Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1906-12-05

him. He was arrested and tried. He
told a story no one credited, that
Charles Ralston had sent him from his
house to the bank for papers, after
keeping him busy there over the books
all the evening. But Ralston swore
that he had not been at home that
evening, and proved it; that the keys
OF the vault safe, found hanging in the
key hole, were stolen from his desk,
and he had not sent his clerk to the
bank. So Ralph was convicted and
sentenced. He escaped! Elsie, l had
saved fifty pounds for my wedding gar
ments. / went to see him in prison,
and, knowing he was innocent, | gave
him the money to bride the keeper Of
his cell. The man took 1t, and Ralph
was free. l have never known if he
lived or died until tonight.
after he was gone, your mother was
taken i'll. Before her marriage she had
worked for the same establishment
where was employed, and | knew her
we'll. The shock of her husbands
death was too severe for her, and she
never rose from her bed, though she
lived three months. When she died,
l promised you should be my charge,
and never know the shadow upon your
life until you were a woman"
Elsie was sobbng quietly, after lit.
ing to her lips the gentle hand that
had given her all she had ever expert
enced of life's blessings.
There was a long silence after Miss
Norman ceased speaking, and the
gray dawn was creeping in at the win
dows when, softly kissing her, Aunt
Della told Elsie to go to rest.
But for herself there was no rest.
Feverishly, with an agitation altogeth-
er unlike her usual quiet, she waited
the coming of her lover who had fled
from his unjust sentence twenty years
before, but who was free now, and his
innocence known. The day was young,
and Elsie was sleeping still, when he
came.
Della was waiting for him in the
drawing-room. There was no affecta-
ton of youth in her silver-gray silk,
and the square of black lace upon her
soft hair; but, instead of a brooch,
there fell upon the knot of ribbon at
her throat the pearl locket Ralph had
given his betrothed. She stood UP to
greet the stern-faced man who ad-
vanced to meet her, trying to find
traces of her lover. Not until he smiled
tenderly did she recognize him.
Then, her own eyes dim with tears,
she said softly:
you are more than welcome. am
rejoiced the cloud is lifted from your
life, Ralph!"
And he, holding the trembling hand
fast in his strong ones, answered:
Il have found you at last. l began
to fear you were dead, Della. My little
love, my darling!"
Ralph" she said, the bright blush
rising to her faded cheeks, you for
get we are gray-haired, elderly peo-
ple"'
Il forget everything but that you are
here, that the hope that has seemed a
dream of madness for twenty years is
ISdllLCu nave UeeIl Ill CdiIIOEIlld,
Della, all these years, amassing wealth,
under another name, working for gold
to drown thought. l have led a busy
life, but there has not been one hour
when l have not pictured such happi-
ness as this. You are mine, Della?
You will not send me from you? You
will be my wife?"
of you wish it," she said softly, her
own faithful heart thrilling under the
sincerity Of his tone, 81 have never
ceased to love you or TO pray for you,
Ralph"
Society speculated upon the brief
courtship, for there was a quiet we'd
ding within a month, but nobody knew
of the painful past save Elsie, The
cherished child still of Ralph earring
ton and his wife.-Waverley.