The weekly Butte record., 1867-09-14
SATURDAY, SEPT. 18th.
The Widows Passion.

u
Gearing could bling the murdered man back to lie:
and So after he had lain nearly week. his funeral
took place. He was buried with ostentatlons show
for he rich man; and after II was all over,
peoples thoughts turned from him TO the assa ssln
-from the deed te the doer.
Who was the murderer Suspicion fell at first
on the Gardener. The old squire had dismissed
him from his service in a rage only the day before
the murder and it said he had been heard to
vow revenge. But there was no further proof to
substantiale such an opinion. Then foolish DleA
Lawson, a quiet, harmless lad, who had never done
injury to So much fly, came under the ban OF
puoc mistrust. But he was free again In few
DAYS. No one looking in his vacant face, or Is
tening to his almost childish prat,le could enter
tain such thought OF him long. Then suspicion.
ii incted by defeat. ran astlly back and forfa
among all abe desperate hardened men of the town
(and they were few iadeed-it was such plous,
proper little place still failing to lay It's dark haud
on any individual shoulder. Suddenly IL veered-
paused space il changing to certainly, ran on
:.tpace or two, wavered enlarged, ana then >prang
with swift panther leap at the throat OF It's vic
tim.
Edwin Chesley. the Squres private secretary,
WAS arrested and thrown, into Jaii. There was
strong cifcumstaLtlai evidence against him. lie
had been absent hi> lodging on the night OF
the murder, bloody knife had been ionad con
ceaed among the clothes IN his trunk; and wniie
all about him gossipped and guessed and shudueieu
over the matter, he had appeared grave, selt-pos-
sessed aII taciturn. saying little aud apparently
wondering still less.
The wise men OF the place stroked their boards
and nodded their heads knowingly, AS much rs TO
say, "W e have caught the right man at last But
wnat motiycy Conjecture was puzzled there tUr a
time. lie could mol have committed the murder ior
money for there hai been nothing like robbery at
tempted with it, Nor for revenge; employer aud
employed qad always been On the lest terms with
each other. For years they had been like father
and sou The wise poadered, cropping oarkiy
about in a wilderness of vague coDlectnres Tor some
little cue To guide them 10 truth. They stumbled
it at last, aud stIoKed their beards and nodded
their heads again.
Mrs. Erston left a widow by the untimey death
of her hus band, was a young woman, beautiful and
fascinating ReIort said she had been thrown
much in the society OF her u bands secretary: and
that they had taken long walks aud rde> together
during the old Sqaires frequent illnesses amp ao
&ences: aad-wel what could be palmer? II
wasn't the first time that beauty and wealth had
tempted a mans soul away from him. 1t
strange they had never noticed that villainoas
hook in young Che>ley's face betore-very strange,
indeed.
To be sure t,sey knew he had been engaged 10
Elsie Hamilton a yogns schoolmlStresS. more than
n year tand they to have been married that
very spring. But what of that? 1t was only an
added proof OF his dupcity and wickedness: part
of his deep laid cold hooded scheme Things as
curious as that had happened before many time;
and while women weak and the passions OF
men strong they wouli coEtinGe to happen. Poor
Elsie it would break her heart. Sac had been
only passive tool in the hands Of a bad designing
nau. Blind, foolish Mrs. Ersten They hoped
she wouli no: be duped into a belief OF mis- inao
renee. even if lie escaped the just penalty at the
law. What horrible thing ii would be Tor her to
marry her husband murderer
Aud ST. the wise men had it, They carried the
dav unanimously Their conclusions were rs tar of
as the stars; yet they jumped at them. and the
whole community jumped admringy after. unit!
there were only two in the town leit 10 believe in
The accused mans Innocence. one of these was,
of course, his betrothed. Elsie Hamilton; the other
the widow ErSten.
