Omaha daily bee., 1883-10-20
l nm the widow Of a convicted

others, and hope still to make my wife
1t took, however, more than one inter.
view, full of loves pleading, to win Maude
from her resolution. So she honored her
lover, and was so proud Of his good name
and the position he had attained by his
talent, that her sensitive nature shrank
from even the shadow of her misery upon
his life.
But the victory was won at last, and
the lawyer walked home the evening full
of u proud glad Joy, for Maude had then
promised to be his wife.
"lf you are willing to take Alexander
Hulrs widow to he your wife, she said,
81 will not oppose you any longer, for |
love you with all my heart"
He had no thought hut of that glad
triumph when he turned up the gas in his
office. He was in the habit OF making n
late visit there before gong up to his
bedroom, in a case notes or messages were
left fer him. One lay there on tins even
ing, a shabby looking envelope, but di.
rected in q bold handsome hand, which he
recognized at once.
He tore it open. After a few words of
the notc ran:
"You did the best you could on my
trial, but the facts were too strong for you,
| have now u last favor to ask of you. |
die, az you, know at noon tomorrow.
You as my lawyer, can see mo at any
time. Will you come Us soon as you re.
ceive this, and with the gratitude of
the man you know rs
"James Fox3"
THE man l knew as James Fox" NUT.
terered the lawyer; ''the smooth, plausi.
BILE scoundiel, who actually made me be-
lieve him innocent of the hideous murder
which he was convicted. ] can find
.extenuation for some murderers, but this
cold bleoded assassin of an old man for
money only, was revolving. How he de-
me, though for q time. And how
he exulted over his success in doing 80
when he saw facts were too strong. Shall
l go to him9 l suppose l must. 1t is
still very early"
1t was not yet midnight when Gerald
was ushered into the cell of the
man who, in a few short hours, was to
meet the extreme penalty of tho law for
worst of crimes.
iSO bISIS was lNptlhiik iCNpltiiH Ill
the appearance of the criminal. His
1ress was neat, his hair carefully arrang-
I'd, his mustache faultless, his hand white
and refined looking. He rose from his
seat upon the bed when his lawyer enter.
cd the DELL.
81 knew you would come" he said
courteously, Though you were offended
at my want of fanrkness. Well, that is
all over. You will not refuse the last 70.
quest of a dying man, Mr. Langton?"
mot if l can grant it," was the re-
ply.
"This," said the murderer, els not my
first oftense against the law. Some years
ago l was sentenced to n term of years
for forgery. BY q strange accident es.
capped the penalty. On the same day
James Fox was sentenced to two years
petty larceny, and we were sent together
to prison. James Fox-my companion,
understand not myself-wasderanged, but
but his lawyers had not been able to save
him, as his alteration was not always APP
When we were entered upon
the books of the prison, imagin.
my amazement when my fellow prisoner
gave my name for his own. Like
a flash / saw the advantage to be gained
by the deception, an allowed the error to
pass. My companion committed suicide,
and / escaped with two years imprison-
ment instead of seven. But | feared re-
cognition and went to Canada. There
lived by my wits until a year ago, when
to try to raise money for my
wife, and thought l saw an easier plan
by committing the crime for which ! die
tomorrow. But want to see my wife.
| wronged her-I robbed hcr-but heaven
is witness, l love her. When ] was in
prison she dropped my name and took
her own again. So it is not for Mrs,
Alexander Hull you must ask, but fol
Mrs Maude Temple"
Was the room reeling-the ceiling fall.
ing-the wall closing around him' Gerald
fell upon his ears. Maude--his Maude-
the wife of his cool villain who talked OF
his hideous crimes as if they were ordi'
nary events2 Well, he knew that to carry
this mans message was to separate hun
self from Maude forever. Never would
she let him marry the widow of a muir.
'erer! Very rapidly all the terrible facts
passed after another, and he said
IF you love her why add u misery to hen
life2 She may have lived down the ole
pain you ca sed her why fora selfish graf
rlication. will you make her whole life {
mysteryT'
"She was ny wifel l would bid he
farewell"
She is not your wife. Your owl
crimes have released her from any allesi
anc to you"
"You know herr"
eyes! / know what she has suffered
and | beg of you to let her still belie,'
you dice years ago"
"She is happy|
Scarcely that. Such wounds q
hers never heal entirely, but it is cruel
~ to tear them open when they ar
quiet"
Has she married."
"Nol She is still your widow"
at is hard to deny myself one nor
sight of her face and the hope had thi
she would say she iorgaye me-"
''Think of her, not yours IT,"
I'oio was u ioiiP siieioo .oA'
Every throb of Gerald L%angton's heal
was pain to him, but Alexander Hull 81
III moody silence, evidently reluctant
give up his wish.
At last he spoke.
''You have been very good to me. TIE
me, now, if you have any personal REL
son for your request. Perhaps you 10y
her2"
Il do" was the brief reply. "She hi
promised to be my wife"
'Then it will be James Fox who
| hannaI tn ,,.t ,nn,t tn niua m