Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1898-01-29
$50 sudden, too, SIR said the wo-
man .N0h01y pynpcrpd itr

~ "~~J
my one thought was My poor, lonely
darling, Ellan
''There were no more details to be
learned about Miss York's death. She
was buried in Lowmarket churchyard.
Ella was i'll for weeks, and could not
enough to attend to business it was
found that she inherited all her aunt's
money, and as she had already accept
ed me, we were married twelvemonth
afterward. She had been awfuly lone
ly, she said, since Miss 1ork's death,
but no couple have ever lived happier
and been nearer and dearer to each
other than Ella and l. May God bless
her,
Amen said l, solemnly and rever
emily.
ELLA and l." pursued Jim, could
never give the remotest guess as to her
aunt's objection to our engagement,
and it would probably have remained
a mystery to me, as it has to Ella even
now, had it not been for the following
circumstances. Some time ago l was
sent for at the prison to see a rather
desperate character, whose end was
very near. He had been sent to seven
years penal servitude some three years
before for forgery, and after serving
two years at Portland had been trans
ierred to Lowmarket. His appearance
was superior to that of the ordinary
convict, even when a forger. Although
! had seen him several times, and GER
tainly been struck with his face and
appearance, we could not be said to be
friendly. as he had been Indifferent to
all my advances.
Il found him living in the hospital,
and I soon saw that he would not live
very long.
You seem pleased to see me?
said.
Yes, sir replied No. 152 L am
glad you've come; / hardly expected
YOU would, considering how Standoff-
ish I've been. But l wanler to see
to last much longer
Il talked to him about his soul and
spiritual things. That we may pass
by. Howson: | believe he was thor
oughly penitent | asked him if there
WAS anything | could Go for him.
"'Yes, sir. there is one thing. if you
will. It's such curious one. | hardly
like to ask you His eyes looked eager
ly at me.
go on,' l said; I'll do it if posi-
bIe'
I've had queer life, sir, said the
convict. I might have been somebody
and done some good; but l got led
astray after marriage, and broke the
heart Of my wife, who died soon after
ward. Yes. I've led a bad life, and it's
precious few friends I've had lately,
anyhow. But l hope l may be for
given. as you say God will pardon even
the worst Of us. And if you'll promise
me to do one thing when I'm dead,
shall die happy
"I'll promise as far as | can,' said
What is it,
Its to take care Of your wife an
swered No 152. 'Ah,' said he, smiling
4 thought that would astonish you
Take care OF my wife" gazed al
shall! But what is that to You?
"a great deai. said he.
"'WhyY
"'Because shes-my daughter"
81 looked at MIN in terror and aston
i.hment, and was about to send for the
nurse and for the doctor, feeling sure
he was rambling. when he said, slo WY
SIT down, sir. please: l can't tall
r.ucE longer. You need not send to1
DR.. Dairon, I'm all right. / feared i
would give yor shock, sir, as it CAV,
| me one the first time | saw her here
with you. Ella York-you see l know
| her lame all right-was taken whe1
| quite a child by her aunt, who dis
owned me- and never told the child
what her father was. In that she wa:
quite right. She changed her nam'
from Wilson to her mothers name O.
York, and completed the disguise
Il sat in dumb silence. What coult
I say? Ella, my wife, convict
daughter.
| ".Please, sir, don't tell her," said he
| She has never known; don't let he
| know. But l felt l must tell you, sir
and you'll not think any worse Of her:
and his eyes looked pleadingly ant
wistfully at me.
"'No,' said /, of course not. l an
hall dazed, but feel what you say i
true But Ella is my own now, ant
always shall be while | live. l wish
had not heard this, but 1t cannot alte
my love for Ella
Thank God!' he said. And, sill
there's one thing more The doctor
| say shall sleep myself away. Do yo1
think it could be managed for my dar]
| ing to give me one kiss ere | die, jus
one!
"Ill try. Yes said I, she shall.
you'll leave it to me.
Il VIII. God bless you, MI
Rourn.'
Il left him. When ] got home Ell
thought | was ill, and indeed was
Overwork, pleaded. In another hou
they came to tell me he was aslee1
and would not wake in this world.
81 took Ella with me to the hospita
Ella said l, a prisoner who is dying
and who has no-few-friends, told M
to-day how he had seen you and Woul
like you to kiss him ere he died, as hi
own daughter would have done. WI
you?
"'Certainly, my darling.
"And with eyes full Of tears she die
The unconscious form rose. the eyelid
half opened, the face smiled. Sh
didn't know; did she?
Il led her away, weeping; my oW
heart full. I afterward verified h1
story. But Ella has never known an
more, Howson, and never will. Ther
is sometimes a secret which should nc
be shared between husband and wifi
Howson, isn't thereY
| uv,,,,vo ,}rb% 1nor old .Iim.' said