The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-07-29

but few days before. The truth flashed
on him, and in an instant his resolve was
taken.
81 admit my guilt" he said, quietly.
'Do with me what you will"
In little while be was taken to the
county jail, and there safely lodged, to
await his trial for the murder of Scott
Selwyn.
1t was several weeks before the trial
came on, and during that time Max had
plenty of leisure to reflect upon the
course he had taken-but never once
did he regret it. That Bob Linlngton
had returned to Rockville secretly and
killed Selwyn, Marvin felt was not to be
doubted-though whether the mu der
was the result of an accident, or whether
Bob had used the pistol in self-defence,
he, perhaps, would never know; but
that the deed was to be traced to either
of these causes, Max would have staked
his life.
In spite of Bob's words Immediately
after the quarrel with Selwyn-which
were evidently spoken in the heat Of
passion-and in spite of his borrowing
Mtrvin's own pistol ostensibly for the
purpose of killing wounded horse
Max could never bring himself to be-
lieve the la guilty of committing a de-
liberate murder.
Bnt the one consideration which had
untold weight in causing Marvin to
declare himself the criminal was the
fact that Bob was Roses brother; and
while he had the power to save her from
it, she should never have the pain of
knowing that her rbrotheEwasa murderer
The trial itself was not q very long
ordeal the prisoners prejudice against
the victim from the first the quarrel in
the card room and last the finding of
Marvin's pistol close behind the body of
the murdered man, all went to make up
case which hardly needed the prisoners
confession to render it complete.
Max was ably defended the brilliant
speech with which Mr.. Morton closed
his case told well with the jury, and
when they delivered the verdict the
foreman added a recommendation for
mercy.
The Judge delivered the sentence
twenty years at hard labor-amid breath
less silence, and Max was removed to
hiscell. The next day he was to be
taken to his future home, and that night
as he lay on his prison cot, he thought
of how the lad for whom he was being
so hardly punished had quietly accepte d
the sacrifice without one word, and his
great heart hardened little for how
was he to know that even as he lay
there Rose Linington, watching beside
her dying brother, eagerly scanned
every newspaper for the first news OF
the fate of the man who had suffered SC
much for her and hers?
Max had been but few months il
his terrible prison-home when one day
the warden sent for him, and in a few
moments he found himself in the pres
ence of his lawyer, Mr.. Morton, who
lost no time in telling him of the glad
tidings which he had brought-Mal
was free.
"Robert Linington has been called tc
a higher tribunal to answer for hi:
crime" said the old man, with emotion
"but he made a confession which com
pletely exonerates you, and the sentence
of the court has been revoked"
Then the lawyer told how, on tn,
day of the murder, Bob returned quietly
to Rockville, in answer to a Telegram
from Selwyn, signed with Marvin
name, asking him to be in the wood
where the body was afterward found
at certain hour. Bob repaired to th
appointed place, and was soon joined %,
Selwyn, who confessed to the sending
of the telegram, and then mentione,
Marvins generous offer to redeem Lin
ington's "notes," adding that he ha,
not yet accepted the offer, and woulC
only do so on condition of Bobs re
pairing to place named by Selwyn
and enticing Rose to join him there
when Scott would Immediately follow
Aroused by the consummate villain
Of the fellow, Bob struck him fgh
ensued, and in the midst of the blow
Selwyn managed to draw and open hi
iack-knife. Bob gave himself up fo
lost, when suddenly remembering MAJ
wins pistol (which he had brought i
the expectation of meeting Max and rt
turning it to him, he drew it, and fire
at random. His aim had been only to
sure, and Selwyn sank to the grount
shot through the heart,
Nearly crazed with what he had done
Bob fled to his own home, in Baltimore
and before another day had passed h
was in raging fever, Mrs. Liningto
and Rose were Immediately summoned
and while Max lay in his cell awaitin
@ his trial, the real murderer lay on n
Y bed, raving wildly in delirium. At la
i the fever abated, and with the lit
Y strength he had left, Bob told of h