The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1882-11-18

had fallen into some mistake not ye
cleared dp, in communicating Mr.. OWN
nets message, and was confident Ganche',
testimony would make everything right.
Judge my surprise aud indignation
when. on the witness stand, the wi aiu
denied having given me auy instructions
from Mr.. Gwinnet, or even having seen
me after left the c.unting.honso- with
the check.
told my story, but it wac heard with
ircredulity. The evidence of the pay
teller, Mr.. Gwiunet and Elnuthan GancE,
every word of it true, except the in.
famous suppression of single fact by
the latter-ltft tie examining magistrate
no room for doubt, and 1 WAS fully COM
mitted for trial.
WAS not long in divining Eluathan
Ginche's motive. We had been rival
sutors for Martha Hale and my love
had been preferred to lis. Elnntfnn
ei'lFd with good grnce, seemingly. and
even rrofessed to be n frieud IL prof, s.
sion accepted the more readily became
felt secret pity for bis disarpoiit-
ment His psrddy was now apparent.
His purpose wGs to fix upon me- the
brand Of felon, thus rendering my I'M.
ion with Martha impossible and op n ,ig
q way to the renewal of his own hopes.
The nefarious plot was conlriyed with
such Internal skill that its success seemed
wrll nigh certain.
One evening, not long before the day
fixed for the trial, when the garrulous
old jniler brought in my supper, he
seemed more talkative than usual. H.
Stead Of thrustiDg the dishes through
the cell door, as formerly, he entered
aud sat down f5r a chat.
The conversation ,soon turned upon
the approaching trial, of the result Of
which I spoke very despondingly.
Il wonder at your staying here So
patiently" said the jailer.
ats hardly matter of choice, " at
swered.
well, Strong, nctiye young fellow
like you might find his way out, one
would think"
There was'a' curious !tw;ukle7in the
cunning old ey esrFw which attracted my at
tention.
I'm but old and feeble, he continued;
"what's to hinder you. now. for instance,
changing clothes with me, 'taking these
keys and departing at,.leisurc?'
I'll do iil' cried, .sp,iuging to my
feet; ian innocent man owes no submis-
sion to the laws ipjusticel'
"Come, don't get excited" whined the
jailer, in tone Of mock alarm. "Ill
not drive you TO the use of force, which
it would be useless to resist"
And TO see the cheerfulness with which
he submitted to the substitution of his
garments for mine, one would have sup
posed it was. but ;a;friendly exchange.
With strips torn from my sheet, bound
the docilc keeper hand and foot, placed
him in IN easy posture on the bed. gagged
his mouth comfortably, took his bunch
of keys, locked him in, pulled bis hat
over my eyes, and soon was free man.
Before morning was miles away, and
at the; next seaport town shipped as q
common sailor. In foreign land be-
gan lifo anew, and in few years gained
n competency. But of what value WAS
it, or even life itself, when not shared by
her whose absence made all else worth
less? Attimes l was tempted to write to
Martha.
But no." sail, "doubtless she, too,
believes me.gguilty. How can she do
otherwise in the face of the evidence and
my own f;ght?'
One day WAS met and recognized by
an oil friend travelling abroad Instead
of stunning, be met me cordially.
"Why have you never returned to visit
your old homer" he asked "or at least
communicated with your frieuds?"
"a strange question" replied. "You
have not forgotten the cruel suspicion
Surely you have heard Low all that
was cleared up"
Cleared up!' I exclaimed, with the
tremor of the heart one experiences at &
sudden glesrn of hope which be breads
to see extinguisbed the next moment.
"Quite cleared up" replied my friend.
"Elnathan Ganche fell victim to the
epidtmic last simmer. and on his death
bed be ACKNOWLEDGED ALL"
And Martha Hal,2"
Is still single aud as beautiful as
ever though atr fle melancholy at times.
Her friends say there is q certain person
whose presence, they think, would cheer
her mp nightly"
The next steamer carried me home,
where everybody bade ms VI, leone. aud
Martha not the least warmly She las
exl LINED the mystery of the ,iler's con-
duct. lie had lived as a domestic in the
family of M4rthH's father whom she was
a child, aud was devoiedly attached to
her. How tbey plotted together nuent
my escape, it would be q breach of con-
fiienco to tell.
POOLING THE COMPANY