The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1877-06-21
VOL. Is.

lou hS, yOu Niiitiu Dlu HOt
you leave your velvet cap ia her
room
MY velvet cap =
yes, it convicts you, you villain !!
oh, God l lent it one night to
Jack Sprouless and ho mover brou't
il back I
Blakely seemed thundcrstruck by
this revelation.
rs that true : he asked, fixing his
eyes auxiously upon those Of tho
dying man.
'You-have-murderod me-, re-
piled the latter in a feeble voice.
oh, my poor wifo-my poor chill.
dren !
The death rattle was in his throat
A convulsive shudder passed throu
his frame. One more deep groau
and he was dead.
Mark Blakely stood spcechless
with horror, by tho side Of his vic-
tim.
He has told the truth he said a,
last in husky voice. Great God
what have l done T! Murdered az
innocent man. Jack Sproules is
just the villain to do such a thing.
and have no doubt he borrowed
Laselles cap on purpose TO avert
suspicion from himself, and make
Laselle appear as tho guilty party 7
What shall do ?
For a long time he still remained
besides the corpse, prey to the
most agonizing thoughts.
At last he aroused himself. With
a savage oath he flung his rifle fa,
away from him. Thon he walked
rapidly away in the direction OF
Lynchburg.
Au hour later he reached that
place, and Immediately directed his
steps toward the old Dominion
house, an old established tavern,
where the young bloods OF the
neighborheod would meet to swag-
ger, brag, drink, gamble and fight.
When he entered the barsroom
he found it filed with quite a crowd
Of noisy young men.
'l'arkeeper, said Mark Blakely, I
am very cold. Make me very stifl
glass Of grog.'
He drank it, and then he asked
is Jack Sproulos here 2
He is in the back room, sir. Do
you wish to see him 7
Yes, please call him out
A moment later Sproules, a dissi
pated young man, stepped up to
Blakely.
You want to SEQ me, Mr. Blakely,
he asked, in staggering tono.
Yes, want to see you on very
serious business, SIR replied Blake
ly, in .menacing voice.
well, let's know what it is,' re-
joined Sproules. Have a drink,
l}lakely {!
No, sir before speak to you,
I want to call upon those present
hero to be kind enough to listen to
what l have to say.-Gentlemon, he
called ont in very loud voce, "will
you please gather round us. | have
to say hero something which con.
Germs our whole com munity
The men gathered quickly round
Blakely and Sproules. The latter
affected the most perfect unconcern.
Gentlemen, said Blakely, in the
most solemn tone, 'on tho night Of
April End last, q man broke into the
bedroom Of my sister Vera, through
the window. She was asleep, and
she did not hear the intruder. Sho
did not awake until she found hers
self in his arms, subjected to the
foulest violence. lie smothered
her cries, and accomplished his
fiendish purpose.--It was too dark
for her to recognize him. Over
come with shame and despair, she
sank into long swoon. The ruth
less despoiler OF her virtue escaped.
But he left behind a cap-a peculiar
kind Of velvet cap-which only one
man in this town wore. That man
was Charles Laselle!'
Tho audience burst into cries OF
amazement.
Gentlemen, continued Blakely,
for months our family concealed
this terrible disgrace, so innocently
inflicted upon its dearest, its idolized
member. To-day l met Charles
Laselle, and / shot him dead 2
There was an outburst OF horror
among the audience.
But continued Blakely, Il know
now that I committed, although un-
Willingly, . foul murder, for poor
Laselle told me, with his latest
breath, something which opened my
eyes, and showed me plainly that he
was guiltless Of the foul outrage
He fixed his eyes upon J q o K
Sproules, who stood before him with
eyes downcast and trembling like ON
aspen leaf.
Jack Sproules, he said 10 him in
q laundering voice, did you on the
evening of the day which I have
mentioned, borrow from Laselle his
velvet capr
Sproules made no reply.
The audience burst into loud ex-
eorations and threats.
Answer I numbered Blakely once
more. Did you or not ?
i did. replied Sproules, in ON al
most inaudible voice.
Then you committed the outrage
upon my sister I