Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-08-28

yoa Is a dead letter TO me
.Iet-me-see." again spoke my
uncle. '.your father IS dcad2''
''les; and has been nearly & year. "
did be leave you any property he
interrogafed. and then. rs il excusing
himself for his ignorance. ne said:
~1Ou see. although brother, was 4
total stranger"
'.He left me something which value
very highly" answered.
Whist Is that" he demanded
.'An honest name"
'-And l suppose that was all?'
"Yes," replied.
IAN the betIer.r ne muttered to him
self; and then continuing
Il like Won better than I expected.
Draw your ehai: nearer my bed
obeved, and noticed for the first
time since my entrance n very fine
French plate mirror that hung on the
wall near his head
~Gire me your hand" he asked.
reaching out long. withered hand for
me 70 clasp.
did 50. and the coIdness of that hand
sent tremor 10 my very heart
- Do you know why / have sent for
y0u?" be now asked. looking AZ me
with those dark ewes that seemed 20
pierce my innost thoughts
q do not, - I answered.
"a viii tell you then To make You
my kefrs / am about 10 disclose % yOu
\ part OF my life thai few persons know.
But first you must swear never TO dis
close II % xny one Swear on yOur hon.
or as \ gcnflenan-a Worth-that It
shall never pass your lips"
Like Hamlet / took the oath.
Have y0u ever heard the name of
Franceskie? But I do not think you
have. You have seen rs picturc?"
~Wheres Down stairs?'
AYE; the painting of that beauti-
ful young man with the black eyes and
hair."
Il remember it.
.sHe was Of Polish descent. rs his
name indicates He and l were the /
firmcst Of friends; but IL has been twen-
ty-eFe years ago since he was-since he I
d.ed." correcting himself did you I
notice the beautiful girl next TO his |
picfure?'
YES. did," answered. rowing
feverishly Interested
"Well, that was his wife. Before 4
sue married him her name was Dale
flora Dale l knew her before Fran
ceskie, and-loved her.
How despAiringiy the old man spoke /
the last part OF the senferce,
'sShe married him was for \ time 4
insane. I Travelled Heaven knows I
whers-anywhere to forget my terrible /
-
kie as \ friend aud now hated him. /
How l longed for his destruction, /
gioafed over the time we might meet. 4
A yesr passed by and chance threw us
together. and-buf come closer TO me-"
| bent my ear down TO his lips and he /
Kissed between his clenched teeth -
81 murdered hinr'
! started back as If l had been shot I
Happening to glance up to the mirror
for one second saw the face of Flora. /
Dale II was but an instant there and,
then disappeared The painting was a /
perfect one
-And the wife," / gaSped under the /
grestest excitement
i am her murderer. too" Kissed /
the old man. for nv bloody deed mado
her \ maniac for years. when she died-'' /
Are you sure she diedSn 1 de-
msnded-
ssSurei7 gasped the old man Didn't
see her laid out in the white shroud?
Didn't see her lowered in the cold.
damp grOunds ave. yesr'
How Pitifully he moaned these sen
fences, Growing more calm. he said.
when NV zrm struck the fatal blow
l did more than murder husband-I
murdered = fasher. The babe was =
little girl No one imagined me the
murderer had beea absent so lOng
that when TIE dced was done the word
supposed il was the work Of some un-
known assassin. No one saw me, ex-
cept-Margnerite. Ny secret is safe in
hcr keeping.
Il have provided for the child until
now she IS a woman. The same face
that caused me my life's agony and
crime Is under this root She loves me
rs q father. and little suspects me of
crime am dying BY degrees. and she
viii be left alone in this cursed world.
make YOU nv heir-the viii is made
.On condition that you marry her.
All the wealth / p0se5s Is hers bv
right She need never know my crime
DO rs reque5-"
made no answer. could not utter
4 word.
Seeing that | hes tafed. he said
go 20 your room and at five o'clock
tomorrow morning give me your an
swer."
Marguerite made her appearance and
conducted me to my room
slept very little tha. night Horrid
dreams came to vcx me, and I w=s
mp long before FIVE O'Clock the next
How should / decide?
Here appeared an opening which per
haps never in = lifetime would come
again Here was fortune At my finger
snds only waiting for me 10 grasp. Ny
profession was a slarish one at best.
Well i know what 4 close cOmpan-
on poverty was Here was wealth and
happiness before mc-and an angel for
! vile why did hesitaies"
AYE, il was that conscience that
makes towards of us all In accept
ng this / must sacrifice my manhood.
must be the receiver of blOOd-mOncg,
he partaser of n crime de had &C
that all his wealth was
lers by right
II was enough Before the old
fashioned clock in the hall struck five
had decided the course l should pur-
iue.
quickly stole from my room 10 that
# my uncle's- Without knocking /
vent in. came close 20 his bedside and
aid.
Il reject your offer"
l expected a torrent ofpassion- There
le lay as had left him; one hand on
he counterpane as il lad been stretched
nut to receive mine. His eyes were
-lazed- He was dead.