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

the fire. She had made it one Of her
duties to her adopted child to accom-
pany her, after introduction to society,
to all scenes of gayety. But a severe
cold had rendered exposure to the
night air an imprudence on this, the
evening of Mrs Walton's large party ;
and Elsie had joined the family of a
friend.
Memory was very busy in Della Mer-
riman's heart as she sat over the fire
during Elsie's absence--so busy, that
she started as If from a dream when
the carriage rolled to the door as the
mantel clock chimed two.
There were words OF parting, then
light steps on the stairs, and Elsie
came in, not as usual, full of bright
animation, bat with an earnestness of
purpose quite unusual to her.
Did you have a pleasant evening,
dear?" Miss Della asked.
''Yes-no-I don't know. Are you
very tired?"
The last words were all of the dis
connected answer the girl seemed able
to give on account of her emotion.
mo, dear! Why Elsie, love, what is
it," For she was looking troubled.
Il have a message for you, auntie.'
For me?
From a stranger who was at Mrs.
Waltons-Mr. Darlington Ralph Car
rington."
Della Merriman rose to her feet. she
tried to speak, but the words woulu not
come.
"Auntie," the girl cried, terrified,
don't look so-don't"
'The message?" Miss MerrIman
whispered.
'He told me to tell yo,. that the man
who killed Harry Garman was Charles
RalstOn, the cashier Of the Hope Bank.
who had confessed his guilt. He said.
Tell Miss Merriman that tomorrow 1
will see her. Auntie," Elsie contin-
ued, with urgent entreaty, what does
it mean? was not Harry Garman nv
father"
Eyes, child. 1t MEANS" Miss Merri-
man said solemnly, that the cross that
for twenty years has lain on my life
has lifted tonight. You shall know all,
Elsie, at once 1 will not send you TO
a sleepless bed, child, with your heart
so troubled. But give me a few mo-
ments to think Of your tidings, and tell
me how this message came to be en-
trusted to YOU"
Mrs. Walton came to me late in
the evening, and asked permission to
introduce Mr.. Darlington. 1 noticed a
stranger, who looked at me very ear
nestly."
"a tall, handsome man, with curl
ing brown hair, and pleasant features,
wearing a full beard of waving golden
brown?"
'No, a tall, grave man, with stern
features, smoothly shaver, with gray
Ish hair"
True! true! had forgotten. He
must be 45."
when he was introduced to me, he
touched the lOcket upon my neck. Par
don me- he said, If am too curious !;
but your name and that trinket are
connected with so much in my life that
1 venture to ask you something con
corning them. The locket first Did
not some one give it to you-a lady 2"
His looks were so eager, that l told
him the locket was yours. Then he led
me on, little by little, until 1 told him
my whole life. He said he had been
here two months seeking for YOU. He
did not look for a wealthy woman, but
one poor and solitary. Then 1 inform
ed him how poor we had been; and
about your cousin, and how you had
layished every good thing on me. And
then, auntie, he whispered half to him
self that had no claim on you. What
did he mean? Are you not my aunt"
mo, dear, there is no tie Of blood
between us. Your claim Is the claim
of love; for you have been the one
comfort, the one sunshine, of my lonely
life. Twenty years ago, Elsie, Ralph
Darlington gave me the locket you
have upon your neck, a gift of betroth-
al, for we loved each other truly, and
were engaged to be married. l was a
poor girl, making artificial flowers for
bread-an orphan, too. He was assist
ant cashier Of the Hope Bank, where
your father was night Waterman, and
Charles RalstOn was the head cashier.
Ralston was in love with me, and pur-
sued me with unwelcome attentions.
"One day, to rid himself of his i'm
portunities, l told him 1 had promised
to marry Ralph. He left me in rage.
Only one week later the bank was en-
tered at night, your father shot through
the heart, and Ralph Darlington dis
covered In the vault trying to revive