And yet the two women did not sympathze
When they met the glance that flashed face to face
was hard and hot rs the fire struck out from steel
At any other time the look might have expressed
only jealousy. But circumstances gave it Sghter
meaning. On one side ii was horror. loathng
fear on the other, hatred, bitter, intense, death
less.
Except his lawyer. no one visited the prisoner
daring the first two weeks OF his confinement. He
had begun TO think there more in al. the
world who cared to believe him CulltleSs when one
morning his Cell door swung open and a lady en-
tered. The young mans iace lignted glorlOusly: a
brightness. almost unnatural shot into his gloomy
eyes; a smile dviney tender relaxed his pale
mouth.
Elsie - he cried, springing forward Il feared
sou were not coming u me at all
His visitor seemed to shrink before his voice as
though it hurt her. For the first tine he noticed
that she clothed in mourning apparel from head
In foot, and We're heavy veil. The smile faded
from Ills lace. the N0ut went ottt IN tNt>> tie
regraced his steps YEARLY aud with look of disap
pointment.
Am then unweleome." :" murmured A musical
T voice, reproachglly; when have hraved lhe
tongue of scandal tor nothing bat the sake Of telling
:ls y" have ''''n IN y'"' innocence ." are cru
NO, no: not unwelcome Mrs. Ersten. he an
swered. with smile courteous as though he stood
in her drawing room instead of felanS cell. II
should Indeed be nugrateiul. he added 4 little bit
teyly. "sinoe you the first who has shown even
friendly interest in nay welfare
1T cannot be Surely they are not all 80 false:
they dare not treat You 50 cruelty. You have some
fueadss
The tone was one of surprise-soft and pitying as
an angels The prisoners head sank moodily on
his breast.
They are not worth yoar sorrow, then. l, at
least, VIII prove faithful il yoa viii let ne
The melediaus voice had descended to a whisper.
Thus far she has kept her face hidden behind her
Teil bat She pushed the heavy Grape folds aside
she spoke, and advanced toward. Her brilliant
beauty seemed TO star,s him. flashing out from her
.saas surroundings. He had looked to see her
white ard thin. Instead of that, her eyes were
iustrous, her brow smooth her cheeks flushed. and
her mouth smiling. nisengaging her hand from its
glove, she lei her rosy palm fail softly upon has
hands and rest there.
''You have suffered she said. scanning his face
eagerly; Suffered. and blameleSSly.
~ ca DO nvt think me guilty then I,
Think yea are guilty. kao'c yoa are not !!
AASiS was >outStltl- - fi>5tiNc ia ssfS NfiC -
tina, he glanced up az her QUicsly The inquiry in
his look seemed 10 Star;le her She hreaihed hard
and tast' changing color. snd lifted her hand ner-
Son>y 10 her face.
Any oae might know il who c0nli look onee in
your good. true. fearless eyes, she said, after a
troubled pause
He gave her grateful smile
leg. whe haS the most IiSat Of al the world
TO be cruel. you alone are kind.' he exclaimed.
She let her hand drop down to his again, and
stroked them softly.
who were expecting when | came in ;,
NO one, was the almost sGsn answer.
All bat You were Do not be otherwise than
frank with me- And do not let the knowledge pain
you. dear friend; but fear the woman rou have
loved Is among the first To credit your ,aili and
cast reproaehes on yoar NAME
Her listeners face darkened. His mouth worked
convulsively yet be could not speak.
His anguish was too mighty Tor uttersnoe- Mrs
Ersten did not Try 10 comfort him with words; wo-
manly tact Taught her better. But he ewes spoke
4 They said plainly: III she is false am true: il
she is weak am stroag; ifshe has ceased 10 love
have begun
Perhaps be might have interpreted her confession
in another moments time: but Just then the eel
door openad agaiu. and, as if TO reute the wicked
! calumny spoken against her. she of whom botf
were thinking came in. There were dark hollow.
~ under her eyes, though she had,Jnot slept fe
S,weeks-only wept- A fake of feversh color hai
drifted into either cheek her sweet mouth quiveres