The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1891-05-29
A LONG COURTSHIP.
DO I hook nice. Auntie?''


full length mirror. her pretty head
twisted to one side to survey multi
tudfnous fiounces of white tulle over
pale blue silk, constituting the elabor-
ate evening dress covering her slender.
graceful figure.
You look very nice. my dear. +"
Miss Della Merriman had taken q
long survey of the exquisite face be-
fore she spoke. and was satisfied with
the appearance of her young and love-
ly protege.
ense has fitted you perfectly and the
win get my jewei-ease, you shall wear
.sfhanksr' cried Elsie, carefully lift
ing the heavy casket and putting it on
a table beside Miss Merriman. i am
so sorry you have such cold! This
will be a splendid party. / know o.
auntie.n she continued. opening small
box in the jewel-case, Il never saw
this.r
She held up as she spoke slender
chain. from which depended a gold
locket. upon whose surface CLEANED
one pearl of great beauty. pure and
large;
throat, May wear it?n
Miss Merriman was moved as the
locket was held up before her. Some
strong memory stirred her usually
placid features, or the soft brown eyes
grew troubled and her lips quivered.
Would you rather l took it off?n
Elsie asked gently.
No. dear. yon may wear it. Put in
the solitaire pearl earrings. l hear
the carriage. Do not keep Mrs. jane
son waiting"
Il wish you were going Elsie said.
as Miss Merrinlan wrapped warm
opera cloak over the delicate dress. Il
never feel half so happy at a party if
you are at home
Thank you, dear. Now run along. y
So Elsie. forgetting the locket and
the troubled face. kissed her so-called
aunt warmly and fitted away.
For Miss Della Merriman. who had
Inherited ESQ. 900 pounds from a second
cousin greatly to her own amazement,
was not Elsie Garman's aunt Nine
teen years before she aad closed the
eyes of the girls dead mother. lifted a
week-old babe to her own bosom and
taken her home
Not TO such lslxnryt as now surround
ed her-not to bail dresses. pearls and
gayety-but to small room in a
lOdging-house. Here for twelve long
years she had denied herself every
luxury of life. many comforts to pro-
vide food for the child. to clothe her
comfortable, to. send her to school.
She was but girl herself scarcely 20
ia those days. earning her bread by
making artificial flowers. and working
early and late to keep the room tidy.
cook the simple food and do the
necessary sewing when she was not
working at her trade.
But when wealth came. suddenly
and unexpectedly flooding Elsie's life
- .--r sunshine, Miss Della altered little
from her fNfqer self. True she had
leisure time. cculd open her kind
hands in charity whare before she had
given her warm tender sympathy; but
as she had been in poverEys Eys-qnleEs gen.-
tie and ever sad. SO in pros Perity the
same calm gravity rested upoa lip and
brow. the same deep sadness iarSed in
the soft brown orbs.
Though but 40. her hair was some
what streaked with gray, aud prema-
ture age was the fruit of toiiful life
and sorrowfuI heart. Yet she was
lovely still. and goodness ever beamed
Tor her sad, plying glance.
After Elsie had left her she put
aside the jewel-case and sat nIusing be-
fore the fire. She had made it one of
her duties to her adopted child to ac-
company her. after her introduction to
society. to all scenes of gayety. But
severe cold had rendered exposure to
the night air an imprudence on this.
the evening of Mrs. Wa.ton's large
party. and Elsie had Joined the family
of a friend.
Memory was very busy in Della
Merriman's heart as she sat over the
fire during Elsie's absence-so busy
when the carriage rolled to the door as
the mantel clock chimed 2.
There were words of parting. then
light steps on the stairs and Elsie came
in, not as usual. full of bright anima-
tiou, but with an earnestness of pur-
pose quite unusual to her.
ssDid you have a pleasant evening,
dearpn Miss Della asked.
.'Yes-no-I don't know. Are you
very tired?"
The last words were all of the dis
connected answer the girl seemed able
to give, on account of her emotion.
..No. deari Why, Elsie. love. what is
itP''
For she was looking troubled.
Il have message for you, auntie. y
For nle?n
From stranger who was at Mrs.
Walton's-Mr Ralph Car
rington.f
Della Merriman rose to her feet. She
. tried to speak but tho words would not
come.
.,Auntie, the girl cried. terrified;
don't look so-don'tl''
..The message?p Miss Merrima a
whispered.
He told me to tell you that the man
who killed Henry Garman was Charles
Ralston. the cashier of the Hope Bank.
who had confessed his guilt He said:
Tell Miss Merriman that tomorrow
will see her. Auntie.n Elsie continued.
with urgent entreaty, what does it
meanp Was not Henry Garman my
father?'
Yes, child. 1t means" Miss Merri-
man said, solemnly. that the cross
that for twenty years has lain upon my
life is lifted tonight. You shall know
all, Elsie, at once. will not send you
to a sleepless bed, child, with your
nr1saart so troubled. But give me few
moments to think of your tidings. and
tell me how this message came to be
intrusfed 70 Fofis e
Mrs. " alton came TO me late in
lhs efenfng and asked permission to
nErodnns Darlington. had