Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-09-07

him. He was arrested and tried. He
told 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 1t: 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&convlcted and
sentenced. He escaped Elsie, had
saved fifty pounds for my wedding gar
ments. l 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 it, and Ralph
lived or died until tonight.
After he was gone, your mother was
taken Ill. Before her marriage she had
worked for the same establishment
where l was employed, and knew her
well. 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 woman"
Elsie was sobbing quietly, after lift.
Ing to her lips the gentle hand that
had given her all she had ever expert.
enced of lifes blessings.
There was a long silence after Miss
Merriman 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
Fevershly, with an agitation altogeth.
er unlike her usual quiet, she waited
the coming OF her lover who had fee
! 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 sllver-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 loclet Ralph had
given his betrothed. She stood up to
greet the stern-faced man who nd
yanced 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 PEG
ple"
~ forget everything but that you are
here, that the hope that has seemed a
dream of madness for twenty years Is
! realized. | have been in California,
Della, all these years, amassng wealth,
under another name, working for gold
TO drown thought. | have led busy
! life, but there has not been one hour
| when | have not pictured such haDpi-
ness as this You are mine, Della?
You Will not send me from Won? You
| will be my wife,"
IF 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 wed,
ding within month, but nobody knew
of the painful past save Elsie. the
cherished child still of Ralph Caring
ton and his wife.-Waverley