The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-12-24
all nv fealty to Ross returned, and

TO INFORM you VI LILY ~" 20 .
which is only waiting my lovers return
from sea to be ratified Therefore, with
many thanks,.I wifi decline your beau
tiful Offering"
Nv words had hit the mark. He had
not expected a little country girl to
meet him upon equal ground, and dark
red.ffush overspread his handso1rSeace.
Then his own generous natYfe con-
quered as he said: "
sAt least, Miss Rita, I may proffer this
as a wedding gift"
As such felt | could not refuse 1t, but
he went on:
"Only one thingT ask, that myself
may place it on your arm"
Then, taking it up, he slip. i it upon
her wrist, where it fastened :th tiny
paddock, which he locked with a golden
key, placing the latter in his pocket.
"You see you will wear my chains
while YOU live" he said, with hidden
earnestness, land I-shall have only this
in memory" holding up the key for one
moment, then pressing his lips upon 1t
and again consigning it to its hiding
place.
I was still sitting where he had left
me. 1t was carly in the evening. and
had refused to go back 10 t'-c house,
when some one whose football / had rot
heard stood before me. CHANGING NJ, the
moons rays fell full On Ross face. with
a glad cry CT delight I sprang to my
feet, but, white and stern and still, he
waved me back.
81 have been home one hour" he said
quietly cit seems to me a year. was
told you were here with your lover.
Where is he that may share the con-
gratulations I have come to offer your
"Ross!" ] said, what do you mean
Have you no welcome for me?'
"We,come!" he exclaimed, "ard where
is mine? The star to which my yearn-
ing eyes have all these months been
turned"
"Ross, you have heard falsely. Do not
be so cold, so stern to little Rita. Have
you not kiss for me?"
My fearful tone had melted him. \
great wave of tenderness swept over his
face. Almost had his arm unfolded to
receive me and let me sob out my con-
fession on his heart, when his glance
fell on the bracelet clasping my arm.
Again the tiger in him leaped to bay.
''And what is this?" he said, fercely.
''This token of your falsehood that you
dare faunt in my sight. It is like a
woman. They would murder with a
smile. Do you know that I too could
murder? Yes, your very youth, your
very beauty, could crush as thefower
beneath my heel. Take off that bauble
and fling it into the seal"
Il cannot, Ross" said. "It is locked.
He has the key"
Course him!" he muttered "Then it is
to him I must look. He has locked it,
but by the heavens above I will unlock
it, If to get the key l have to strangle
him." And, leaving me stunned, hope
less, wretched where l stood, he strobe
away.
AS lay wakeful, pale and repentant,
next morning, my mother entered my
room with an awful pallor on her face
l think before she opened her lips I
knew al, knew that Ross-my lover, my
promised husband-waS a murderer,
at the bar of God to answer for the
deed. The two men had met the night
before-one reused to frenzy, the other
refusing to answer to threats when rea-
son might have prevailed. There was
blow, an answering blow, scufile as
to the possession of tiny golden key.
Ross had gained it, when, throwing his
opponent from him he had struggled
one moment on the edge CT thc cliff,
then fallen heavily into the sea be-
meath. From his prison cell Ross sent
me the key. With dull, heavy misery
l unlocked the golden thing which had
wrought, such evil, and sat Down to
live through the dark days of my lovers
trial. 1t was very short, and each hour
was bringing it to its close. There could
be little doubt of the verdict. He had
murdered one man. I had murdered
two!
On the last day of his trial reused
from my apathy to write him the whole
answering truth.
I took it as my wedding gift, Ross"
l said in closing. "You may beli,ve me
now, since all my life is wrecked, nor
have | saved from it even your love"
The jury were out celebrating. Ross
lie was in their hands. This was the
one ever-present torturing thought
when great shout broke the oppres-
sive stiffness. What could it mean? T
knew not, and dared not hope, until
until the messenger of the glad tidings
came to us. The trial had come to an
unforeseen termination. The grave
had given up it's dead. Rush Arden,s
fall had not killed him, but picked up
by passing boat he had returned to
wreak the noble revenge of striking off
his enemy's letters. All this I heard
as IN dream, then the waves of uncon-
seriousness engulfed me and I knew no
more. For long weeks I lived over in
delirium the tragic scenes which had so
lately encompassed me, but when life
and reason were restored the flush, not
only OF health, but happiness, came
back to my cheek with the low whis-
pered words with which Ross told me
OF his forgiveness.-N.Y Y. Ledger.