Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-06-15
Aisfellaneons.
HOW HE, BECAME A,bMUR-
DERER.
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Dayton Lepsy was taken back to, his
ceilafter sentence had passed upon
him for the murder of Herbert Finley.
He was standing by the small window,
which admltted all of heavens air and
sunshine he was henceforth to enjoy,
eraveys srd.I when he 1entered his cen.
lie turned his face. sonpble once, so
handsome still, despite the havock
made by dissipation and remorse, and
answered the question we had put to
him ia tones so sad that we shall never
forgetthem. = 7
'sYes, sir, they say killed him, and
Isuppose I did, Shall I tell you how
l came teit? II Ishan have to go back
to the time when IsYas a b0ysat home
with Mary my adopted sister. / had
no other, and / loved her, and 7 know
how much she loved me, though j
didn't know it then, for she broke her
heart for me, who wasn't worthy of her
thought.
"She's dead now, and buried just out
there under the willow you see DIR )op-
ing so near the ground, and its to look
where her grave is that stand here by
this narrow window SO, much, and
sometimes I feel as ifs1 must fly away
to where she is; and1 believesif I could
she'd forgive me, and plead for me i'm
! issxser ssHlser j time. when vas almost !
man, had to gooffom home to earn
my living, for father was poor. & ItIWas
Mary's crying at parting from me that
made me think how good she was, and
her eye never looked so, bright and
beautiful before as when they giistened
through the tears she was shedding for
"Alls at once I knew loved Mary
better than If she had been my own
sister and with q different l0ye. think
she knew it then, too, for her cheeks
turned the color of cherries, and she ran
away into the house. But just as the
stage was taking me away was going
over4he hill and away from the old
place, Z looked back and saw Mary
kneeling down in the low window OF
her little room watching me out OF
sight. :.
1sIt twas a year before, 1 tore myself
away from the new associates | had
formed and went home. loved Mary
Just as well as ever-better if anything,
foxsheNseerned more gentle and we-
gllAzA.s than wheri1 WEN taway though
she was more reserved toward. me, and
chided me often in a sisterfy way for
whist Ec0nsiderSd only innocent fiidal-
gence with my fr1ends, for somehow,
Whether through nay manners or by
my looks, Mary had discovered that /
was occasionally given to adrinizing
She pleaded with me so much to leave
off, and in, such pretty irresistible
way,,tAat .YhenT went back to- my
WORK 7 had promised Mary never again
to touch strong drink, and she had
promised, in her tnrn, to reward my
steadfastness by becoming my wife.
eI went back to the city, and all
through the long summer and fall
kept ny promise to Mary faithfully.
az enlployer gaYe me bis eonfdenIf
me home With him, and intrOdnced
me to his family, and after that 1 soon
came to be welcome visitor in many
.c,jIayafed homes. Still / did not fof-
get Mary nor my promiseto her. l was
saving up my earnings and looking
forward to the time when / could claim
MafAsforI my wife, when fsteAand a
cruel fate it has prOved-threw me in
the WY O1 xAuSuctee 41SllLSy..l AXIS ~
stShe was beautiful and fascinating
She took great notice ofme, though she
was a belle, and had hosts Of admirers,
and in my infatuation for her. | soon
forgot Mary, to whom I neglected to
write, and when the time came / had
agreed should be spent with her at
home. let it pass by almost without a
Thought, for Augusta filled my heart
and brain. But though was forgetting
Afary.d had NO thought Of going back
fo nv former loose habits from which
her love had saved me.f Ielungto my
reformed purpose, hoping that some
day / should be accounted worthy of
the hand of Augusta, whom 7 looked
upon as the embodiment of all what
was noble and deserving of love in
woman. gfa0a
ssThe Christmas holidays came, and
for a present Mary sent mea lock of her
own bright hair. Giving. it scarce a
look. / buried it deep in my pocket.
But now, when it is the only momentO
I have leet Of her, l take il from It's
place every day to gaze at its shining
folds. and somehow laiways feel better
after tIlat.s1 seem to bedfewn by some
unseen power toward her and the
hrjght land where know she has gone,
Inv that simple curl of hair.s v~r
.7Vten New y earl day came among
otfef-eaiis ! made one upon augusta.
/ was offered wine, but / refused to
tasteit. Then Augusta came forward,
and in her most bewitching manner
.,;fassed me to drink. had not power