Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-10

sentiments of admiration and respect with
which your conversation has filled US. we pray
| you to accept our humble homage In the shape
| OF complete suit of dittOes for your own use.
| We will take it "a an inestimable favor if YOU
| will wear them at tomorrow mornings cere-
| mOny."
James Dux elected quid toward the pile of
| bouquets heaped behind him. and having tune
fed his cheeks with fresh plug of tobacco, he
| took the bundle, tore off the paper covering and
| successfully unfolding the coat waistcoat and
| trousers. eXamnngth texture of the stuff with
| the touch of cOnnOisseur.
| Are these English articles warranted YOU
| know ?"
'.Oh. yes" chorused the group of relatives
and friends.
--latest fashion,"
Buttons solidly sewn in no slopshop
| work.
oh yes'
But. as he pursued his examination, sudden
creases puckered his forehead, and in a voice
| trembling with anger he exclaimed:
Where are the braces? There amt no
| braces to the trousers, nor buttons to the coat
| sleeves"
The members of the deputatiOn regarded each
other with an embarrassed air. A whispered
colloquy took place among them. At last two
| OF the youngest of the party hurried out, and
! the orator. reganng his presence of mind. gave
Mr.. Dux his assurance that the forgotten articles
would be supplied without delay.
| more about it,
At that moment smothered sob was heard
IL came from one of the two orphan daughters
left 10y poor George Brown.
''Oh. Mr. Dux." she murnured amid her tears
| "how did you find it in your heart to kill our
good father"
1T was his own fault" answered James
HE provoked me by making an exhibition of
that burned watch. could not resist the temp
| tation- Only for that ALFRED time-piece /
should have died of hunger, like man. before
] would have dreamed of robbery. 1t was more
than imprudent-it was downright immoral on
his part
The Browns were always too fond OF osten-
| tation," loudly declared fat lady with a red
| face. who was no other than the PreSidentess of
| the Society for the Protection of Penitent As
sassins. Poor man,. she resumed, turning to-
ward Dux, you are dying victim to the de-
plorable vanity of our relative. For my part
am of the emphatic opinion that it is high time
! to pass law interdctng the parade of articles
of value"
That's a fact" assented Mr.. Hiram K An
thropologus, secretary of the society. "A
saint himself could not resist. Brown was
entirely to blame. He only got what he de-
served. But you, Mr.. DuX. tell me- please
when the temptation assailed you to kill
George, in order to get his watch, did you suffer
| much?'
Terrible. sir; terrible. When saw him pull
it out to look at the hour, thought he wanted
to rifle me. That's a thing. you know. no citi-
zen OF this tree country can stand without get
ting his dander up. 1t sort of affected me in
the stomach first, then in the legs, and then in
the head. tried to resist, and even made an
attempt to run away. But | can't tell how it
came to pass, l wasn't equal to it: and when
calmness returned was STOPPING over the man,
smashed! No matter. it can't be
helped now that it is over. l forgive him from
the bottom of my heart"
Poor mani" cried all the ladies present in
tone of profound commiseratiOn. and then be-
gan rivalry between them as to who should
give farewell token to the condemned.
do take this pOrtemOnnaie" said one.
land this flask of smelling Salts" said an
other.
Here is my box of pulmonic waters" added
third. ''They are a sovereign remedy against
asthma and difficult breathing"
Dux took everything that was offered him,
but all went the way of the bOguets before long
tumut in corner put an end to these effu-
s0ns OF riendness. An unfortunate wretch,
all rags and patches, his cheeks hollow from
long fasting. was struggling in the clutches of
some half dozen persons.
Il have caught him. screeched female voice
'He attempting to steal the venisOn pasty
sent for James DuXi''
Gentlemen, if you please. ladies" gasped the
poor beggar. II have not tasted food for two
days. and-and l have never murdered any
bodyi'
He was flung neck and crop out of the room.
A negro domestic here entered and announced
| to Mr.. DuX that dinner was served in an adiOin-
ing apartment.
The company filed OFT into the dining-room
OF the governor OF the JAIL which had been ami
ably placed. together with the governors plate
and French cook. at the disposal of the prisoner
and his friends for the occasion.
the condemned man took his station in the
seat of honor. Judge Blackstone on his right,
and the district attorney on his left A popular
preacher of the Talmage type said grace before
meat. and made an imprOmptu PRAYER in the
course of which he introduced some eloquent
illusions to the ceremony of the following day.
Mr. Dux ate heartily and drank cOpiOus!y. and
burst into frequent explosions of good humOr,
which were vastly admired by the guests. The
repast was verHabie banquet in its plenteous-
hess. fete in its joyous spirit Several effective
selections Of music were performed during the
Courses on harmonium by the leader of the
popular preachers choir. After the coffee came
liquors stronger than wine. and with them came
the toasts. The shortest and most delicate of
those was given By the twin brother Of George
Brown in the following neat speech:
Ladies and Gentlemen: Our urbane and
mucli-to-be-regretted friend James is on the
eve Of his departure May the detection of his
leave taking be softened and its pains be
abridged"
Dux rot on his legs, and, in robust voice,
responded as follows:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: This | shall ever
look upon as the happiest and prOudest moment
in my career. Its remembrance shall not quit
me till my dying hour. In many former period
OF my existence was cast down by disappOnt-
ment. and often almost gave way to despair.
Little did then imagine that should one day
have the privilege OF enjoying this honor. 1t
was iurthest from my hopes that l should have
the pleasure of being entertained 10y such a dis
| tinguished circle until l gave that rooster.
Brown, his pass-Out checks for the other side of
Jordan The death of that miserable sinner has
made new man of me- has regenerated me,
and filled ne, so to speak, with a second
! life. From the moment my sentence was pro-
nounced by my friend. the Judge here, / felt
| myself another being-indeed. l may safely
say, without Boosting, that l should
have lived in complete ignorance of the joys
one feels in the consciousness of being good I'M
less had undertaken that job which procures
me the novelty of being strangled tomorrow.
Oh, my friends, would that you were all i'm the
ranks of the just like your humble servant 1t
is blessed and profitable thing, guess. to be
awakened to- the truth. TO read piOus tracts and
| eat spring chickens and canvas-back ducks. Per-
sonaliy can affirm that forgive sincerely all
VINO have had part in my murder. | haven't
| an ounce OF luminosity in my composition against
any of you. If were let go free tomorrow, |
would not hurt a hair of the head of an unborn
/ babe. No. indeed would not, But Tomorrow