The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-18
GUILTY.
(BY wINIFRED.1

The deathlike silence which, liad pervaded the
court room broken by the >sobs of women and
strong men made no effort to conceal their emotion
Guilty; this girl whom all had known and loved since
her babyhood. whose father had died before her
BIRTH and whose young mother had lived just long
enough to look into her baby's blue eyes and to
whisper family. "Call her Violet"
The prisoner. woman. scarcely, more than a girl
who had stood through it all like a craven image
gazing with wide herrorstricken eyes over that sea
Of faces, turned and slowly raising her eyes looked
up into the face of young mani standing beside her.
What does she see? Anguish unutterable contrition
and unreasonable pity. faint flush rises to her
cheek and receding leaves ashen than before
She sways and falls unconscious into his oustretched
arms.
She had told her story simply when they came to
her. reckless that each word she uttered an add
ed link In the chain of evidence they were forging
about her
"You think guilty of this fearful deed" she
said "you who have known from my childhood
would not harm the tniest of Gods creatures much
less hur soul unprepared into the presence of it's
Maker. 1t is true have said hated her and wish
ed that she were dead but oh. not this She boosted
Of her power to win from me my lover, and when in
my happy security laughed her to scorn SHE turned
her flashing eyes upon me and vowed to prove her
words"
They shuddered remembering how. upon tina,
spreading branches of the grand old trees watching
the great rise in the East. Rose Darlington.
sprnging to her feet had said: 81 claim your prom
Use, Mr.. Caren. to show me the view from the cliff
by moonlight" -
AS Ralph Caren arose to comply with her request.
tiny bunch Of yiolets which his afanced had fast
ened in his buttonhole became detached and dropped
to the ground AS he stopped to restore them their
resting place, Rose had said looking I'D at him with
gcOffQ and mo uith o4Str
ness in her voice. "Why should you stoop to pluck
violet, when you may wear rose?' and from her
bosom took blood red and fastened it upon his
breast. 1t lie
Violet grew deadly pale andias they slowly walR-
ed away, she quietly withdrew cand sought the priv
acy of her own apartment where i'm very abandon
ment Of grief and wounded love. she sobbed: "On
why should she come here to spoil my life have
never harmed her. and yet she steals from me my
dearest treasure, hate her, and wish that she were
dead
And In the dewy freshness of summer morning.
they had found her lying cold and stin. her great
black staring up into the azure depths of the
sky, a look Of unutterable horror frozen upon her
face. while plunged into her heart was tiny dag
ger upon whose quantity carved hilt could be dimiy
traced the letters V. R..
Ralph Caren and Violet Reid had been lovers al
ways ~lor
Ralph was the only and heir Of the proprietor
of the extensive wooden mills which the little town
of Lenox boosted. and Violet, who was the pette0
darling of widowed childess aunt had never miss
ed mothers love and care IN .5.a .e.t-@ er
Friends of each smiled approved and life was a
yeritable Eden until the serpent entrance there
Ralph had no. thought of disloyalty to his be-
trothed but he fattered bys the evident prefer
ence of this beautiful woman. who had undoubtedly
never been compelled to seek for lovers. and who
claimed as if it Were her right the admiration and
devotion OF all men with whom she came in contact
To onlookers it was evident that she deeply in
earnest and determined to win the love of Ralph
Caren at whatever cost to Violet.
From whence Rose Darlington had come NO one
knew Beautiful with unlimited wealth at her COM
mand, why she had not sought some popular resort
and Feigned undisputed queen of beauty and
fashion was enigma too deep for solution
Her maid has said: Miss Darlington was weary.
OF society. and wished to pass the in rest
full quiet" aI4
One might almost imagine her In hiding SO Gloss
ly did she conne herself the spot she had chesen
shut out from the word by the great hills in this New
England town
OF that last walk to the cliff. Ralph spoke reluc-
family can incident had occurred = he said which
although startling could have fne possible bearing
upon the case. As started eas-oaF- heAaewaeds
way, and were entering the belt, of timber which
skirts the base of the cliff dark. sinister looking
man stepped suddenly out from the shadows ana
placed himself directly in path Fixing his eyes
lnsolently upon the face of Rose he laughed
1ngly and muttered something in a. foreign tongue.
sprang forward to avenge the insult but too late,
the man had disappeared in the darkness. My first
thought was of pursuit but strange cry from Mrs.
Darlington brought me to her side. She stood with
one appraised as if to ward off n blow. deadly
terror was in her eyes. gasping. choking cry
capped her, and she tottered toward and fell into
my arms in deathke swoen. l carried her TO
little stream hear by, and bathed her forehead in its
cooling waters. After time she slowly opened her
eyes and gazed about her in bewildered manner
then she caught her breath in q nervous gasp, and
rising to her feet said: 1T the fright. Please
take me home.'
Violet raying in delirium upon her prison cot was
blissful1y unconscious of either joy sorrow
she was merry child, innocent and happy.
loving maiden, with womans hopes and longngs.
but never Stunned and guilty thing croucling In
her prison CELL torn by remorse desparing deso-
late.
The good old doctor grayely shook his head as
each day found her more pale and wan and pitfufy
murmured cit is better Poor cild. if she could
but die" rl