Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-08-05

after Emmeline for the last two years
IA man old enough to be her father.
Il should suppose the same objection
you say prevented your marriage would
hold good with him. said George.
There is no accounting for womnns
whims." was the reply,
And while this arrow was ranking N
her lovers heart, Emmeline Campbeu
had returned to her city home to help
her aunt in preparing for European
wedding tour. There was pile of let
ters upon her taole, and the first she
opened was in handwriting quite I'M
known to her. A half sheet OF note pa
per was folded around letter and
card photograph. and upon TINS was
written:
AZ have lust ascertained that Mr.
Spencer is engaged to you. Under tnese
circumstances consider his attentions
an insult to me and to you. L lnclose
his last letter and picture, in justice 10
you
And in this Enclosure was the letter
Harry Spencer had accidentally signed
and card taken from George
MarshalTs album. Slowly. word by
word, Emmeline read the letter, and
when her aunt came in. some moments
later, she found her niece lying sense
less on the floor, and without hesitation
read the documents that had caused the
swoon.
1t was year later. Mrs. Grantley In
costume a triumph of Partisan art
was chatting with friend in crowded
ballroom in Paris, when a gentleman
with Il white, haggard face approached
and interrupted the conversation:
May | beg five minutes conversa-
tion?" he asked.
Harry Spencer!" she cried. with
mingled surprise and contempt. Il cam
not imagine what you can nave 10 say to
me, sir!''
But her friend rose, and Harry Spen-
Ger took the vacated seat.
1T is only to-day" he said, abruptly.
that learned you were Mrs. Grantley
and not Emmeline! Do not be Offend
ed for the lady looked furious; Il was
deceived. and l have yet to learn why
Emmeline accompanied you to Europe,
leaving me in ignorance"
You dare!" began Mrs. Grantley.
and then, remembering where she was.
she lowered her voice and told him of
the fatal letter. For moment he was
puzzled. Then he recalled the fact that
he had entirely forgotten. and knew by
whose hand his happiness had been de-
stroyed. for Stella, before he left North
port, had too plainly betrayed her love.
In a few brief words he made his eX-
PLANTATION. ''And now" he said, Il must
see Emmeline. Is she still with yOu?"
You must let me prepare her first"
Mrs. Grantley said, sadly. She is very
i'll. She was never robust. rs you know,
and that letter was her death-blow.
We have done all that could be done,
but she is in consumption, and the end
cannot be far off. 1t will comfort her to
know that you were not false to her,
but it cannot prolong her life. Come
as early as you will tomorrow. l will
go home at once. l came here reluc-
family, but Mr.. Grantley wished it, and
now | am glad l did not refuse his re-
quest"
A few days of happiness followed for
the dying girl. days when her lover
scarcely left her side, and once more
she knew how truly he had loved her.
But even happiness came too late to
save the frail life and again Harry
Spencer was left desolate. He was a
man and could carry calm face over
his broken heart. He made no moan,
but one letter was sent across the ocean
that Stella Marshall will never forget.
Its brief, stern sentences were written
in letters of fire on her heart and brain
long after the paper containing
them had been destroyed. No one else
knows the secret she carries, but she
shivers and covers in the night, whis-
pering pitifully:
"Oh, not murder, Harry-not muir
der! l never meant to kill her!"
But her conscience will not sleep,
and she knows that, whether intention
ally or not, she has caused the death of
Emmeline Campbell.-N. Y. Ledger.