The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-02-15
mature. shfink from even the shadow .

nature shrunk from even the shadow OF
her misery upon his life.
But the victory was o at last, and
the lawyer walked home one evening
full Of q proud glad joy, for Maud mad
then promiaed to be his wife.i
IF you are willing to take Alexander
HILLS widow to be your wife" she said,
IL will not oppose you any longer, for l
love you with all my heart"
He had no thou hit but of that glad.
triumph when he turned up the gas in
his office. He was in the habit OF max
ing 9 late visit there before going up to
his bedroom, in case notes or messages
were left for him. One lay there on
this evening, q shabby looking envelope.
but directed in q b,ld, handsome hsnd
which he recognized at once. 81
He lore it open. After a few words
of introduction, the note ran: ss Isl /.
"You did the best you could on my
trial, but the facts we're too strong tor
you. | have 10 a last favor to ask of
you. | die, as you know, at noon to-mor-
row. You, as my LAWYER, can see me at
any time. Will yon come az Don ar you
receive this. and with the gratitude of
the mar you know as JAMES Fox"
tE ~ AAthA hAA0h p VatuCS IOAsE III
tered the lawyer; .'the smooth, plans
ible scouncrel who actuallymade me be
iieye him innocent Of the hideous muir
der for which he was convicted. l can
find e~xtenuation for some murders, but
this old -blooded assassination OF an old
man for money only was revolving. How
he deceived me, though, for a tine.
And how he exulted in doing so when
he saw facts were too strong. Shall | go
to him? | suppose must. 1t is still
very early" ssa
1t was not yet midnight when Gerald
Langton was ushered into the cell Of the
man who, ina few short hours, was to
meetsthe extreme penalty Of the law for
the worst ofSall crimes. Yet there was
nothing revolving in the appearance Of
hair carefully arranged, his moustaahe
faultless, his hands white and refined
looking. He rose from his seat upon
the bed asihis lawyer entered the cell.
"Iknew You would GOMEZ he said,
co%urteously, though you were offended
at my want of frsnkness. Well, that is
all over. You will not refuse the lust
request OF dying man, Mr.. Langton?"
"NotifI can grant It," was the reply.
This" said the murderer, "is not
my first ofense against the law.
Some years ago | was sentenced to a
term Of years for forgery. Bya strange
accident 1 escaped the penalty. Or the
same day James Fox was .ntenced to
two years for petty larceny, and we
were sent together to prison. James
mysel:-was deranged, but his lawyers
bsd not been able to save him, as his
alteration was not always apparent.
When W. were entered upon the books
of the prison, imagine my amazement
when ny fellow prisoner gave my name
for his own. Like a flash I saw the
ADVANTAGE to be gained by the decep-
ton, aRd allowed the error to pass. NV
companion committed suicide, and I es-
capped With two years imprisonment in
stead OF seven. Blu / feared recognition
and went to Canada. There I lived by
my wits until a year ago. when j e
turned to try and raise money from my
wiic, and thought saw an easier plan
by committing the crime for which | die
tomorrow. But wan to see my wife.
l wronged her-I robbed her-but heav-
en- is my witness, l love her. When 1
was in prison she dropped my name
and took her own again. Sosit2itnot for
Mrs. Alexander Hull you must ask, but
for Mrs. Muude Tea. Ii is
Was the rcomsreeling-theg ceiling
faliins-sthe wall closing around him?
Gerald Langton felt they were, as the
name fell upon his ears. Maude- his
Msnde- the wife of this cool villain
who talked of his shidsous crimes as If
they were ordinary events? Well, he
knew that to carry the mans message
was to seperate him from Maude forever.
Never won d she let him marry tine wild
ow ofa murderer! Merry rapidly all the
terrible fac 8 passed one ate rethe other,
and he said: If you love her why add
a misery to her life? She may have
lived down the old pain you q have
caused her; why for, a selfish gratifca.
ton, will you make her whole life a
misery"
siShe is my wife!I would bid her fare
well.n
'She is not your wife. Your own
crimes have released her from any al
legiance to you.
"You know herr"
"Yes! | know what che has suffered,
and beg OF you to let her still believe
you died years ago."
.S,.e is happ p
Scarcely that. Such wounds as hers
never heal entirely. but it is cruelty 10.
tear them open when they are quiet"
"Has she marr,ed?"
NO! She Is your widow"
ut is hard to deny myself one more
sight of her face and the hope l had
that she would say she ~forrave me-"
Think OF her, not yourself"
Thereiwas along silence in the CELL
Every tErob OF Gerald Layton's heart
was pain to him, but Alexander Hull sat
in moody silence; evidently re .uctant
to give up his wish.
At last he spoke.
You have been very good to me.
Tell me. now, if you have anv personal
reason for your request. Perhaps you
may love her"
II dot was the reply. stShe has
promised to be my wife"
"Chen it will be James Fox who is
hang ID tomorrow! | meant to give my
real name, but / wilt carry my secret 10
the grave. 1t may be in another world
that the little last self-den,nl will be a
plea for me. Go now. You may trust
me-"
He kept his word, and Gerald Langton
his secret.
When Maude, a few weeks later, be-,
came his wife, she little guessed the ter
rible ordeal which he had spared her, or
the added disgrace that belonged to the
name she had given up.-Exchange.
The Real American Bird.
From the New YORK Herald.
When plans for our national insignia
LI