Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-09-24

purport of the letter
That is not true.
..Nor can | imagine by what right a
young scamp, such as EInest Hartrey
who. | am told, has disgraced his
father by nbsenting himself from home
-presumes to address YOU
He smoke calmly and unblushingly;
and had the proof been less conclusive,
MAY would have almost believed MIN;
but in her hand she held the written
words which left her no room Tor
doubt.
II will give you enc chance" said
Nav i'm n low tone. You do know
what the contents of this letter are;
but on condition t,iat you leave me now
and forever-that you never again SET
foot in A~nnandalc-I will refrain from
making them public
John Gridley hesitated- only a
moment.
Il am ignorant Of the contents OF thar
letter. / have nothing to dread; ana
| remain TO claim the fultiliment or
the promise you have made to become
my wife
May turned from his shudderingly.
Father" she said, turning TO Ma
thew Rivers, and speaking loudly
enough for all to hear her-"father, l
hold in my hand Il letter from Ernest
Hartrey-my first. my Only loye-n
which the wickedneSS. n crime or
the man who still seeks to wer me-, is
fully shown. Read the passages refer
ring to him aloud. and let every one
present Judge him, and witness his dis.
grace"
One moment said Gridley, coldly.
but with raging anger and alarm IN
his heart. Il know not what accuSa-
tons against me that letter may CON
tain. but | would observe that of the
writer | know nothing more h Is
known 70 most here-that he is the
good-fOr-nothing son or Sir Harold
Hartrey. | have y seen him, never
spoken to him..
TITS false!"
1t was Matthew Rivers who spoke,
ia a voice Of furious anger.
He had hurriedly glanced at the pas
sages in the letter pointed out by May,
and had seen enough TO feel convinced
that the man TO whom he would have
married his only daughter was Il Grim
inal of the deepest dye.
All those of the villagers, who had
been admitted to the cottage, gathered
closely round Matthew Rivers, who in
a firm voice read the dreadful story
Of Gridley's dastardiy attempt on
young Hartrey's life.
John Gridley stood apart, instinct
lively avoided by all.
THE man. continued the maltster,
reading still from the letter the
man who robbed me of the thousand
pounds / obtained on my aunt's jewels
for you, and who subsequently stroye
TO hide his crime by a still more dread
full one, gave the name of John Grid
ley, and stated he was your fathers
clerk. However, there is little doubt
the name and character were fictitious
though, how he could have obtained
your letter, which he safely delivered
to me, l am at Il loss to imagine"
OF all the people gathered together
in the masters parlour, the one whom
the letter and its accusation would
affect most, was the least moved.
Mr.. Rivers" said he, Il can pardon
the injustice you do me; for | own that
a robbery having been committed, and
n more serious crime attempted by Il
man passing under my name, is an
awkward and unpleasant circum-
stance
IF you have aEy thing to say, say it
at once"
Il deny any knowledge of the crimes
with which / am charged
THAT is easily said. Prove It,"
Not SO. Ii is for you 10 prove | had
any connection with the man who. I'M
def my name, is said 10 have appro-
priated a thousand pounds; and
Il will grove it-prove il by circum-
stantial eyidence!' cried Matthew
Rivers, dashing down his fist heavily
on the table; IAN you, men of An
Mandate, he added, turning to the we'd
ding party, shall be the jury to find
this man guilty, or acquit himio
We will-we willr.' they cried.
Two days before my daughters let
ter was delivered at Hartrey Park,
John Gridley left A~nnandale-he WAS
absent a week"
What does that proven asked Grid.
ley. Il have business ut Winchester
1T proves that you had the oppor-
tunity OF committing the crimes laid
to your charge. Had you been in the
village at the time, n more could be
said"
Proceed"
lnlS letter, which | 7 Old in my hand
states that the writer has in his pos
session a receipt for a thousand pounds
signed by you"
Not by me-by some one, who. for
a best known to himself, thought
mt 10 assume my name
How. then. do you account for the
possession of that thousand pounds?
Men or Annandale, when this man re-
I after a weeks absence. he had
III his pocket a thousand pounds!"
"A murmur ran through the assem-
Dlage. and the proof seemed almost
complete. Chances of hate. distrust.
and indignation were directed at the
young man, who, pale, erect, and de-
nant, stood apart, smiling s~cornfully.
For a there was silence
and then he spoke.
1t is now fairly my time TO address
You, men or ~Annandale; and though. il
pains me to reveal circumstances which
l had hoped would have remained hid
den from your knowledge, L must do
so TO clear myself"
Matthew Rivers shifted his feet nm.
easily, and his daughter turned a half
trembling, half inquiring glance to.
wards him.