The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1878-01-29

knowledging myself his mother. But
events have lately transplred which will
enable me TO remove the stain which
has long disflgured my good name;
which done, / will make this secret
known to the world, and lift the burden
from my poor boys heart"
But, madame,n interposed Mr..
Bentley, edo you not know that Wal
ter Elmore is"
:" know all, sir,' Mrs. Gilmore inter-
rupted, land, will speak of his dlsap-
pearance shortly, and explain it,
Major Heith started violently, and
half arose from his seat. But in an in
slant he regained his composure, and
sank back with a sneer upon his lips.
And now" Mrs. Gilmore continued,
"thank Heaven l can, at last, prove my
innocence of any attempt to poison
Agnes Leighton, and can produce the
guilty party"
Can this be possible 2" exclaimed
Mr.. Bentley.
Mrs. Gilmore summoned from the ad-
joining room the coachman, John
Douglas.
:" This man, she said, "your present
coachman, Mr.. Bentley, was, at the
time of that dreadful affair, servant
in Mr.. Elmore's family. He saw Egg
bert Elmore put that package of arsenic
in the pocket of my dress. This arous-
ed his suspicion, for he had seen the
label of the package, which told its con-
tents; and he watched my husband at
the dinner table. He saw him mix the
poison with the wine which he handed
Mrs Leighton. He made Egbert Gilmore
acquainted with what he knew, but by
threats and bribes was induced to keep
his knowledge a secret. And so the trial
went on, and by the testimony of false
witnesses, and the suppression of John
Douglass evidence, which would have
saved me, L was convicted of the crime,
and sentenced TO the State Prison.
had never dared to hope that the truth
would in time become known, but at
last my innocence is to be made mani
fest. This man, John Douglas, it seems
| bitterly regretted his crime and insti-
tuted search for me, after my pardon,
with the intention of confessing all and
cleansing my sullied reputation. But
he could learn nothing about me after
my departure from the prison. Long
Years ago he gave up the search in de-
spair, having relinquished all hope of
ever seeing me again. But Heaven was
merciful, and we at last met. Are you
ready" she added, addressing John
Douglas, ''to swear to the truth of the
statement regarding this affair, which
you have made me 2"
: | am, madam and also to the iden-
tity of this man who has been called
Major Heith, as Mr. Egbert Gilmore"
The face of the entrapped villain was
livid, and he moved restlessly in his
chair, but he did not speak
1T is WE'LL" said the woman, "Eg-
bert Gilmore, you tremble; but L have
not yet exhausted the catalogue of your
crimes. De you remember the events
of the night of August 16, 1s-''
g What do you mean ?' the man
cried, in voice which sounded harsh
and unnatural.
:" mean that on that night you stole
the infant child of Mark leighton from
her cradle, and took her to the house of
a woman named Van Dyke, in East
Broadway, where, for eighteen years
after, she lived. Do you deny this ?"
Courses on you!" was the only re-
sponse.
And, in further pursuance of your
foul scheme of revenge ON Mark and
Agnes Leighton, you assisted Ralph
Marsden in abducting the young girl
from her home and placing her in a
gaming house owned by himself and a
man named Percival, on Twentieth
street. Ah Egbert Elmore, you had
begun to congratulate yourself that
your completely in that crime was to re-
main secret, had you notSn
Since Marsden' S arrest for the murder
of Laura Odell, he had shown the pos
session of that sort of honor which
exists among thieves, and had not men,
toned Major Heith's name in connec-
ton with the affair. And as he 1.-THE
major) had never entered Jared Per-
cival's house, and had not, as the reader
will recollect, been recognized by Mara
on the night of the abduction, he had
become certain that his share in the
crime was not destined to become pub
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