The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-03-02

tie police that morning 20 MAKE IA
Quiries had naturally aroused great ex-
scitement in those regions, and now not
only was I regarded as the favored
sutton Of his young mistress, but had
sall the additional interest OF being a
suspected murderer.
He ushered me into the drawing
room. It remained just as remember
ed it the previous evening. There was
the bowl of roses from which my love
had taken the choicest bloom to fasten
in my coat a treasure which had IN.
wardly vowed to hoard forever, but
which had been lost in the brutal fray
lost, crushed and trodden in the mire
There was the book Mabel had been
reading when entered, and by its side
the paper knife with which she had toy
ed before / made her hand my captive
And there was still that subtle odor OF
yiolets, which would linger in my mem
cry, inseparably connected with that
scene.
But now the frou frou of dainty
skirts told me of my darling approach.
The handle turned, and Mabel stood be.
fore me.
"Mabel!"
"Duncanp'
For one sweet moment all else but
our love was forgotten in one long, rap.
turous embrace Not "a hours had
elapsed since I last held my dearest in
my arms, but what a world of agony
had happened in that time!
looked into her eyes, so full of I'M
told happiness for me; kissed the lips
that spoke but of sweetest love, and fol
the moment all the pending misery was
forgotten in one long, fond rapture OF
| bliss
Never had Mabel looked so unspeak
ably lovely. Her red gold hair ripplet
and shimmered in the clear sunlight
and waved and clustered round hel
white forehead. Her deep blue eye
looked into mine in trustful faith. He
pouting lips invited kisses, disclosing
/ pearls of rarest beauty, while the colo
on her cheeks came and went in concer
with the heaving of her breast.
"Oh, Duncan, my poor boy, how
shamefully they have treated you How
could they suspect you? How dare the.
arrest your
"Their suspicion was nothing. 70,
did not doubt me for a moment?"
Duncan. how could II"
She started from my embrace ant
held herself erect.
/ Though all the world were agains
you, you know could not for one mo
ment doubt you"
I drew my dear one to a seat, still
holding her hand in mine.
''Tell me. Duncan" she said, witt
gentle sympathy, "tell me all about it.
So poured into her ears all dare'
tell her Of my experiences after leavin,
her the previous evening. I touched a
lightly as possible on my finding tn
body Of the murdered woman, scarcel.
mentioning the man who stood over her
As told of the fury of the mob her lit
tie hand frightened in mine and the colo
left her cheeks. When spoke to her Q
the long, dreary night at the police sta
ton, her eyes betrayed hef swaet com
passion, and when I breathed tenderl
all my thoughts of her in the darkness
and gloom that had shrouded me sh
nestled almost imperceptibly nearer {
me, and again for moment I forgo
the coming agony. When ! describes
the weary waiting in the morning, tn
arrival Of my friends and my ultimat
release, she broke in eagerly
"Ah, Duncan, it was so unfortunat
George was away when the police came
I know how sorry he will be that b
could not be the first to go to you How
indignant he will be at their suspectin
you'll"
Oh, the untold irony of her words
All the time my mind was forlornl,
cropping for an answer to the monoto
nous question which knew must com
sooner or later and which would tel
her what would give worlds that ah
should know first from another
listened as with womanly care sh
prayed me to tell her if l had reste,
and eaten and hundred other thing
which tender love alone could suggest
I listened, and l suppose my answer
|
to know nothing but that he-th
brother she worshiped-he, my friend
was guilty of this CHASTITY crime! As il
fearful panorama, saw the murders
captured; witnessed the trial heart
the hum Of the crowded court; I saw
the judge the black cap, and I saw tn,
gallows looming behind it all. seemed
to be still talking and listening, yet my
mind worked out these horrors regard
less of my will, and gradually night
mares spell seemed to creep over me
She was talking about George now.
''He has been awfully worried lately
Duncan. You yourself know somethin.
4 of the reason, but not all, think. Yor
know he is infatuated with some woman
beneath him in position, but will tel
you all now that you are one of us. -
| She added these last words with de
licious shyness, and could but kis
her bushes. She continued:
| 81 know If not all at least ,norf