Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1894-09-27
finder tie Cloud.
By E. s. WILLIAMSON.

I'm such d state Of indecision, ii
takes little to turn the scale. One day
came upon Ada unexpectedly alone
in a secluded part of the public gar
dens, and she placed both hands i'm
pulsively in mine, and smiled up into
my face, apparently so unaffectedly
pleased at the meeting that my whole
heart went out to her in return.
1T was the first time we had been
quite alone, and not creature was in
sight. caught her in my arms, and,
kissing her with eager passion,
begged her to be my wife.
'She consented. Not a word was
said of the young country curate whom
she had also honored with the promise
of her hand and the assurance that he
possessed her love. Gerald Weare,
the son of the wealthiest man in sgd
ney was too eligible a parti to risk
losing by such untimely candor /
thought myself the happiest man in all
the world, but was not long in finding
out my error
"One night she had arranged to walk
home with ME from the theater; but
when l arrived there, some minutes
before the appointed time, she was al
ready gone. Certain of finding her
| waiting, had gone straight in, and by
some strange chance the first thing
that met my eyes was Elaine's pistol.
l took 1t up, and, examining it care.
lessly, found it loaded. Slipping IL
into the pocket of my overcoat, went
out again. and. dismissing the
brougham In which / had come
straight from a dinner party, walked
on with half hope Of overtaking the
sisters before they reached home.
Afterward changed my mind, believ-
ing it would be a hopeless quest, and,
back through the public gardens.
They were naturally almost deserted
at that hour; but | met few people,
none however whom knew 1t was
fine night but rather high wind
as blowing, and every now and then
the tails Of my light overcoat--
weighted by Elaine's pistol-were
blown against my legs. l took out the
pistol and carried it in my hand.
Suddenly, as walked along quietly,
I saw through the trees two figures
that the moonlight made clear. One
was Ada; I recognized her at once by
her white frock and big straw hat
for she was very fond of white, and
had come out in summer clothing be-
fore any one else. Who the other was
! could not guess, and jealous In.
OF ad ma on no 0rlr ff.6
Close as / advanced toward them. they
never heard, never saw me, so deeply
were they interested In each other; and
II was struck dumb and motionless.
The woman who had lain upon my
breast, whose lips of her own accord
had pressed my own, was bewailing
her hard lot to this her former lover.
She was marrying me for my money,
because she could not face the evils Of
poverty-no, not even with him. He
spoke earnestly. knealing at her feet
and suing with almost unmanly
humility for the promise that was al
ready perjured once. But she was
firm-though very child in manner
Ada could be obstinate enough where
wept, and again and again assured
him that she could never love another
but she would marry me.
"And | all the while was listening.
AS in a dream their voices fell upon
my ear; but their meaning was clear
enough She threw her arms about
his neck in almost despairing aban-
donment when, out of patience at last,
he said goodbye. Had she even then
relented, / would have forgiven her;
but she returned at once to her stub
born refusal, and repeated the words,
i can not face poyerty-not even for
you.
He went, and, as he walked away
quickly, she stood watching him with
an agonized look, but making no
sound, no gesture to call him back.
Then she turned-to face me.
.'She never uttered the lie that was
doubtless already on Ter lips; she
never spoke word Of repentance or
defiance. The pistol was in my hand;
without hesitation | raised 1t, took
aim, and fired, with one shot Kidding |
the world of the falsest woman that |
believe ever drew breath.
Directly she fell, threw away the
weapon and went home with head
erect and no sense OF fear-not
yestige of remorse in my heart. l
thought l had done well and justly, |
and forgot there was any need to
avoid detection. That l escaped was
a lucky chance, not the effect Of any
deep laid plot.
THE next morning | saw things
clearer and realized that others would
not look at the matter in the same
light as / did / determined hastily I
on my plan of action. When the
news was brought in, simulated so
well the sorrow I did not feel that not
a breath of suspicion ever rested Oh
me. / heard Elaine Warrington
spoken Of as the probable murderess
Of her sister. and held my peace. Be
ing innocent, had no doubt that she
could prove herself so, and, IL the
80 49, -. fbn rr-nrof 7 Gould cauo