The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-02-19

final. Mrs. Evans delight at her
brothers escape was certainly tenn
pered by indignation that Hester had |
dared refuse him. E err. E, '.,' = z. s.
'sWhom on earth did she expect to
marry?" the matron thought.
But Hester, pondering over it all,
accepted the pain as one more sorrow
in her shadowed life, and made, no
moan, looked for no sympathy.
1t was hard to see the face that had
been ever full of sympathy and tend.
srness turned coldly away; hard to
hear the children wonder twhy Uncle
Alfred never came to see them any
more;" but the routine of duty filled
each day and there was certainty
soon Of release from the monotony OF
teaching. l---.
October was mid way on her golden
tinted journey across the earth when
Mrs. Evans was called upon to find a.
new governess. In vain she scolded
and even wept. Hester gave no rea-
son, but she must 60. ;.
1t was not to spy upon her move
ments that Alfred, finding the govern
ess leaving the house, followed her on
the train that took her to London.
It was only in his deep, unshaken af-
lection, the fear OF her future, the anx-
iety to be sure all was to be we'll in
her new life.
She did not dream she was wat ched
as she took cab, and, followed still,
drove to a small house on the out
skirts OF Kentish Town, where an cid.
erly woman met her at the door and
1o1 hor in, vuoopino hitfor1u
That was all Alfred saw; but the
face OF the weeping woman was Hes.
ter's face, should years Of sorrow and
tears set their seal upon it.
Restless and curious in spite OF him.
self, Alfred lounged into refreshment
place near the little house and called
for something to eat. Close beside him
two officers of police inspectors they
seemeed) were discussing some pro.
visions. and Alfred heard one say:
$50 Stretton's time is up. He came
out OF the penitenriary yesterday"
"According to my idea," was the re-
ply, she ought not to have been there
at all. He never did it-never::"
HE was wild, though"
"Yes;got ON a spree'too often and was
in bad company, but never had any
more hand In that bank robbery than
you or L."
SCOT five years for it," said the 9th.
er, "and he's come out to die. He's
over at his mothers there. Jerking
his thumb in the direction of the little
house, "and won't last q Week-7con.
sumption p z.s 55&s 1.s 80 4
This was the secret, then! A broth
er in Pentonvllle model prison, limo.
cent or guilty, convicted felon! AL
fled shuddered as he thought of the
fair stately woman he loved, with her
lure, proud nature, daily tortured
! by the secret of her brothers crime.
He had.a vague recollection ofreading
the trial OF some bank robbers where
the name OF Stretton occurred, but it
was only a hazy memory at best.
Hester was with her mother in a
home, even if a poor one, with crime
for its inmate, and he had no right to
intrude upon her grief. So he ate the
food before him, paid the bill and
went out into the street again. It
was quite dark, and he gave up any
idea OF returning to Guildiord that
night, finding his way to the West End
and a hotel.
Three days passed bcfore he heard
again OF Hester's brother and then the
public journals told the story: He
was dead. Only twenty.slx, the pa
pers said; buC there had come comfort
at the last hour. Two of the gang
who had been engaged in the
bank robbery had made sworn
statments exonerating him from
any guilty part in IT. In so
far as he was under the influence OF
liquor, was in bad company and was
led by them, he was guilty.
But he WAS innocent because he was
purposely kept ignorant OF their in
tentions and had no knowledge
that he was in a bank vault until the
hands of the officers of Justice were
upon him there.
Five weary years, disease, finally
death, had paid the penalty ola youth
OF reckless living; but the stain OF oct
ual crime was lifted from his memory,
and the journals that had chronicled
his trial and sentence gave publicity
| to his innocence and his decease.
It. was no shame to Alfred's man
hood that his eyes were misty as he
read the obituary OF the waste Of life,
touched keenly by the closing words,
"a widowed mother and sister were
with him when he died." 80 !
Alfred could easily picture the fair,
pale face bending over the sufferers
pillow, and the low, tender voice COM
forting him, though his hand brought
desolation into her own life. II
In the chamber of death, where the
still face upon the pillow was peaceful
In it's last sleep, Hester and her moth
er kept watch together. ! =s::
They had suffered most in the five
years that their lives had been separ.
ated. for the widow had been matron
in large hospital, while Hester work.
ed as governess in Mrs. Evans's fami.
". Before her fathers death there
had been home, happy and united;
but afterwards poverty drove them
upon the world. .5..
Mother" Hester said softly. 81
have saved something in these long
years and we will settle ourselves
here and try to earn a living togeth.YY
er. 8 57-855
..Yes, dear. { took the house fur.
nlshed for month, thinking if Oliver
I.