The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1911-05-09

OWu lOOiIls LII DIG AOSOknlLOu tilO
handwriting. This is what she read:
City, Sept. 25, 10
Dear Esther:
Since leaving you this
afternoon have been most unhappy.
You can never know the anguish my
heart has suffered since you told me
you belonged to Jack Nixon. But
it will soon be over. / could not
bear to live and see you the wife of
another. even though that other is
my dearest friend. Thank God /
can die knowing you have chosen
man worthy of you.
have made my will in favor of
Jack, that he might use my all in
making you happy, as | should have
done. Farewell for ever.
RICHARD HARDING.
When Esther again entered the
drawing room. Harry said:
"You have been weeping, Miss
Shell"
eyes, Mr.. Beaton, l have been
weeping. But have wept tears of
happiness as we'll as tears of sorrow.
Though the letter you brought me
is very sad one in itself, yet it has
cleared up great mystery and has
brought me much joy, inasmuch as
it will save one who is dearer to me
than all the world from spending his
life behind prison bars.
After Harry had read the letter,
Esther related the particulars of the
trial. conviction and sentence of her
lover. When she had finished, Harry
asked:
us that photograph of Mr.. Nix
on you have there, Miss Snell?'
She said it was and handed him
the picture which she had absent
mindedly brought down stairs. He
looked at it and cried:
Jack, my brother! My God, if
had destroyed that old coat without
discovering that letter."
Your brother, Mr.. Beaton?"
eyes. he is my half brother, hence
the different names. He left home
sixteen years ago, when he was ff-
teen and | was thirteen"
A half hour later Harry and Esther
were seated in the office of Jacks
attorneys. Messrs Roberts & Lee.
When Mr.. Roberts had read the let
ter, he said: Nov. then, it only
remains to convince the district at
torney and the judge who presided
at the trial of the substantially of
our evidence, get their recommends
tons and present the case to the
Board of Pardons, which meets the
day after tomorrow, and Mr.. Nixon
will be released.
At ten o'clock the following morn
ing Harry, Esther and Mr.. Roberts
entered the office of Mr.. Boyd, the
district attorney. When Mr.. Roberts
had explained all about the letter
from the grave" Mr.. Boyd said:
We'll, in that case there may yet
be chance of clearing Mr.. Nixon.
You have this letter with your
"Oh. yes, said Esther, 81 have
the letter here" and she opened her
purse to produce the evidence. But,
alas! it was not there. The mysteri-
Gus letter was lost again.
Personally" said Mr.. Boyd, Il
have not the least doubt but what
you were in possession of a letter
such as you say, but ann afraid it
will take more than merely your
word to convince the Judge and
Board of Pardons that such letter
ever existed"
That evening Mr.. Smell, Harry and
Esther sat, sad hearted and dis
tressed. in the drawing room of the
Smell home. So diligently had they
continued the search for the missing
letter all day, that they had not ever
spared time to visit Jack. More
than once during the day had Harry
been tempted to board street cal
for Saltwater to see Jack, but hae
foreborne in the hopes of finding
that which would restore to hi
brother his honor and liberty. A.
Harry was leaving. Esther followed
him to the door.
".Oh, Harry. what shall | do i
that letter is not found tonight"