Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-05-17
NELLIE GRAHAM;
OR,
'Asneeibrth We Are Strangers
BY w. A. LeSUEUR.
CHAPTER III.

tho open cir, he muttered;
"Well, now, by God I've done 1t. am
murderer as well as thief. / poured
the poison down him, and die he must"
SO engrossod was he with his thoughts
that he failed to observe Mr.. Lester on
tering tho gateway, and ran against
him.
IIo was coming in to keep Nellie COM
pany during tho last vigils of tho night,
and catching the concluding words Of
Thomas soliloquy feared that tho fever
was about to terminate fatally.
He asked quickly
"What was that, Thomas'"
He spoke imperatively, but Thomas,
aftor little confusion which Mr.. Lester
attributed to emotion replied:
ooh, nothing--only THAT I had lit
tie hope for our patient"
"Why has anything happenedW
"No--he is resting tolerably well yot.
But no Is worn out-his vitality nearly
spent--and hardly think he con sur
vive, poor fellow"
care You off for tho night ~
Yes, have IN engagement, and then
nm 80 sleepy my eyes will close IN
spite ofme.
III don't understand that fellow
said Mr.. Lester to himself as he entered
tho house. But he gave him no further
thought when Nellie afforded the joyful
information that James had safely passed
tho ordeal, and without q relapse would
recover.
Nellie still had tho same position by
tho bedside that she occupied carly in
tho evening when he left for home. She
was now gently toying with the ringlets
that foil in disorder about tho invaIid's
pale brow, md M occasional tear would
show the joy of her heart ct his probable
recovery.
Watching eagerly for every change in
the sleeping form, the two talked in low,
hopeful tones. At tho expiration of two
or three hours, feeling confident with
the growing indications of returning
health, Nellie fell asleep. Her head
rested upon the pillow, touching thas of
James, while ono little stray curl stole
gently over his face. We know that
droamland displayed tho joy that gen
orally follows sorrow.
Gratilicd and happy himself ut tho
early prospects Of reconciled love in
store for the young friends, Mr.. Lester
watched with increasing interest their
slumbers until tho night wore out and
the grand old morning beacon fastened
up its timewon track, and casting
bright rays through the arched window,
rested them in sublime radiance upon
the youthful droamers.
At this moment o messenger came
rushing up the front steps, and begged
to sec Mr.. Lester Immediately. Hc went
to tho door and was informed that man
in the last agonies of death wanted to
see him instantly.
Hastily waking Nellie and catching
up his hat, he followed the rapid move
ments of the messenger.
For upwards of ten minutes they
kept up tho gait they had assumed,
turning corners, passing through dark
and gloomy alleys.
Finally the man who led the way
halted in front of q low, miserable howell.
lie opened the door and entered with
out knocking. Mr.. Lester followed, and
in moment was standing by tho bed
side of Thomas-the would-be murderer.
Ho was raving and writhng in tho most
extreme torture.
"Why, my friend, how's this-what's
the matter 7"
whats the matter, oh 7 Matter!
Matter enough. Dying to pay tho pen
atty of my horrible crimesw
With these words Thomas rolled over
in the anguish of his suiferings, shrek
ing for relief.
When he Gained down n little, Mr..
Lester said !
ooh, pshawl That's just q foolish
notion of yours. 1t is wrong too-wick-
cd! Throw it off your mind"
But Thomas paid no attention to him,
and went on in tho Same incohcrcnt
strain.
"Pm glad you have come. could
not-no, no, no, could not die with
that crime-that fearful crime-weigh-
ing down my soul One hour later and
/ would have been dead without reveal
ing it, and left the guilty unpublished.
Yes---o
"What do you mean, sir1 Speak ere
1t is too late
"Mean! what do I meant l mean
this and nothing moro. | tried to des-
troy the life Of good man, q noble man
one who would have been my friend
and destroyed myself. That's what l
mean. Listen, while l tell you the he'll
lish story"
Mr.. Lester motioned to him to pro-
coed, and without reserve tho dying
man divulged the plot instigatod by
Hampton including his own completely.
He concluded the dreadful narrative
by stating that on the day previous, be-
ing subject to periodical attacks of fever
he had procured from his physician a
prescription, which he had filled and
placed in his pocket, accidentally the
same one:which contained the drug in
Io,,ln1 Cow Ia, 1,,nt,,, Tho ,,,,lt ,,o,