Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-06-17
. HER 2CRUJSOE.

% l. 49, .. -.
When Edgar Carroll and Irene Hayne
pligbted over again their troth with the
solemn earnestness of lovers in the hour Of
parting, either would have staked exist
ence on the others truth. .~*:@-. .
4 For three years Edgar's letters came,
bearing messages of love which seemed so
real that Irene could almost fancy them
uttered at her side instead of coming from
the other side of the world.
At last one came that set her heart in a
hutter and caused brighter light to
sparkle in her eyes. 1t spoke of her lovers
speedy return. Success had crowned bis
efforts, and at last he might stand without
blushing in the presence of proud old Wal
ter Hayne and speak his mind freely.
Then there was an interval in which no
letters came.
Months passed and still no tidings.
lrene's letters remained unanswered. At
last she could not even hope. Her lover
must be dead. She could never believe
him faithless. Her cheek grew paler and
her step less elastic, and anxious friends
began to shake their heads and hint of
failing health.
Her fathers fears became alarmed.
Physicians counseled travel and change of
air. The experiment. was tried, but with
out perceptible benefit.
During the absence Of Mr.. Hayne and
bis daughter a stranger had taken up his
abode in the place of their residence.
Who or what Mr.. Newcome was or
whence he came nobody pretended to
know, yet every man, woman and child
was ready to vouch for his responsibility.
He was bachelor and lived alone, rarely
appearing in society, yet often enough to
avoid the appearance of stunning it. .
His habits Of seclusion were soon meas
urably abandoned. He was constantly
meeting Irene, first by seeming accident
at the house of such friends as she was &C.
customed to visit, then by direct calls up
on herself
At one of these interviews the conversa-
tion turned upon Australia, where Mr..
Newcome had spent some years. In the
course of it he mentioned a name which
caused Irene to start.
"Edgar-Edgar Carroll! You knew
effort.
HE was my most intimate FRIEND" re-
piled Mr. Newcome, with seeming care
her agitated face; "that is, until be mar"
ried."
"Married!"
lieve," Mr.. Newcome added, pretending
not to notice the effect of his words. "The
lady was a wealthy colonist's daughter
an only child and all that"
The blow fell with cruel force. For a
moment Irene's faculties were stunned.
Some months later, when Irene's father
limited that Mr.. Newcome had asked per-
mission to become her sutton, and that his
own sanction had been already given, he
was agreeably surprised at the manner in
which the announcement was received.
BY sacrificing herself she could save her
fathers fortune, and, for herself, what did
1t matter nows
1t was the evening before the wedding
day, and Mr.. Newoome had called to pay
his last visit as wooer.
Irene face was paler than usual, and
her manner was more disturbed, but her
father was in too high spirits and Mr..
Newoome too polite to notice the change.
They were In the midst of an agreeable
chat when visitor was announced, who
insisted on seeing Mr.. Hayne alone.
In no gracious mood MI. Hayne passed
into an adjacent apartment, whence ex-
cited voices were soon heard.
Al the sound Of one of them both Irene
and Mr.. Newcome started to their feet.
$50 the villain is here!" exclaimed Ed
gar Carroll, thrusting open the door. But
Irene's white face met his angry gaze, and
he stood motionless.
Newcome for the moment had believed
himself In personal peril and had shrunk
back coweringly, but a moments refleo-
ton assured him that, in the presence of
Mr.. Hayne and his daughter, he had no
cause for fear.
"In the distant land to which we had
both gone in quest of gold this man and
myself became friends. We shared the
same tent and had no secrets from each
other. In treasure seeking proved the
more fortunate Of the two, and my gains
had already reached the point had pro-
posed they should attain when my friend
suggested visit to some unexplored is
lands of which he pretended to have heard
rumors and of whose wealth we might
become the sole possessors.
"We fitted out small vessel and after
q voyage of several days anchored off a
thickly wooded island. Leaving the crew
on board, my friend and myself went
ashore and began our search. In &C.
cluded spot was felled to the earth by q
blow from behind and left for dead. =
"On regaining consciousness I found
myself alone. ran to the shore, but the
vessel was no longer in sight.
Zone day deserted sail In the dis
lance. The sight made me wild with joy.
l shouted and signaled and by every
means in my power sought to make my
presence known.
"But still the ship held her course.
Frantic with despair, rushed into the
waves, determined to swim toward her
while strength held out, when at length
she shortened sail, and saw a boat low
cred from her side.
II conducted my deliverers to the treas
ure had found. There was enough for
us all. I returned to find myself robbed
of my precious gains, whose place of con-
oealment was known only to myself and
him who had sought my life to get pos
session of them. But the loss I regarded
as q trifle.. was now the possess0r Of
treble the amount" -. j
Irene Carroll is a happy wife now and
never happier than when listening to q
chapter from the adventures of her own
u ohinso,o Grno0o -Exchanoe -