Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-02-08

ko4alone bnriea
a nieht ok Tho murder they had
101nd Cs3meDn nix handkerchief
k6agkeA NTH b1o0d, @ Tho street en-
ttaMesg which d0ubt1sm tn assasain had
dxoppa&. TIT, togethsf with The pitt.
- Gn3s drawn ffom Uncls Sdney's
80 holy they gAve M, after they
had been hnwked about from one point
y another II vain Attempt at finding .
oaue " Ne murderer.
Itook than; and holding them IN my
Ion hand, I raised my right 20 Heaven
With tho solemn VOW 70 unearth
Tie my1tsfy surrounding ths ter
fio1A death ~ my uncle
.All my 1ite,s I said, @should be de-
voted y this . end until ] should
II ~ but knew, sometimes, whom No
register such rows before high Heaven,
how short tho mortal arm, ne would
hesita$a. But / felt that I should keep
th;s oath o. duty: yet, had ! known
how II should be {ulnlled, I think I
should rAthsr have plunged the blade
into my own heart had il not been for
Vengeance
yengeancsl that word saved me.
For three weary, desolate years I
searched, not openly, but covertly, and
travelled some, OF course, in conse
qusnce. In Ill that time, not : single
suspicious cline had / bOen able to come
-. But things may happen in . day
which may not happen ID . century,
and 90 found IL
lt was the seaside season" at N,
and / va there: not on my hunt OK.
actly, this time had / gone. My health
Was fast giving way under the tense
strain Of my days Of Watching and
nights OF sleepless calculating: 90 / had
been ordered there afor rest" As il !
could rest while the murderer remained
unhung! But / went to N, never
theless, at the solicitations Of friends.
md II ii the regret Of my life that ]
ever saw the gay watering-place.
Among the many I met there that
season was : very handsome young
gentleman Of wealth and decidedly
ine culture. I'M few days we be-
came friends; something Of subtle
power drew my very soul TO him. Was
Il any wonder then, that in ' our
short stay ct n he had completely
won my heart and had my promise ia
become his wife the following Christ
mas?
No. i was not strange, neither was
il singular that he loved me desper.
Ately-almost to madness. ! know peo-
pie laughed and remarked that IN old
maidis i~nfatuation had captured the
handsome Lee Barton; but he did moi
care for my twenty and eight years. fol
he always reminded me that he twas
just Ave years my senior for all that,
and always should be.s He said, too,
that people laughed because they
were envious OF our happiness"
Be that = IL may have been, oul
blissful dream was cut of suddenly by
an awful awakening. The terror oil
that d0omful night left my hair white
~ the driven snow. / can only lool
back now and thank God that / wa
not crazed hopelessly; and, too, that ]
was snatched by circumstance from an
awful fate.
The season was about over, and we
wero walking on the sands.-Lee and
by moonlight We were having -
little goodbye visit" he said, before
We separated TO meet ct the merry
Christmas time for our bridal.
On that particular night I became
very communicative. and before ]
knew il / had given the full particulars
Of my uncle's untimely death, and also
described the handkerchief and sill
ver-hilted dagger, which I said I still
retained in hope ! should one day hum
down the murderer, with their mute
help.
1T il very likely you will,s he said
In . strange, far-away voice, which
attributed at the time TO intense sym
pathy. After he returned TO the hote|
he expressed = desire to sec the pom
lard, ct the same time telling me il
would intrust il TO his care awhile hi
thought he might be able to identity
the owner.
/ gave him the dagger without think
Ding much about Il. only that he wonld
be able TO help me.
How well l remember his last word.
- he left me in the hall that night
they we're the last words he ever I'D
dressed to mortal ears IS well.
Drawing mi close to his loving hear
he kissed me once, twice, thrice, ant
held me some moments in silence
What his thoughts we're in those, t.
me, sweet, happy seconds, remains
secret; but / can guess all too surely
/ now since it is ali over.
! After some minutes had elapsed, hi
sighed deeply, painfully, and, lookin,
down into my upturned face, he said
"To be separated from yOu, my darling
means deAth!s
aBut we shall not be separated onl,
, until Christmas,s / made haste to re
ply, for the sound OF his sweet voic,
sent . keen sense Of sorrow to my heart
He did not answer my half interrog
! alive, but said instead: @There or,
things more to be dreaded than death
beside which death ID kind, little love
! very kind
Then he kissed me passionately TO
! the last time, and / went to my room
I ! was conscious Of his watching me al
| the way upstairs Az / reached tn
{ upper landing. I turned and looke'
! down. Lee wa standing just where
had left him, looking after me wit
| such : hopeless. helpless yearning dc
I picted on his handsome faca that / va
I tempted TO 80 back to him, but did moi
I'll remember thinking ct the tim
! what . true, tender soul he possesse'
10 b. 70 moved at the recital Of m
d sorrows, and VA sorry that ! ha'
. tsoubled him with thsm. ! kissed m
4 hand TO him With : bright smile. mean
: ing TO cheer him; why shouldn't l
He was oil I had. dear, devoted Lee!