The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1877-12-06

d" never committed the deed of which
1 am accused-never, never! i was
condemned upon evidence which was
purely circumstantial, and no murder
rests upon my sOtil.'
Something in the look of the man,
something in his voice and manner,
caused Deane to think that, after all,
this being might be the victim of cir
cumstantial evidence.
Don't give me up" pleaded Leigh
ton. " Don't let them kill me in earn
est. Give me my freedom. Allow me
to leave this place a free man, and the
mercy which you will show to an unfor-
tunate man this night shall ever remain
as close a secret with me as with you.
You may live to bless the hour when
such mercy was shown me; for if the
old saying that murder will out" was
ever a prophetic one, it shall be in my
case, doctor. 1 say again, 1 am an in
nocent man; and the time will come
when you and all the world shall be
firmly convinced of the fact"
81 will be merciful. ! do not know
why it is, but I am strangely forced to
believe your declaration that you are an
innocent man. I have an old suit of
clothes here. Arise and dress yourself,
and let the coming of another night
see you upon the ocean. Remember
faithfully the belief I have in you,
and never abuse the mercy thus shown
you"
The man, descending from the table,
fell upon his bare knees before the
young doctor.
The clock struck the hour of two in
the morning as a man, wrapped up
almost to the very eyes, passed out from
the warmth and shelter into the fierce
cOldness of the silent street.
And Doctor Deane, sitting before the
fire, asked himself, again and again,
whether he had done right or wrong in
allowing that man to go forth free.
II
Seven years passed.
twas Christmas day.
In the high room of a miserable,
poverty stricken old house, situated in a
narrow, dirty street, not far from the
water-side, man sat by the bedside Of
his wife and child.
The woman and child were asleep, and
on their thin, pinched faces the stamp of
poverty and privation was plainly dis
cernable.
This haggard looking man who sat
there gazing at the two beings upon the
bed was Doctor Deane.
Six years before he had married, and
thinking that a splendid opportunity lay
h,e 70, 10 Hs1-
tion in a distant city, the young doctor
with his wife had set forth full of the
brightest hopes.
The money acquired by the practice
of his profession was one day swallowed
up in a speculation which had held out
the gayest promise of success.
He was penniless; sickness came upon
wife and child, and the doctor found
himself a ruined man.
Back came all three, husband, wife
and child-the two latter Ill ndsufering,
Without money, and consequently
without friends, Doctor Deane and his
small family took lodgings in the
wretched old house.
Mrs. Deane aWOke and looked at heI
husband.
" You have returned, " she murmured
in a whisper, lest she should awake the
sleeping child. cob, have you sue.
ceeded, dear?'
"No, Emma, darling" answered the
doctor, his eyes dim with tears, "I have
not succeeded. The friend whom ]
helped with money in my prosperous
days refused to lend me a single dollar.
The wife dropped her head upon the
pillow, and food Of tears came to heI
eyes.
" Heaven help US, Wilford, this Christ
mas day, when all the world but us is
merry" she sighed. "GOd aid us and
our child. Oh, how want and poverty
are thrusting us down."
Deane bowed his face in his hands and
sat silent and almost desparingly, while
his wife sank once more into merciful
sleep.
Half an hour passed; at the end Of
that time a low knock came at the door,
and the doctor opened it.
A man entered the room, and he was
mufled up so closely that hardly more
than his eyes could be seen.
You are Doctor Deane? he said,
slowly.
eyes, I am, replied the physician.
The man suddenly caught the hand of
Deane and shook it warmly.
The strange mans next movement was
to draw out from under his clOaka small
tin box and folded newspaper, both of
which he handed to the wondering doc
tor.
% Before you open the box, sir, which
is not locked" said the stranger, "yOu
must read the marked piece of news on
the first page of that paper. And now,
Doctor Deane, goodnight and goOd-by." 4"
Laying the box upon the table, Deane
hurriedly opened the paper, at the first
glance beheld the marked article, and
with a beating heart read the following
piece of news:
GA DYING MANS CONFESSION
Hiram Wood, an aged man, passed away
last evening, and two hours before that
event he made a terrible confession. In
this confession he declared himself a
murderer; said that he alone was the
man who committed the dark deed some
seven or eight years ago, and for which
crime a young man, named George
Leighton, died upon the scafold, sent
there by what then appeared to be the
strongest circumstantial evidence"
The newspaper fell from Doctor
Deans quivering hands, he pulled open
the tin box and saw a folded sheet of
paper lying on the top of something
firm and heavy.
And this Is what he read
'DEAR DOCTOR DEANE.-YOU are
now convinced that the man who swOre
to you that he was innocent, seven years
ago, spoke Gods holy truth. l glory in
the thought that in this, your dark hour,
I can be of service to you. In the tin
box you will find the sum of ten thou
sand dollars, a present from him who
owes YOU his life. Blush not to take it,
for it was all procured honestly. As
much more money is at your disposal.
When the morrow comes 1 shall pay you
and your family a pleasant visit, when
we can chat together and be joyful.
d" From your lifelong debtor,
GEORGE LEIGHTON"
The contents of the box were emptied
out upon the table.
Doctor Deane instantly awOke both
wife and child to hear the happy tidings.
The sick wife and child of the doctor
rapidly recovered, and Deane became a
rich and prosperous physician.
What Makes a Good Editor.