
she is mature.
Norman Van Ness was by her side, and
Muriel expressed wish TO row out near to
the life-saving boats which were battling