The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-10-18

TIL jan /. when returned to Wasnlng- /
ton where ran across. one of my tray
cling friends, Ray Darlington.
refused all oyertures to go into So
ciety or to visit Darlington, but when |
was taken i'll and threatened with pneu- /
monia my friend had me removed, |
against my wishes, to his home, where |
a tall, stately lady smiled gracously |
upon me, and where l had all the care /
and devotion possible during a serious
illness This lady, who was Rays |
mother was an angel Of mercy to me, a /
homeless wanderer, One day | was ly-
ing on the sofa deluged with shawls, /
wraps, etc, reading my correspondence
from the foreign police offices Nothing
had really been done, although a man
had been sent to Ireland. So many
years had passed they could hold out lit
tie hope to me.
A rap at the door, and "May come
in?' from Ray.
''of course, Irephed why do you
ask"
Because / have brought you visi-
tor, he said, as he entered with his arm
around beautiful young girl, whom he
introduced as his sister Lillian
I told her she was very kind to visit
an invalid, and wondered what they
| would think if they knew ! was hunting
down murderer Of sixteen years ago
Many happy days passed in spite of i'll
ness and vendettas. They insisted upon
keeping me for ball in honor Of Lilian's
twentieth birthday | found resistance
useless. so Yielded with as good grace as
possible, although knew such gayeties
We're not for me, and my mothers death
was too recent not to destroy any desire
for such pleasures.
However l staid, and on the evening
of the ball arrayed myself in my dress
suit and descended to the ballroom
which was beautifully decorated with
tropical plants and lovely ferns. Lillian
was receiving her guests by her mothers
side. She was dressed in a gown of sill
very fabric which made her look more
than ever like the beautiful fairy she
was. l easily mingled unnoticed in the
crowd.
AS I gazcd on Elr brilliant scene
wondered what o.. lear mother was
thinking as she -loc ked down from her
home ON high l thought of the little
grave in the far away country Of the
vendetta left me as a legacy. Ray broke
in upon my meditations, and finding il
impossible to persuade me to dance said:
''Well, do take Miss Van Dyke into sup
per and relieve me.
/ complied, and upon entering the
supper room removed one glove, as my
hand was warm. Upon doing so
glanced at the opal ring, and to my hor-
rol noticed that it had become blood
, red. What could it mean? l glanced
around the room and noticed only doz-
en- people, but these brilliant society
3 people of Washington. What had they
| to do with my opal turning red? | must
t be mistaken. No; it was deep blood
red. l noticed Rays uncle among the
t crowd-a tail, dark man, conversing
= with alady; and l mechanically watched
. him leave the room, then glanced at my
/ ring and, great heavens! my blood seem.
4 ed turning to ice, for the ring had re
1 sumed its original color. | escorted
o Miss Van Dyke back to the ballroom
+ and delivered her to partner Then
t sought an introduction to Rays uncle
V Mr.. Radcliff . he exclaimed, and l saw
n him start, ''where was your home, if
may ask;' In the north of Ireland" "
n replied, ''and my father was Rober
y Radcliff.' Noticed my ring had again
become red, which fact dispelled al
h doubt from my mind. Notwithstanding
e how ridiculous it seemed, continued
o "Mr. Darlington, | would like few
l. words with you privately"
- l., gfl..
t. tomorrow at 10 a, m" VERY well, -
" replied, and then sought the smolin!
It room to be able TO think Lilian's uncle
a She to whom my heart had gone out wa
l. the niece Of the murderer of my father
If for had faith that had found the man
Il | retired that night to get little OF n
n sleep to wonder what l should say an,
! do to Howard Darlington, and what INC
d tive he could have had for such deed.
1t The next morning called at his RES
dence promptly at 10 o'clock, and wa
e told that the gentleman was not yet NJ
N had not answered when he was called
ID and must be very tired, A horrible su'
,e picion came over me. and l told the ma
is to come with me, for we must break j
the door,
a We easily did so, and there with hi
it head on his arm, leaning on his desl
ne was Darlington. Then to our horror "
I'd saw a stream of blood on the floor and
~ revolver near it, We went TO him an
al found him dead. The bullet had don
m its deadly work On the desk lay an ei
lg velope addressed to Carl r. Radcliif.
e. opened it and read
ny Mr.. Radclif You have tracked II
N at last. How l cannot imagine, for
yn never supposed there was q single cley
ry Now know my. time has come. ] a
r. tired of being bounded by remorse, an
should have made way with myself b
tn fore long anyway killed your faith
nd nearly seventeen years ago in Ireland.
had fallen passionately in love with yol
mp mother long before she knew of your
ny ther She rejected me with scorn h
IS cause / drank When she married Ra
.r- cliff / was wild with jealousy, Still
by never should have done him harm if
hadn't been for meeting him that dai
ch night all alone. was mad with drin
ID and the deed was done before / reahz'
la the crime. / have never since touched
he drop of liquor. No one suspected NJ
he Darlington. the tourist, of such dee
ife and after some time ] came here to "a
Ter friends. Now you know sll-H. @.
ID, never told my friends of this lett
ed OF of the crime They thought il tel
90, porary insanity. / now felt free TO OF
A myself TO Lillian, and to my joy and
my tonishment was accepted. Eighte
To months from the time of her uncl
4 death Lillian became my wife. / ha
an always worn the opal ring which h
ew never changed its ,olor since it show
om me my fathers urderer.-L. NJ. A,
ant Boston Gloha.