The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-11-15

| oPAooo' IoluSeu tHo erfauQ, ana
brought down torrent of such great
abuse that really expected that Alex
ander would end by striking mo.
''Day after day the request was re-
newed, but 1 would not yield. Upon
my marriage. Uncle Richard had sold
his city residence and took up perma-
nent abode at Grasshank, whore, know
ing my husband to be au unwelcome
visitor I never visited him. | wrote oc-
casionally, but the love of years, like
that of father and child, had been so
sadly strained by my persistence in
mrrrying Alexander that even our cor.
respondence was languld and common
place.
81 would not, therefore, write to him
TO ask favor that 1 knew would not
nave been necessary without orimiual
| recklessness OF expenditure and each re-
fusal made my husband more furious.
Then came an overwhelming blow.
| Alexander forged check, and drew
$4,000 of Uncle Richards money from
the bank. I don't think my uncle
would havo prosecuted him, had he
guessed who was the forger; but he
handed the whole matter over to the
law rs soon us it was discovered that the
to Alexander, and at the same time it
was found that he had robbed in tho
same way his former employers. He he'd
given up all work upon bis marriage;
but when he found himself without
money, his knowledge of the business
enabled him to forge the note Of Der
kiss &c Go. Even If Uncle Riceord had
spared him for my sake this other for
ioI ko
servitude. He was sentenced to seven
years, and uncle took me home full OF
heavenly pity and forgiveness for the
child who treated him unRratefully.
"Then your husband is in prisop?"
said Gerald, in hard strained verce.
''No, no, he is deadt He died with
in the first year. Uncle Richard saw
the death i'll paper, and sent the |
money for his burial. No, L am free:
but none tho less L am the widow of a |
convict felon."
"But none the loss" quoted Gerald,
''the woman l honor and love above |
all others, and hope still to make my !
wife.
1t took however, more than one in.
terview, full of loves pleading, to win |
Maude from hsr resolution. She so
honored her lover, and was proud of his
name and tho position he had obtained |
by his talents, that her sensitive nature.
shrank from even the shadow of her
misery upon his life.
Dut tiic yictc:y wa:" NOV. st last a,u, !
Tue lawyer walked home one evtnlmg
full of a proud, glad Joy, for Maude had
then promised to be his wife.
eff you are willing to take Alexander
Hull's widow to be your wife," she
said, II will not oppose You any
longer, for 1 love you with all my |
heart"
He had no thought but of the glad |
triumph when he turned up the gas in |
his Office. He was in thc habit of max |
Ing late visit there before going up to |
his bedroom, in 'sase notes or messages |
were left for him. One lay there on
this evening, shabby looking enve-
iope, but directed il ~ bold, handsome !
hand which he recognized at once.
He tore it open. Afte,. q few words
of introduction, the note run:
You did the best you could on my
trial, but tile facts were too strong for
you, l have now a last favor to ask Of
you. ] die, rs you know. at noon to-
morrow. You, as my lawyer, can sec
me at any time. Will you come us soon
as you rt GIVE this and win the graft
tude of the man you know rs
JAMES FoxP"
'',rhe man [ know rs james Fox"
muttered the lawyer, "the smooth,
plausible scoundrel who actually made
me believe him innocent Of tho hideous
murder for which he was convicted. [
can find extenuation for some murders,
but this cold-blooded assassination of
All old man for money was only revolt
ing. How he deceived me, though, for
time. And how he cxulted over his
SUCCESS in doing so 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 usher ei into the cell of the
man who, in few short hours, was to
meet the extreme penalty Of the law for
the worst of all crimes.
Yet there WAS nothing revolving in
the appearance of the criminal. His
dress was neat, his hair carefully ar.
ranged, his moustache faultess, his
hands white and refined looking. He
rose fromsthe seat upon the bed as his
lawyer entered the cell.
huo" Jot "ottlo ooLnoj Ao Sthiu
courteously, "though you were offended
at my want OF frankness. Well, that is
all over? You will not refuse the last
request OF dying man, Mr.. Lang
ton2"
"Not if can grant it, was the rop!y.
'This," said tho murderer, is not my
fret offence against the law. Some
years ago L WAS sentenced to torn of
years for forgery. BY q strange acci-
dent L escaped the penalty. On the
same day James Fox was sentenced to
two years for petty larceny, and we
were sent together to prison. James
Fox-my companion understand, not
myself-was dcranged, but his lawyers
had not been able to save him, as his
alteration was not always apparent.
When we were 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 by the deception. and al
lowed the error to pass, My companion
committed suicide, and [ escaped with
two years imprisonment instead OF
seven. But l feared recognition, and
went TO Canada. There llved by my
wits until q wear ago. when I returned