The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-05-23

saw him fill the glass--after declaring
that he would sleep well for this night, al
least-raise it to his lips, and drink of
the fatal draught, which laid him where
he is.
She could say no more, save, Il am
at your mercy-saye mel"
"Unfortunate woman!" exclaimed
the kind-hearted doctor. "Never was
man in such terrible position! What
am to dor"
The door was thrown open; man of
dark visage appeared on the threshold.
'Your duty, DR.. Rowe!' he said, au-
th0ritatively. samuel Ashforth is the
victim of foul play, and there"-point-
ing to the wife-"is his destroyerI'
The miserable woman fell to the
ground in swoon.
An inquest was held, at which the
unhappy woman had to appear. None
knew her well: but those who knew her
best were amazed at seeing how much
she had aged and altered in a few
weeks. She was sad and calm, and told
the same story she had recounted to DR..
Rowe, avOwing she had hoped, in send
ing for DR.. Stone, he being young
practitioner, that he would have given
the certificate without discovering the
cause of death. She was asked if she
had no witnesses to confirm her state
ment, and replied in the negative.
Had not her sister been with her at
the time?n
mo: she had called that day, having
come to say goodbye, as she was leav-
ing for California but finding Mr.. Ash
forth at home, and offended at his in
suits, she had quilted the place at once,
deter1ained never to see himagain."
Where had she gomez"
"To San Francisco; where she was a
governess."
Her own testimony pointed to her as
guilty, and she was committed for
thai
DR.. Rowe was the only one who visit
ed her. lie was much afTecteu by ner
story. lie procured her counsel, about
which she seemed Indifferent, while she
refused to tell him her family name and
address.
The trial came on. The chief witness
against the wife was the p,Tblind old
servant, who spoke with animosity and
vindictivenesS-acc for, perhaps,
by the fact of his having long inter
view with Samuel Ashforth,s nephew,
the counterpart of himself, and the heir
to his uncle's property if the wife were
removed.
The last moment arrived. The jury
returned to their places; the foreman
had uttered the fatal word Guilty, y
with a recommendation to mercy. The
prisoner rose to receive her sentence,
when a shrill voice rang through the
court, and female figure, her hair
hanging loosely over her shoulders
rushed forward to the dock, and eX-
tended her arms to the prisoner, who
bent down to her. Then a striking
likeness was revealed, only the last
conner was prettier, fairer, younger and
more delicate.
''EStelle, why are You here:"
'To save you. my darling!" answered
the girl, passionately clasping the 9th
er's hands.
She continued-"Gen this is
my sister; all she has stated is ue-she
is innocentl If any one is guilty, it is L
for l was Samuel AshfOrth's wife!"
She had scarcely concluded when she
fell in a swoon upon the floor.
Carried TO the judges room, her SIS
ter was allowed to attend her; and
while there the prisoner owned that
she had spoken falsely.
u am Estelle's sister, and not Mrs.
Ashforth," AS l stated, when speak
ing OF myself i'll the third person, had
arrived to take farewell Of her before
leaving for California, when L found
her husband at home.
| was preparing to quit the house at
the very moment my poor darling
rushed into the room telling me what
Mr.. Ashforth had done, and that he
was dead. She was in such state of
bring suspicion on herself were she
seen; therefore, aware she was not
much known, L persuaded her to take
my place, and leave me, who was calm
er, in hers. She obeyed; but apparently
stayed near to see the result. Had she
not, Iwould have gladly accepted death
to have saved one who suffered six
years barbarous cruelty, such as nc
mind can conceive, for the sake of
others"
Brave, generous heart!" remarked
DR.. Rowe, removing his finger from the
little wrist. '-She will suffer no more
in this world, poor child-her spirit has
flown to a betterl'
Tie sister dropped on her knees, ex-
claiming, 'She is safe-she has found
freedom at last!''