The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-29

come. Meta. know it'll feel it, and
then Will take you away from all these
sad associations, but while you mus to
here. let my love cheer and comfort YOU. -
ut does. Roger; IL does. ! will con-
fess 10 You tonight what l have never be-
fore acknowledged. i do love you. or,
rather, | would. had l room for love In
nv heart-room for any other feeling
tnan the determination To bring my
fathers murderer 10 justice. How do 1
know tut that you, speaking with sud
den impetuosity, "are the manT
"Meta!"
Forgive me-ob, forgive me- she
cried, noting his palior, II did not mean
that, Roger. except that wa know not
whom TO suspect and ! am almost mad
dened with suspense aud grief. Poor
father, lie had TO led NJ long. with iil
luck ever pursuing him, and whom at
last the tide Of fortune turned Roger !!
Roger. who could have begrudged MIN at
the endp"
GOD only knows, Meta, darling.
Leave vengeance in His hands Be my
wife and forget your misery In our hap
piness.'
Il cannot-I cannot :" she answered, a
dry sob in ter throat, as the bright {
future she pictured faded before her. Il
might doubt even you. koger-even
you"
Tbs words came back to her as proph-
ecy-a prophecy she little meant-she only
realized wien veriiied-when, one short
week after, the men came To her with
triumph in their eyes and voices and told
her they had discovered her fathers muir
derer. No nsed to question whol The
name rang like clarion through the
camp to her ears like Il difRe, sinos it
was the name Of the man she had loved
and trdsted-ROgers Rollins.
Working In his claim he had cried out
that he had discovered gold. and the men
rushing TO the spot. found his words In
deed true; bat on further Investigation
the gold was found to have boon placed
there, and When removed from its tempo
rary bed-so unskillfully deposited as To
make detection almost inevitabla-.Iohn
Hubert's long lost treasure was REVEALED.
The murderer, by his impatient greed
had betrayed himself. lie had only looked
aghast when told of his crime and silent
and pale lay bound awaiting his speedy
trial--his certain death.
Ii was nightiall. The camp slept, save
when the little guard, alert and waketul.
surrounded the prisoner. when suddenly
n ghost appeared upon the scene and a
challenge rarg out on the night air
lit is l. +" replied voice. May / say
q word TO the prsonerS' and Meta HUI
bert stepped In their midst.
Yes, they answered and without
further parlay she approached the spot
where no lay fettered In ohains.
You hereY' he questioned raising q
naggard face to hers.
Eyes, Roger" she answered. very
gently. II am come 10 tell you 1 believe
YOU iunocent Nothing can save your
life l fear, but want TO give you proof
OF my words; want to be your wife be-
fore you die. ~
Meta" exclaimed the young man.
"Thank heaven Not as my wife,
drliu9. You shall be no felon's widow
e'en In mans sight. In God s sight 1
an innocent. He only knows that gold
WAS placed within my claim, but as I
soon shall be summoned 20 his presence.
IL revcr soiled NV hands. Your words
have wIuny this from ine-your belief in
me-else / should have gone silent tn the
grave. Nav, darling. leave me, lest you
unmaD nie for the morrow"
The trial was very short, the testimony
conclusive aud the verdict that the next
morning Mt davbreaS Roger Rollins should
die. In vain Meta protested her belief in his
innocence: in win appealed for mercy. They
thought grief had unsetle her roason, when,
hs the shades OF evening were gathering q
man staggered into camp mortslly wounded
lie had wandere beyond the gufr l., and. in
Bn encounter w tn two or three stray Indians.
met LIS death He was one of their number
sury, silent fellow, but Gne now needing
their attention and csre. Two OF them sat by
his bed the slow hours wore on, and one,
bouting over him, said.
You won't see day break, old fellow. IL
you We any hing to say-any message TO leave
say 10 now
$50 soonf" he answered. in broken
voice " am going now where ] sent poor
Hutert.' y
"Whatf' thov questioned, agbast.
"Ies,l murdered him not the boy you have
out there in CHAINS. Then / did not dare rse
the morey, and after - time | learned 10 love
the girl. She snurned me-would not give me
even n kindly glance and one night | heard
her tell Rollins that she carei for him. Mad
with jealousy, | watched my opportunity. and
in the darkness Of the night placed the stolen
treasure in his claim, knowing well what
would follow. | never should have t'ld.
don't know what il is makes me tell n w
unless" and with n great choking l.. his
throat the man fell bacls-dead!
But ere another day drew 10 its close the
solemn words were said which made Meta
Hulert Roger Rollins wfr. Her father :
fortune was her, now with which To build n
home far away from those sad scenes, but
looking into her husbands face, with its
proud, hopeful trust, she felt ith her hand
In mis- Snc Couid 90 anywhere. But sometimes
vi o her fairest hopes have leen realized in
The evening twilight, while waiting for the
happy husband and fathers return. she tells
the children gathered at her knee the s'range
story e Phil Cal lton 5 confession. New York
Ledger.