Stephens City star. (Stephens City, Va.) 1881-1883, 1882-04-22


Mr.. Gwinnet you took the next train
| for B--"
"Not at ALL" replied quickly. u
came with the money here at Mr.. Gwin'
nets request"
"How do you account, then, for his
tel sgraphinga description of you fal
and wide and offering a reward for You,
arrest?"
| was thunderstruck at this announce
ment, and my manifest confusion was
interpreted as an additional evidence o.
guilt. was locked up over night al
the station house and next day was
taken back as a prisoner to confront my
employer, and answer to a charge Of
embezzlement.
I had as yet entertained no suspicion
of Elnathan Ganche. felt sure he had
fallen into some mistake, notyet cleared
up, in communicating Mr.. Gwinnet's
message, and was confident that Ganche's
testimony would put everything to
rights.
Judge my surprise and indignation
when on the witness stand the william
denied having given me am instructions
from Mr.. Gwinnet or even having seen
me after left the counting.house with
the check.
Itold my story, but it was heard with
incredulity. The evidence of the pay
teller, Mr.. Gwinnet and Elnathan
Ganche-every word Of it true except
the infamous suppression of single
fact by the latter-left the examining
magistrate no room for doubt, and was
fully committed for trial.
was not long in divining Elnathan
Ganchs's motive. We had been rival
suitors of Martha Hale and my love had
been preferred to his. Elnathan yielded
with good grace, seemingly, and even
professed to be a friend--a profession
accepted the more readily because I felt
a secret pity for his disappointment.
His perfdy was now apparent. his
purpose was to fix upon me the brand
of felon, thus rendering my union
with Martha impossible, and opening a
way to the renewal of his own hopes.
The nefarious plot was contrived with
such Internal skill that it's success
seemed we'll nigh certain.
One evening, not long before the day
fixed for the trial, when the garrulous
old iailer brought in my supper, he
seemed more talkative than usual. In
stead Of thrusting the dishes through
the cell door, as formerly, he entered
and sat down for a chat.
II wonder at your staying here SO
patiently" said the jailer.
"It's hardly matter of CHOICE" I
answered.
"Well, strong, active young fellow
like you might find his way ont, one
would think"
There was a curious twinkle in the
cunning old eyes which attracted my
attention.
"I'm but old and feeble" ne con-
tinued; "what's to hinder you, now, for
instance, changing clothes with me,
taking these keys and departing at
leisure?"
'I'll do It'll" I cried, springing to my
feet; Gan innocent man owes no sub
mission to the laws injusticel"
"Come, don't get excited" whined
the jailer, in tone of mock alarm. "I'll
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 supposed it but friendly ex-
change. With strips torn from my
sheet bound the docile keeper hand
and foot, placed him in an easy posture
on the bed, gagged his mouth comfort
ably took his bunch of keys, locked him
in, pulled his hat over my eyes, and
soon was free man.
Before m orning I was miles away,
and at the next seaport town shipped as
a common sailor. In foreign land
began life anew, and in few years
gained competency. But of what
value was it, or even life itself, when
not shared by her whose absence made
all else worthless? At times I was
tempted to write to Martha.
"But no." I said, doubtless she, too,
believes me guilty. How can she do
otherwise in the face of the evidence
and my own fight?"
One day I was met and recognized
by an old friend travelling abroad. In
stead of stunning, he met me cordially.
"Why have you never returned to
visit your old homer he asked; 'or at
least communicated with your friends?"