The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-09-19
Lady Halcross never recovered her

detectives had many theories, and
were quite certain who the man was.
He had been wanted for some tims,
and was notorious criminal, they
said. Clara Stanhope used to smile
when she heard them talking; but
her smile was very sad one
And, out in Texas, Roger Meredith
was learning to write his name on a
clean slate, the name of an honest
man, the memory of girls face ever
with him, and her indignant cry ring
ing in his ears. The words Clara
Stanhope> spoke when she hurled her
emerald tiara through the carriage
window were branded upon his soul.
The life he lived was hard one,
but at least clean one; he was alone
for days, but the wild life of the
ranch suited him, and the loneliness
of the young country appealed to
him. He liked to look, at the stars
at night and remember that they
shone on the land of his birth; that
the same monday sun poured it's rays
on the old land and the new. He felt
that he was done with his home for
ever; that he was eXiled by his own
deed from intercourse with the wo-
man he still loved; but, all the same,
he intended to work out new life,
for-well, perhaps for her sake, per-
haps for his own, for his old life and
old sins had grown distasteful to
Roger Meredith. He knew there was
hot in, 70 he,
thing he had found yet, and he had
a strange sort of feeling that Clara
would understand one day the real
Roger Meredith, understand and for
give him.
Clara waited at home, waited as
women have to wait, keeping her love
story to herself-her unbroken, I'M
finished love story.
She sometimes heard news of Roger
through the bishop of Radford, who
delighted to speak of his nephew to
sympathetic listener.
Getting on splendidly, my dear,
splendidly. Put his shoulder to the
wheel at last. All! I always said
there was good stuff in Roger. Texas
is making man of him." ia
Clara used often to go and lunch
at the bishops residence and talk to
the old man. She was very fond of
the bishop, but not even to herself
would she confess that she still cared
for the bishops nephew-the high
wayman, the thief. One day she heard
piece of news that colored her face,
and set her heart beating wildly.
"My nephew Roger has had to
come home. My brother is not at
all well, and he wanted to see Roger
again before he died. The dear boy
arrived last week; he will be staying
here for a night or two soon, so you
must dine with us, Clara, and meet
him."
'He's been turning over new leaf,
my DEAR" he said, gently, sits a
great comfort to me, Clara, great
comfort; and God bless you for it,
my child, if it's your work"
Clara said nothing; what was there
to say? She privately determined not
to dine with the bishop; but of
course, she went.
She found very different Roger
from the man she had parted from
nearly five years ago; and Roger no.
ticed that some of the freshness of
youth had left Clara's face, to be re-
placed by softer, sweeter look. The
hard, brilliant girl had softened into
tolerant and merciful woman.
Roger flushed under his bronze as
he touched Clara's hand; she noticed
the shame in his eyes, and her heart
bled for him.
81 am very glad to meet you again"
she said very slowly, looking stead
lily at him; "very glad, indeed"
81 do not deserve this" was his
low answer. :,
Somehow, after dinner-how it hap
pened neither Clara nor Roger was
ever quite aware-the two found
themselves alone in small inner
parlor, the other guests having con-
gregated in the larger room, where
singing was going on.
Roger looked at the woman he
loved, the woman he should love to
the end of his days, and an intense
desire came to him to tell her the
truth, to let her know he had not
robbed for his own sake, and so re-
deem himself ever so little in her
eyes. :
81 want to tell you something, Miss
Stanhope," he said in low tones.
"Will you hear me? It's quite short
story"
Clara inclined her head silently.
She looked at the man as he stood
up in front of her, and she knew
whatever his faults were that she
loved him, loved him as only strong
woman could. What was he going to
tell her? She could not trust her
self to speak.
In a few words Roger Meredith ex-
planned why he had stolen the jewels.
''The boy was saved by my theft"
he finished, in whisper; "and my
brother runs straight enough now.
He has had his lesson"
"Why have you told me this story?"
She tried to speak calmly.
Because love you-forgive thief
for his presumption. Clara-Miss
Stanhope, return to Texas next
,optb. COW uo,, 40 l>of1-. T