St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-31


faint light of the lamp. the pale, set
face of Alfred Lincoln, the convict,
peering at her in the glass.
''Hush.' he whispers, hoarsely, do
OF be afraid. ] would not harm a hair
of your head. child. viii you promise
to keep perfectly quiet if [ take my
hand away?' looking anxiously at the
girls face.
She mods, and the hand is quickly
withdrawn. while the convict leans in
rather weak fashion against the stairs.
Ills a startling scene. The cold.
dreary cellar, with its black walls and
dense darkness. The Pickering lamp.
that serves 10 make the place darker, if
possible, than it really IS. and which
throws faint light on the two princi-
pal figures-the man, leaning YEARLY
against the stairs, watching, with
strained expression, the pale face be-
fore him.
Nell draws her breath hard. No
thought of screaming cOmeSrto her. OF
what use would it be? They are en-
tirely alone, entirely unprotected, two
miles away from any house this lonely,
rainy night. Strange as it may seem,
she feels no fear. From the first she
thought many times of that sad, earn
est face. 1t had made deep
Impression on her girlish mind.
and, though she has had lovers by
the score, somehow through it all the
face of Alfred Lincoln comes back to
her, and with sad, strange yearning at
her heart she has said no to one and all
and given herself up to this idle dream,
as she often tells herself it is. And now
he is here. Her hero! What can it
mean? 1t takes long to tell this, but
lNn Anc 81, DC
mind III quick succession as she gaSpS:
"How-how did you' he interrupts
her.
II have escaped: my brother is dying;
aye, perhaps dead ere ihis." An agon-
lied expression comes into the mans
face. II received letter five days ago;
they said he couldn't live and was call
ing-caling for me. They let me sweep
the walk outside the last two days; L
asked to. When they locked up man
aged to hide outside. have been hid
ing days and travelling nights ever since.
Ills only three days, but my
slightly, for anxiety. lack of food, and
his long tramp. for he has travelled over
forty miles, are telling on the strong
frame.
Nell listens silently while a great,
womanly pity goes out from her gentle
heart to the man standing so weak be-
fore her.
Can you help me?' he asks hoarSely.
coming closer and peering into her face.
viii you?"
Yes" holding out her hand, II will.
Mr.. Lincoln. Father and mother are
away; stay here short time longer:
here is the key to that closet, where you
will find food and some milk. | will
hiring VnI q cItit nf olnthpS md yvhat4Vpr
else L can, sOon," and with pale but
set little face Nell returns to the sitting
room and her friend.
''Gracious, Nell; you have been gone
long enough. Did you STE hlm?" sarcasti-
cally. What did he look like? You look
half frozen.''
''Oh, yes, saw him and we are to be
married tomorrow. But goodness, it
was dark down there. and L am cold"
and Mell's teeth chatter spite of her
efforts at control.
II guess you won't be so foolish an
other time. The fires out and am go
ing to bed; come on" exclaims Fan,
jumping up.
60 on up and | will come rs soon as
/ lock up The house and put some things
down cellar" and Nell sees her friend
depart with a slight sinking at her
heart; but no time must he lost, and She
quickly collects an old suit of her ia
theirs. black felt hat and an old UNI
brella; then Selling her own dainty
pocketbook she counts the contents:
-Four, five, nine dollars; enough to
help him any way" Selling the lamp,
she goes softly down the cellar stairs.
Here is all l could find, Mir. Lincoln;
and take this" handing him her purse,
"'tls but little, but it-may help you. l
cannot stay, but if you escape; oh. l
know you WILL" looking hopefully at
the handsome face. Some day | hope
You will prove your innocence" and
white hand is extended toward him.
He takes it softly. reverently, in his.
''God bless you, my brave little deliv-
erer" he answers low. "If do escape
the money shall be returned some time.
in the days to come. | will see you
again. But first, before we part, may
not know the name of my friend?'
Il an Nell Nash" she answers
quickly. but harkI | thought heard
noise; must CO."
He holds her hand a moment, looking
long and earnestly at the sweet face.
And what are his thoughts? IT'S hard
to tell from the proud. silent face. but
deep down IN the mans heart fierce,
despairing, because so hopeless, love
has sprung. Hopeless, aye, for he reg
listers vow, holding the white hand
close in his, never to ask any woman to
bear his furnished name? To live the
long, sad years 10 come alone; for
he will not prove his innocence. With
faint pressure he drops her hand and
turns quickly away, and Nell. with a
strange, dull ache at her heart, goes
softly to bed, and as the lamp sheds its
light Oh the sleeping figures it sees
Mell's cheek resting softly on hand
that but one short hour ago was wet
with convict'S tears.
A year has gone by, and this sunny
August day sees Nell wandering idly
down by the lake at the back of her
country home. for though her winters
are spent in Chicago each summer sees
near R. She seats herself list
lessly while her thoughts go back to
that autumn night year ago.
II wonder il he escaped" she muir
murS. "Why was | taken i'll just at
that time: raging with fever for two
long weeks. unable to see paper or
hear anything about him; then taken
to Europe to recover my health when
too weak to walk. Recover my health"
laughing bitter, when my whole heart
and soul were left behindp' and she
sobs wildly. "Oh, Alfred, my Alfred
where are you nowp'
MEL, is it you at last?'' cries an
eager voice at her side; Il rich, low
voice that Nell will know to her dying
day. the voice of Alfred Lincoln.
She starts quickly to her feet.
ut is, it is," she cries.
"Alfred Lincoln; come back, my
Nell, after all these weary, lonely
months to ask you to be my wife, Oh,
Nell" he cries, folding the girlish form
in his arms, II have hunted for you
everywhere. You know how l love
you. Do not cast aside the life you
saved. My darling, promise me you
will take me for better or worse,' and
he looks eagerly into her face.