Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1911-01-12

E2U ~ this drama would be
classed as a tragedy Of the darkest
hue. And perhaps the end is not yet.
In England 20 years ago, there lived
Alice Louise Brown. The Browns
have been shoemakers for many gen
erations, and jeremiah Brown, Alice's
father. still makes the shoes for the
parish of Medomsley. county of Dur
ham. and practically the entire coun-
itryside. II was in Medomsley that
Alice lived until she became a woman
and II is In Medomsley that this tale
had its beginning. Like any thrifty.
'well-raised English maid. Alice was
trained in all the domestic arts from
girlhood. She could cook and was
perfect housekeeper. Besides all this
she was pretty. II is little wonder
then that she was the belle of the
county and that her hand was sought
by half the young men OF the parish.
Her beauty and goodness OF heart
made her almost a queen among the
simple folk OF Medomsley and IL is still
told there how Alice was halted on the
highway one day by the lord and lady
of the manor and how she once stayed
at their great house for weeks. But
that is another story.
There was in Medomsley in the fall
of the year 1889 Frank Milburn,
sailor lad from Liverpool. He was not
handsome nor was he possessed OF
worldly goods in excess. Yet there
existed a singular fascination of per-
sonality about the man that enthralled
the heart Of the country maid. Never
having known love, Alice Brown felt
the power of the man and when he
made love to her she accepted his at
tentions and they became engaged.
Perhaps it was done rather in spirit
OF pride at having conquered the heart
OF the stranger that led her on. At
any rate the engagement continued
and in February, 1890, they were mar
ried.
Short Term of Happiness.
Until then Milburn's actions had
been exemplary. His manner had won
not only the heart of the girl but of
her father and mother and brothers
to live in a nearby town of the same
parish and for a time all was content
ment and happiness Although Mil
burn did not work, he seemed always
to have money enough for their simple
needs, and Alice. girl-like-she was not
yet twenty-never stopped to worry
about the source.
Then the trouble began. One day
few months after the wedding an Off
Ger from another county appeared at
the door of the little home with a war
rant for the arrest of Milburn for
penal offense committed a year before
tn distant part of Britain.
Shame and CONSERVATION took pos
session of the girl wife when she
learned the officers mission That her
/ husband, whom she had trusted so i'm
! plicitly and thoroughly could be guilty
of crime! She knew not where to
turn for help. Finally she allowed the
officer to enter and tottered fainting
into a chair. This was Milburns op-
portunity. In the rear of the little
house he had been listening TO the
conversation and when the officer,
| filed with pity by the sight of the
girls trouble, stopped to assist her.
Milburn silently and swiftly departed.
Evaded Clutches Of Law.
When Alice regained consciousness
and the man with the papers turned
his attention to the completion of the
business that had led him all over
England, his prey had disappeared. Ac-
cording to English law, however, the
warrant having been served at the
| home of the accused. he was sentenced
to imprisonment for five years in
South Shields jail. Since that time
Milburn, although much of his time
has been spent In England. has evaded
the English police.
Alice returned to her fathers home
in Medomsley. Her heart was broken.
Although treated kindly by her family
and her old associates, she knew that
all was changed. Love for Milburn
she had none. and now that he was
gone. calm reflection told her that she
never had loved him Yet the thought
of him filled her with strange sensa.
ton. Terrible were these thoughts and
yet she longed to see and talk TO him.
To this day she cannot explain the ma.
ture of the mans weird power over
her, yet II was always present.
After a while time soothed her heart
and she began to see some degree OF
happiness in the future with her baby
girl, Emaline, who had been born
after Milburn's departure. She began
to forget. in a measure, the man whose