Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-12
r. :
WoMAN'S POWER.
WRITTEN FOR TIE ISTELLIGrSCEh.
CHAPTER III.


which the heart could wish. while this
one was destitute as it were of the very
necessities with which to sustain lite
Therefore. she must die; die because
there was not a loving, gentle hand to
nurse and hold her back from the arms
OF death, that were folding themselves
surely and Enthusiastically around her.
The half intoxicated man who sat by the
dying woman styled himself her hus-
band, and every now and then he would
60 up to the bedside and say: maggie!
don't You feel better? Come. cheer up,
you must not get low spirited; you will
get we'll by-and-by.' To this speech
her reply was invariably 4 deep groan.
In the then cmaciated form. one could
detect visible signs of rare beauty. And
her voice low and soft. told Of Il refined
and intellectual mind, showing that
she was other than what she seemed.
But scanning her miserable surround
ings and unhappy condition, one could
never have dreamed who she truly was.
This woman knew that she must die,
and the thought was cOnsollng; for lite
with her, as with but too many of Ewes
unfortunate offspring, had been a
miserable failure. For her child. she
believed that providence would provide.
A few days previous to her sickness, she
wrote long letter to her parents. beg
ging that they would forgive their
ignored disobedient child 1t was q
pitiful, touching letter, telling of the
misery and humility which she had
| suffered since she left their paternal
roof. Had this pleading misSive reached
the hand for which it was intended, it
might have produced good effect.
but this it was destined not to do for a
long, long time. When she found tina:
she was dying. she gave this letter to
her husband, and made him promise to
lose no time in sending it to her father.
With few drops OF hypocritical tears.
he promised faithfully to do as she re-
questeG. Knowing. when he did so, he
was not telling the truth; but this little
instance of prevaricatiun was nothing at
all to this man, for it always was the
easiest possible thing for him to equvo-
cate when it was to his interest, it mat.
:ered not what sacrifice there was t.
honor in the act, for this mans prin-
cipies were one thing, and honor was
another which had not the slightest re-
lation to each other; and beside this
wicked man had long since determined
AS to the proper disposal OF this baby. IN
case Maggie should die. But innocen,
OF this and trusting this man as she had
done before, she was AS usual rewarded
by deception even IN death. SO per.
fectly heartless was this inhuman
wretch, so hardened in sin and iniquity
was he. that the sight of death had no,
the power to awaken one conscious
thought within his sinful soul lmme-
diately after the woman gave him the
letter, she folded her weary hands over
the heart that was almost still and iell
asleep; and when an hour later she
awakened it was in the palace of celes.
tia! peace, where night and darkness
cometh never, but day. ever glorious in
its subimity, reigns ever more
The wicked man when he found that
his wife was dead, began to reason
with himself in this manner: Had
Maggie lived l would not have
troubled her about that brat. but as She
is dead now, and | am in a devil of 8
hard place. see no reason why can
not let it go at n fair bargain; particu
larly when know it will be Just as wei
off," While he was thus cogitating .c
himself, there was rap at the door
A grim smile was visible on his heather
ish countenance, as he hlstened to ad
NIT his mysterious looking visitor
whose first question was: us She
dead ?" to which the man replied il
the affirmative. $50 much the bette
for me-" then said the woman. for such
was the person who had just entered
"Now, let us be quick In transactine
our business for have not moment te
spare, for If l am missed. it will arous.
suspicion and all will be lost to u.s."
Never fear me-" said the man, "fol
you know it is my nature to be expedi
tious IN 4 business like this"
{! The woman unclasped from her necl
a handsome set of diamonds aud handed
them to the man. together with hel
purse. containing two hundred dollars
saying as she did 80: There, will tina,
satisfy you ?" The wretch fairly
clutched the bright jewels. and with ar
air OF satisfaction, he said, s~I CUES.
these will do me awhile, but when yol
get that old mans money in YOUR hands
I'll call around again, and if you vii
just hand me over another hundred ol
two when I am in tight place, will
keep your secret all right. The woman
apromised him that she would help hin
in future if everything worked ou
agreeably to her expectations. With
this she withdrew herself from the room
and in moment more the man heard
the cab rafting over the ice covered
street and knew that she was gone.
He went to the bed and took up the
little bundle which the woman had left
With that in one hand and dim light in
the other. he went down through a trap
door into q musty old cellar underneath
this room. In one corner of which was
an old unused well to this he proceeded
stealthily. cautiously lifted the rude
boards which covered it, and with care
he deposited his slight burden therein.
Then replacing the cover over the deep,
dark abyss he retraced his steps up to
his miserable howell above. After clos.
ing the trap, he secured his money and
jewels about him, and going to the bed
took cover from over the dead wrapped
himself in it, and lying across the hearth
was soon sound asleep. He had nc
fears of being robbed. tor no one, on
looking at him on this particular night,
would imagine for a moment that he
oyen had A dime at his command much