The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-09-21

hen WIZ go rs Wen, Aueiac
| said.
Ralph Greeley looked after her.
'If She believes i'll of me and mis-
;russs me with so little cause" he said.
II will let it pass. l must let it pass for
awhile. can make no explanation
yet"
The next morning the widest excite.
ment prevailed in Mount Henry. The
dead body of Esther Haven had been
found. She had been thrown over the
little rustic bridge, and had fallen on
the rocks below.
A little later tho excitement grew
more intense. and it had reached its
height when Ralph Greeley was arrest
ed for the murder. Suspicion had
linked their names together for some
time before.
How it happened, who had known of
her being on The bridge. 1delle Mere
dtth could hardly tell, but she was tho
principal witness against the man.
who. no matter what he was, sho loved
with every chord of her heart.
Her anguish was pitiful to behold as
she told her story, and sistcr-womcn
wept in sympathy rs, when all was
told. with y low cry she had fallen
back, white and sensefess. and been
taken from the room.
When King Emerson entered the
witnoss-box, tho prisoner looked ut
him with an expression it would be
hard TO understand, but King gave his
evidence. which amounted to very lit
tie, coolly and clearly.
Yes, he has seen his cousin and the
dead oma together more than once.
Yes, he had heard rumor connect
their names.
Yes, he had advised the prisoner to
marry her.
AT these words the prisoner leaped
to his feet, his ayes blazing.
you s~coundrel!" he cried.
Theu his counsel interfered, and he
sat down again.
Late that evening King Emerson was
closetod with Idclle's father, and he
held q paper in his hand.
Tomorrow week. ho said, sthc
debt comes due. Ii Idello is my wife
on that day. you are safe"
"You have her promise"
Il want herself" King Emerson an
swcred coarsely.
Later still in the eveningI delle heard
of the claim King Emerson held over
her father. ''et
"My hume-the home of the Mere
diths for geuerations-will pass from
me for ever, our proud name DO dis
honored, and II, 1dellc, will take my
own life Us sure as there is a Heaven
above lis. You have given your prom
Use to be his wife. What difference will
q few weeks makc?"
Worn, weary, heart broken, and dis
pirited, Idcllo was no match for the
two determined men, and the rnwill-
ing consent dropped from her lips.
10 save her fathers name and honor
she would marry King Emerson that
dry week.
After King Emerson left Meredith
Grange, he turned down q narrow path
that led to y short cut in the direction
of his home, and there ho came face to
face with q delicate-looking girl, who
stepped right in his path.
A muttered curse broke from his
lips.
You hcre?' he said.
Yes, l." she answered, and then
sank upon her knees.
"Oncc 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 Inc in my anguish!'
Don't make a fool Of yourself ~ he
said. Il would not marry you were
1 You tho last woman on the earth. Be-
sides, in q few days Iwede tho purest
maiden in England-Idclle Meredith"
Tho girl rose TO her feet, her face
~convulscd with anger, and dark with
newly-born deadly hatred OF this man
who had wrecked her life.
You will never marry Idolle Mere
dith!" she said.
The man laughed.
I'VE will scc," he said.
1--WE viii see.n sho repeated.
Late that night Idelle sat alone,
thinking OF the future, and what il
would be TO her rs King Emerson's
wife.
Better DEATH" she thought in the
anguish OF her soul.
Suddenly the sound of q light tap al
the window reused her, but before she
could rise. the easement, which opened
on the balcony, was pushed in, and &
girl young in years. bnt weary and
careworn, stood before her.
"Tou are Idclle M~eredith?" the
stranger said, and then, in the silence
of the night, she told the Mortified girl
y story that made her grow faint rs
she listened.
"You viii tell this tomorrow at the
courtP" Idellc said.
81 WILL the stranger answered.
The next day rose bright and cloud
4 1ncc ~, ~ %t,o ,,,,, ,,-, -
with people, stood Idelle Meredith.
The attorney for tho defense was {
dltlerent-looking being from what hi
had been only tho day before, but the
rcpressed excitement of his manner
could not be accounted for till-till-
.'Helen Clarke" was called.
ldelle's midnight visitor. the wo
man who had knclt to King Emerson
stood in hey itness-boN
What do you know of this case?'
che lawycr asked.
"a great deal" she answered slow.
ly; 81 saw the murder committed. Shs
was murdered by her husband.'
''Who was iler husbanu?n the law,
yer asked.
She handed him the marriagc-certif
icate.
KING Emerson was her husband
There is the proof of the marriage
the cause of the crime, and-'
King Emerson had lcapedt to his feet
, but Il hand had been laid on hi
shoulder and he had sunk back again,
while tho crowd in the courtroom
swayed back and forward in their cx
element.
Then suddenly q wild cheer brok,
forth. for Ralph Greeley was . FREE
man.
Tho next moment, however, tn,
cheers were changed to cries of hor
ror, for, before they had thought o
such a thing, King Emerson had drawn
, q pistol from his pocket. and pressing
the mnzzle close to his heart, had fall
len, bathed in his own life-blood. a
their feet.
His crime had oyertakcn him, ant
! he dared not face the consequence.
Six months later 1delle and Ralpl
were married.
"And so you distrIsted me from tho
words you overheard, Idelle9" her hus
, band said, talking of the past. s.Poo1