The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-12-13

the woman honor and love above all
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. She so hon.
ored her lover, end was so proud of his
! good name aud the position he had
attained by his talents, that, her sensi.
tive nature shrank from even the shadow
OF her misery upon his life.
! But the victory WAS won at last, and
the lawyer walked home one evening full
OF proud, glad joy. Maude had then
| promised TO be his wife.
III you are willing to take Alexander
Hulls widow To he your wife" she said
II will not oppose you any longer, for
love you with all my heart"
He had no thought but of that glad
triumph when he turned up the gas in
his Office. He WAS in the habit of max.
ing last visit there before going up to
his bedroom, i'll case notes or message.
were left for him. One lay there on this
evening, shabby.lookn envelope, but
directed in bold, handsome hand, which
he recognized at once
lie tore it open. After few words Of
introduction, the note ran:
You did the best you could ON my
trial, but the facts were too strong for
you. have now fast favor to ask of
you. die, as you know, at noon to.
morrow. You, as my lawyer, can see me
at any time. Will you come as soon as
you receive this aud win the gratitude of
the man yoii know Is
JAMES FoX?"
The man | know al Ta,pns En~ -
muttered the lawyer; "the smooth,
plausible scoundrel who actually made
me believe him innocent of the hideous
murder for which he was convicted.
can find exenua.ion for some murders,
but the cold ld-booded assassination Of an
old man for money only was revolving.
How he deceived me, though, for time.
And how he exulted over his success in
doing 80 when he saw facts were too
strong. Shall go to him? suppose
must. 1t is still very early"
1t was not yet midnight when Gerald
Langton was ushered into the cell of the
man who, in few short hours, was to
meet the extreme nenaty of the law for
the worst Of all crimes.
Yet there was nothing revolving in the
appearance Of the criminal. His dress
mustache faultless, his hands white and
refined looking. lie rose from his seat
upon the bed AZ his lawyer entered the
cell.
II knew you would come," he said,
courteously, though you were offended
ut my want of frankness. Well, that is
all over. You will not refuse the last
request of dying man, Mr.. Laugton p"
Not if | can grant it," WAS the reply.
This" said the murderer, "is not my
first oftense against the law. Some years
ago was sentenced to term of years
for forgery. BY strange accident l
escaped the penalty. On the same day
James Fox was sentenced to two years
for petty larceny, aud we were sent
together to prison. James Fox-my
comrade, understand, not myself-was
deranged, but his lawyers had not been
able to save him, rs his alteration was
not always apparent. When we were
entered upon the books of the prison,
imagine my amazement when my fellow
prisoner gave my name for his own.
Like flash saw the advantage to be
gained ny the deception. and allowed the
error to pass. My companion committed
suicide, and I escaped with two years
imprisonment instead of seven. But /
feared recognition, and went to Canada.
There l lived by my wits until year
ago, when l returned to try to raise
money for my wife, and thought saw
an easier plan by committing the crime
for which die o.morrow. But I van.
to see my wife. I wronged her-I rob-
bed her-but heaven ia witness loved
her. When l was in prison she dropped
my name and took her own again. So it
is not for Mrs. Alexander Hull you must
ask, but for Mrs. Maud Temple"
Was the room rceling-the ceiling
falling-the wall closing around him
Gerald Langton felt as they were as the
name fell upon his ears. Maude-his
Maude-ihe wife of this cool villain who
talked of his hideous crimes AZ if they
were ordinary events7 Well, he knew
that TO curry this uia's'a message s;a.a TO
separate himself from Maude forever,
Never would she let him marry the
widow of murderer. Very rapidly all
the terrible facts passed, one after
another, and he said: "If you love her
why add misery to her life? She may
live down the old plain you caused her; !;
why, for selfish qualification, will you
make her whole life misery" ?"
''She wes my wife. would bid her
farewell"
"She is not your wife. Your own
crimes have released her from any allie.
glance to you."
you know her7 2"
eyes. I know what she has suffered,
and beg of you to let her still believe
you died years ago."
"She is happy"
Scarcely that. Such wounds rs hers
never heal entirely, but it is cruelty to
tear them open when they are quiet"
"Has she married Z"
'No She is still your widow"
ut is hard to deny myself one more
sight of her face, and the hope had that
she would say that she forgave me-"
"Think of her, not yourself"
There WAS long silencesin the cell.
Every throb Of Gerald Langton's heart
was pain to him, but Alexander Hull sat
in moody silence, evidently reluctant to
give up his wish.
At last he spoke.
"You have been very good to me.
Tell me, now, il You have any personal
reason for your request. Perhaps you
you love her."
II do" was the brief reply. "Shc has
promised to be my wife,"
"Then it will be James Fox who il
hanged tomorrow. I meant 10 give my
real name, but will carry my secret to
my grave. 1t may be in another world
that the little self. denial will be plea
for mn In pnu vo,, NAV fruet mo ~