The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-04-02
me, "tncre could be no doubt chat IL
was purely Incidental. There zero no

me, "tncre could be no doubt That il
was purely occidental. There zero no
signs Of Il strugglc-only yonr white
knitted shawl had caught on ;.c tree
which ovcrhung the bluif-one of those
young larccs which manage to live
there for Il year or two. All those who
knew her deny the possibility of its be-
ing Il suicide; but dear Helen has often
said that when on great height she
always felt a nervous inclination to
throw herself off. Many persons cS-
pcrience the same.'
Poor Mr.. Hardcastlc was broken
hearted; but, as was not unnatural, in
one of his disposition, he refused all
comfort, and had left for the west as
soon as possible, leaving the house to
The care of the women who had served
them as cook. The white shawl l put
away among my treasures, keep
ing it as thing sacred, never to be
worn, or touched by other hands than
my own. ] never again breathcd the
awful suspicion which had possessed
my mind concerning Horace Hard
castle, but inwardly prayed that he
might never cross my path. Imagine,
then my grief and pain when few
months after my own marriage, which
occurred about year subsequent to
Helen's death, l received II letter an
noumcing Bertha's engagement II MIR.
Hardcastlc, who was, my mother in
formed me, staying at Westticldenc in
his old house, though it was his intcn-
ton after the marriage to reside in New
York. In my despair told my hus-
band all my fears and suspicious. which
l could plainly see he regarded rs pre-
posterous. Nevertheless, he allowed
me to return home with the intention
of dissuading my sister. if possible,
levcd to be suicidal intention. lcame
unannounccd. and the night of my ar
rival sought my sisters bedroom, and
there begged and prayed Of her to
abandon this man, whose power over
her had never been able to under
stand All the promise could obtain
from her was that she would delay the
marriage for three months and give me
full consent to prosecute all inquiry
concerning her fiance's antecedcnts
which might deem proper. She also
agreed to write Il note asking him to
meet her the following evening at our
own house in order that they might
| walk to his residence and choose what
things should be sent to New York and
what sold. The following evening,
still acting under my orders, she left
the house in the pony carriage, about q
quarter OF an hour before tile time APP
pointed for his coming, leaving me. as
she supposed. to await him. No soon
was she out of sight than slipped up
stairs and drew from its wrapper my
white knitted shawl. and gave the man
servant message for Mr.. Har,lcastlc
to Inc effect that Miss Bertha had driv-
Ell round by the road to his house and
he was to come to her us quickly rs pos
sible. Full we'll knew that he could
not but take the cliff path, which was
not half the distance of the higL-road.
Along this fatal path flew in the semi
darkness until | reached the spot where
Helen had fallen. There, crouchcd be-
hind the bushes and the branches of the
larch tree, let my long, black hair
free from the comb, unfastencd the
black cloak which hid my white dress,
and, keeping the snowy shall well out
of sight. | waited, painting and SILVER
ing for the approach of the man fear
ed and hated. 1t was not for long.
Soon his tall, spare figure appeared all
vancing through the darkness. l was
motionless until he was some fifteen
feet from me. Then dropping my
cloak, flung the shawl about my head
and shoulders. while advanced toward
him from under my shelter. l had we'll
calculated on my resemblance, us to
lpight and figure, to Helen. He gave
Il cry. which was horrible in its wild
terror, and stood rooted to the spot. I
dared not advance but, raising one hand
and stretching it out toward him, l ut
tered the one word Murderer
With 81 groan he shrank from me,
hoarsely Whispering: "Iiclen, have
mercy; was mad; loved her 500
made motion as though l would
advance. Again the place echoed with
that wild cry as, turning. he fled. His
terror us much as his words had be-
trayed him. Hastily resuming my
cloak, I made my way to his house,
where found my sister. For an hour
we awaited him; finding that lie did not
come, we returned home. AS we drove
along Bertha somewhat haughtily de-
mandcd an explanation. which prom
iscd should be given in her lovers pres
ence. The hours of the next morning
dragged YEARLY. A slecpless night
had left me ncrvously wrctched.
dared not think. for l feared that my
my poor sister would overcome my firm
determination to accuse her intended
husband in her presence.
was pacing the veranda in n miser-
able state OF anxiety, when saw my
father coming slowly up the path He
held in his hand letter. "Ihis is for
BERTHA" he said, holding it up and look
ing hard at me the while. ''Hardcastlc
has left Westtcldene, as he informs me
in a note which accompanies this. 1
don't understand it." LET me give
her the letter." cried, with quick
prcmonitioa of its contents. AS we'll
rs lay in my feeble power l prepared
my unhappy sister in a measure for the
shock felt sure she was about to re-
ceive. The letter contained, as l sup:
posed. Il full confession. Its effect was
for u time Frustrating. but an opportunc
legacy from an English cousin enabled
my father to remove his family to New
York, and in the happy maria &c which
she made in after years my dear sister
forgot the tragical experience of her
early youth. The homestead retained
much Of the gloom which these events
east over it for all of us, but the pres
ent generation knows not of them.
The house on the cliff was pulled down
by order of its owner, who never revis-
tied the scene of his love and his crime.
A Negress' Rare Voice:
Sunday night st. Paurs Episcopal
church in this city, writes New Or.
leans correspondent, was crowded to
overtlowing byp people congregated there