The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-02-04


Don't be too sure OF that" I cried,
addressing the latter, truculent look
ing, underbred loafer. Il have over
heard quite enough to know that you
are intimidating this lady, and warn
you that if you don't sheer of on the
instant II will be the worse for YOU.
The fellow looked me up and down,
as if to calculate probabilities, but,
judging discretion to be the wiser
course, with jeeringly defiant laugh,
disappeared In the thicket to the
right.
The immediate strain lifted, Meta
Russell all but completely collapsed
on the reaction, and saw that there
was nothing for II but for me to ac-
company her home.
Her helplessness rendered her still
more an object of solicitude to me, and
begged her to, If possible, confide
in me. so far, at least, as to enable
me to do what could for her.
She then, after a brief hesitation,
told ME the most extraordinary story,
imposing upon me, however, the con-
dition that | would not repeat 1t to
a soul.
l, of course, assured her upon this
point, and listened thunderstruck to
what practically amounted to a con-
fession.
Miss RUSSELL" said, Il"
THAT is not my name," she inter-
rupted me.
Not your name?" I exclaimed.
mo Not human being knows
what I am going to tell you'll am
married."
Married." I echoed.
"Yes; was married nearly four
years ago, and my name isis For
rester."
Then she went on to say that when
"a girl of 17-she was staying with
some friends at Long Branch, she met
q man with whom she fell in love.
Handsome. fascinating, and knowing
far more of the world than she did,
she believed in him. His proposal Of
marriage to her, on the condition that
she should keep the matter a profound
secret for month, so that he might
obtain the consent of his father--who
he said, was a wealthy Chicago bank
er-she innocently agreed to.
She, indeed told her mother, who
with the imbecility natural to her,
made no inquiries; letting the girl in
fact do Just as she pleased.
Leaving home one day on the pre-
text Of paying a visit to relative in
New York, she met Jack Forester by
arrangement, at a certain little church
on the East Side and was married
with only the sexton and his assistant
as witnesses.
The catastrophe was not long do
layed.
At the entrance Of the hotel, where
they were to dine, her new made hus-
band was arrested on a charge Of
swindling, by couple of detectives,
who, it appeared, had been upon his
track for days.
Not staying to think or hear more,
she returned home at once and man.
aged to keep the whole wretched affair
secret.
Her mother thought it was but an
engagement; weak-minded as she was,
she never dreamed of runaway mar
riage. Had she known that Netta's life
would have been unbearable. The poor
girl just threw away her wedding ring,
and resigned herself to misery.
In little more than a year, she saw
in paper that her husband was dead.
He had tried to escape from Sing Sing,
and had been shot.
Though once more free, she was
never able to shake off the haunting
memory of her mistake and its con-
sequences. Her conscience upbraidej
her with deception as toward her
mother, with passing under a false
name, and with posing as an unmar.
ried girl, when she was in reality q
widow.
But this man." said, who is he
the man mean who accosted you this
afternoon"
He had followed, she had explained
to me, upon a letter-a terrible letter
received from her husband.
But" I said, a bit bewildered, IT
thought you said he was dead"
"Yes-yes!-I quite believed so; but
suppose the man who had tried to
escape was another Of the same name.
He demands"
Il know" l interrupted her. "Your
return to him, or sum of money"
81 would sooner die than to return
to him; and as for $4,000. haven't it,
and would not send it to him If
had"
"You have his letter." ! asked
hor She produced and gave it to me
you are sure that it is his hand
writing?"
mo; ] am not sure. but I think
1t isl never had letter from him
before" na
In a fash I saw what ought 10 be
done. and at once.
"You must answer this letter."
said.
mo-" she replied, 'T will not write