The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-01
Written for the Chicago Ledger
THE STORY OF A SKULL.
BY Hallet HI. Hewitt.
PART FIRsT-MURDER.


one story house among a number OF
wretched dwellings near the river in the
town of N, in Missouri. In this,
the most wretched of all the tenement
houses in the vicinity, there was being
enacted, on this stormy November night,
a tragic scene. 1t was nearly 12o'clock,
and the occupants of the front room were
a young girl-a girl woman of scarcely
seventeen slight and delicate but grace
full in every outline; dressed in plain
calico dress and torn shoes, but neat and
clean as possible; with a face, which,
though very pale and rather thin-hav-
ing sad and weary expression, especially
in the beautiful, lustrous eyes-was still
very beautiful and decidedly interesting,
which all combined made her seem
strangely out of place in such miserable
surroundings) and a haggard-looking,
partially intoxicated young man, who
had evidently just entered, as he was
dripping wet, and pitiable sight to be-
hold. He had thrown his hat upon the
floor and was seated upon the wretched
apology for a bed which stood in the
corner opposite the door.
He was engaged in angry conversation
with the young girl we have described !;
but, in order that the reader may under
stand the conversation, we must pause
and go back previous to the beginning of
this story. The young man was Harold
Wyman, handsome, dissolute young
man, and the only son of the wealthy
Judge Wyman. Like all only sons of
rich parents he had been "spoiled" from
infancy, and when he was twenty years
old he had been disowned for marry
ing his mothers servant girl
the pretty, graceful, artless Mabel. He
had betrayed her confidence, but, as he
really felt some affection for Mabel, he
had yielded to her entreaties and mar
ried her to save her from disgrace. In so
doing, his parents considered that he had
deeply disgraced them, and had disowned
him. Thrown thus upon the world with
out a cent, and compelled to earn his own
living,-when he had always lived in
idleness and luxury,-what little love he
had felt for Mabel soon gave way to in
difference. He gave himself up to de-
bauchery and drunkenness, and for this
reason, lost situations as soon as he got
them, and finally was compelled to seek
work in factories. Two months after
marriage their child was born, and in
another month buried. Six months
more passed away, during which time
Harold and his too-loving wife descended
to the lowest depths of poverty and
misery. On this particular night she
had been waiting for him to come
home, sitting be'ide the rickety table on
which candle burned low, and thinking
how much longer she would have to en-
dure her husbands abuse and their
wretched poverty. She loved her hus-
band devotedly, in spite of his abuse of
her and his vices, and she was wondering
what there was in her power to do that
would check him from utter ruin and
make him a man again, when the door
was heavily bumped against and the
object of her thoughts had entered and
jammed the rickety door shut again.
She had risen as he entered, and seated
herself beside him on the bed. Seeing
that he was out of humor,-he was al
ways so, however,-as he said nothing,
but scowled angrily, she laid one arm
across his shoulders and said gently:
"Pve been waiting long for you, hus-
band, dear. You look so tired and cross
that feel sure you have failed again to
get work. But never mind, Harold, we
can endure it while longer. / have
finished the dress for the lady tonight,
and will take it home in the morning,
and if l get more sewing we will not
starve. Did you see the man who
partially promised you employment yes
terday?
"No / didn't" was the growled reply.
/ did not try to see him. / don't want
work. was not raised to work, and
don't intend to work. You were born
and bred to work; so if you want to work
YOU can do it. I'll steal first"
Taking no notice Of his cruel insult,
his wife replied.
"No, Harold, you were not raised to
steal, 80 am sure:you will not do that
/ would rather starve. Oh, Harold, if
you would only try and not be so down.
hearted and reckless, we can easily get a
foothold again. We will soon rise out of
our poverty if you make up your mind
to be man in spite of your vices. /
know and you know that you will soon
ruin yourself If you do not change your
habits and leave drink alone. We must
make an effort to quit this way of living
l will help you all / can"
ct don't care what you do, but am
not going TO live this way day longer"
said he, fiercely and determinedly.
"Why Harold, what do you mesn~
she exclaimed, alarmed by his manner,
and hardly understanding his words.
"I mean just what | said" said he.
"Pm going to leave this place. I've
lived like vagabond long enough"
40, husband, how happy it makes me
to hear you talk like that" she cried.
"How we will strive to win our way in
the world And we can soon do il IL you
will only stick to your resolve to live
like this no longer. We can leave here,
and i'm another part of the world, where