The Dickinson press., 1891-10-31

-"'You know mel I gasped. Tell me,
who IRE your
""Again that ripping, provokinglit-
tie laugh
"'You are excessively dull she said.
Il always thought you liked me, and
] am piqued to think that you have
forgotten me so soon. You used to
cali my monogram, Big A, little A,
bouncing b. lam Alice A. Brinton.'
"'Yes, / am excessively dull l con-
fessed, after had found my voice.
But, Miss B%rinton, in heavens name
what does all this mean?"
"'1'l tell you,' she said. 4 could
not get along with my stepmother.
Father sided with her, and mademat-
tiers still more a~geravating. l left
home. drifted here. ! could not get
a school; nobody wanted n governess.
| put on mems clothes and found en-
ployment.'
".Does your father know the strait
you are IMP | asked. He is rich. Why
don't you 60 kcme?"
"Iguess l will since this thing has
happened,' she thoughtfully said. i
beg OF you to keep my secret from Mr..
Clayton
81 promised faithfully to do so, and
then Dick Clayton walked into the
room. He was in his own house-the
over the detention. He stared at his
Farmland in amaZement.
'Mr.-will explain she stammer-
ed, looking atme, herface burning with
bushes.
"Yes, Dick,'I said, motioning to him
to follow me out OF the room; but, as
we left, | SAID to her: I'D return in q
few minutes
"When l told Dick her story he was
entirely satisfied. More than that, he
seemed delighted, and l noticed that
he was doing some rapid thinking"
"1hat story rounds up in the usual
way" l said; "the ranchman married
her."
NO he didn't either" replied the
detective. "When | returned TO the
room | said: alice, you must go East
with me-
"'Oh, l can't objected she.
"'Yes, you can. in be your escort.
This is no place for you
81 had always liked her. and she
looked 80 pretty just then, that l fell
madly in love with her.
"'Get ready at once I ordered.
".Don't be silly she retorted.
"Still saw that she regarded me
with favor.
"I insist" I said.
ooh, indeed!' she cried, angrily.
".4As prisoner, if not otherwise I
quietly said 'See?' And | held up q
package OF letters.
81 had taken them, unobserved by
her, from her trunk, the lid, OF which
was up. The letters were directed to
Banjamine Gray and had the imprint
Of the st. Louis firm onthe envelopes.
They had been sent to her while
travelling for the house.
"When she saw the letters she grew
very pale, and she stared at me half
wildly, half appealingly.
you are 81 forger," l said. You
were in male attire when you were
employed by the firm. Now you can
either 60 back with me as q prisoner,
to be disgraced, Oh us my wife, your
secret safe with me forever. Well get
married at AUSTIN
"'Oh, it is too sudden she stam-
mered, 'and and compulsory.
Still
"she yielded, and went back with
me as my wife.
Didn't you take big risks?" I VEN
tured to ask.
"May be?" he replied. "But l have
not regretted it, and never expect to.
No ma EVER had better, handsomer,
truer wife; the forgery matter vas sat-
isfactorily explained"
Just then a superb looking woman
came into the room.
"Bates." she announced, "tea is
ready"
"Alice, this is a particular friend Of
minc," her husband said, pronouncing
my NAME.
~ am pleased to meet you," was
her welcome in a low sweet voice, her
bright brown eyes meeting mine.
Ispent several days with thefamily,
and came to the conclusion that my
friend had not taken any risks at all.
Frank IL. Staulfer i'll Boston Globe.