Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-06-15

But Hester, bordering over IL all
accepted the pain as one more sorrow
In her Swallowed life, and made no
moan looked for no sympathy.
1t was hard to see the face that had
been ever full of sympathy and tend
erness turned cOldiy away; hard to
hear the children wonder ''Why Uncle
Alfred never came to see them any
mOre;" but the routine of duty filled
each day and there was q certainty
soon OF release from the monotony OF
teaching.
October was midway on her golden
tinted journey across the earth when
Mrs. Evans was called upon to find a
new gOverness- In vain she scOlded
and even wept. Hester gave no rea-
son, but she must go.
It was not to spy upon her move
ments that Alfred, finding the govern
/ ess leaving the house, followed her on
the train that took her to London.
1t was only IN his deep, mistaken af-
lection, the fear of her future, the anx-
iety to. be sure all was to be well in
her new life.
She did not dream she was watched
as she took a cab, and, followed still,
drove to a small house on the out
skirts Of Kentish Town, where an ED
erly woman met her at the door and
led her IN weeping bitterly.
That was all Alfred saw; but the
! face OF the weeping woman was Hes.
ter's face, should years of sorrow and
/ tears set their seal upon it.
Restless and curious in spite of him
J self, Alfred lOunged into a refreshment
| place near the little house and called
/ tor something to eat. Close beside him
two officers of police inspectors they
seemeed) were discussing some pro-
visions. and Alfred heard one say:
/ $50 StrettOn's time is up. He came
out of the penitenUiary yesterday"
According to my idea" was the re-
ply, che ought not to have been there
at all. He never did it-never!''
He was wild, though"
''Yes;gOt on a spreetoo often and was
in bad company, but never had any
more hand IN that bank robbery than
you or L"
"GOt five years for it, =" said the 9th
er, land he's come out to die. He's
over at his mothers there. Jerking
his thumb in the direction Of the little
house, land won't last Week-con-
sumption"
This was the secret, thenI A broth
er IN PenGOnv1lle model prison, innO-
cent or guilty, convicted felOn! Al
fred shuddered as he thought of the
fair stately woman he loved, with her
Iure, proud nature, daily tortured
by the secret of her brothers crime.
He had a vague recollection threading
the trial Of some bank robbers where
the name Of StrettOn occurred, but it
was only a hazy memory at best.
Hester was with her mother in q
home, even If a poor one, with crime
for its inmate, and he had no right to
intrude upon her grief. So he ate the
food before him, paid the bill and
went out into the street again. 1t
was quite dark, and he gave up any
idea OF returning to GuildfOrd that
night, finding his way to the West End
and a hotel.
Three days passed before he heard
again Of Hester's brother and then the
public journals told the story: He
was dead. Only twenty-sIx, the pa
pers said; bu6 there had come comfort
at the last hour. Two of the gang
who had been engaged In the
bank robbery had made sworn
statements eXOnerating him from
any guilty part in It. In so
far as he was under the influence of
liquor, was in bad company and was
led by them, be was guilty.
But he WAS innocent because he was
purpOsely kept iLnOrant of their in
tentiOns and had no knowledge
that he was IN a bank vault until the
hands Of the officers OF justice were
upon him there.
Five weary years, disease, finally
death, had paid the penalty ola youth
OF reckless living; but the stain of act
ual crime was lifted from his memory,
and the journals that had chrOnicled
his trial and sentence gave publicity
to his innocence and his decease.
II was no shame to Aifreds man
hood that his eyes were misty as ne
read the obituary oil the waste of life,
touched keenly by the closing words,
"a widowed mother and sister were
with him when he died -
Alfred could easily picture the fair.
pale face bending over the sufferers
pillow, and the low, tender voice com
fOrting him, though his hand brought
desOlatiOn into her own life.
In the chamber of death. where the
still face upon the pillow was peaceful
In it's last sleep, Hester and her moth
or kept watch together.
They had suffered most in the five
years that their lives had been separ-
ated, for the widow had been matrOn
IN large hospital, while Hester work
ed as gOverness In Mrs. Evans's fami-
ly. Before her fathers death there
had been home, happy and united
but afterwards poverty drove them
upon the world.
''MOther." Hester said softly, 81
have saved something in these long
years and we will settle ourselves
here and try to earn a living togeth-
er''
Eyes, dear. I took the house fur
nished for a month, thinking If Oliver
came home willing to work for an
honest living. we should get on some
how. I bad saved a little, too. Hes