Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-03-25

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the whole matter over to the law as soo1
as it was discovered that the check wa.
forged. 1t was then traced TO Alexander
and at the same time it was found that HI
had robbed in the same way his former EN-
ployers.' He had given up all work upor
marriage; but when he found himself with
out money, his knowledge of the bushes.
enabled him to forge the name of Derkiss
& Co. Even if Uncle Richard had spared
him for my sake the other forgery woulC
have entitled him to penal seryitude. He
was sentenced to seven years, and unclt
took me home full of heavenly pity and for
giveness for the child who had treated him
SO ungratefully."
"Then your husband is in prison ?" sale
Gerald, in hard, strained voice"
'tNo, no, he is deadl He died within tht
first year. Uncle Richard saw the death il
a paper, and sent the money for the burial
No, am free; but, none the less, am the
widow of convicted felon."
"But, none the less," quoted Gerald
''the woman I honor aud love above al
oeta1f5s, and hope still to make my wife,
1t took however, more than one inter
view, full of loves pleading, to win Maudt
from her resolution. She so honored bel
lover, and was so proud of his good name
and the position he had attained by his tai
ent, that her sensitive nature shrank from
even the shadow Of her misery upon hi.
| life.
But the victory was won at last, and the
lawyer walked home one evening full of
proud, glad joy, for Maude hadfthen prom
ised to be his wife.
eff you are willing to take Alexander
Hull's widow your wife," she said, 81 will
not oppose you any longer, for love you
with all my heart"
He had no thought but of that glad tri
umph, he turned up the gas in his office
He was in the habit of making late visit
there before going to his bedroom, i'll case
notes or messages were left for him. One
lay there on this evening, shabby looking
envelope, but directed in bold. handsome
hand which he recognized at once.
He tore it open. After few words OF
introduction, the note ran:
sYou didlthe best you could on my trial,
but the facts were too strong for you. /
have now last favor to ask Of you. 1 die,
as you know, at noon tomorrow. You as
my lawyer. can see me at any time. Will
you come as soon as you receive this, and
with the gratitude of the man you know as
JAMES Fox"
ssThe man know as James Fox,' NUT.
tered the lawyer; the smooth, plausible
| scoundrel who actually made mo believe
him innocent of the hideous murder for
which he was convicted. can find extern
uation for some murders, but this cold
blooded assagsination of an old man for
money only was revolving. How he de-
ceive me, though, for time. And how he
exulted over his success in doing so when
he saw facts were too strong. Shall l go
to him suppose I must. 1t is still very
early"
1t was not yet midnight when Gerald
Langton was ushered into the cell of the
man who, in very 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 arranged, his moustache faullless,
his hands white and refined looking lie
rose from his seat upol the bed as his law
yer entered the cell.
81 knew you would come" he said,
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.. Langton ?"
'tNot if can grant it., was the reply.
''This," said the murderer, sis not my
first offense against the law. Some years
ago | was sentenced to term of years for
forgery. By strange accident escaped
the penalty. On the same day James Fox
was sentenced to two years for petty larce-
ny, and we were sent together to prison.
James Fox-my companion, understand d,
not myself-was deranged, but his law
yers had not been able to save him, as 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 l saw the advantage to be
gained by the deception, and allowed the
error to pass. My companion committed
suicide, and l escaped with two years i'm
prisonment instead of seven. But feared
recognition and went to Canada. There /
lived by my wits until year ago, when I
returned to try and raise money from my
wife, and thought saw an easier plan by
committing the crime for which die tes
morrow. But want to see my wife. I
wronged her-I robbed her-but heaven is
my witness, love her. When l was in
prison she dropped my name and took her
own again. So it is not for Mrs. Alexan-
der Hull you must ask, but for Mrs Maude
Temple"
Was the room reeling-the ceiling falling
the wall closing around him Gerald
Langton felt that they were, as the name
fell upon his ears. Maude-his Maude-
the wife of this cool villain who talked of
his hideous crime as if they were ordinary
events? Well, he knew that to carry this
mans message was to separate himself
from Maude forever.-Never would she let
him marry the widow of murderer! Very
rapidly all of the terrible facts passed one
after the other, and he said: 'If you love
her why add misery to her life {? She
may have lived down the old pain you have
caused her; why for selfish qualification,
will you make her whole life a misery?'
"She Is my wife! I would bid her fare
we'll"
eShe is not your wife. Your own crimes
have released her from any allegiance to
you"
"You know her p
'Yesl l 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 as hers
never heal entirely, but it is cruelty to tear
them open when they are quietv'
elias she married ?"
'sNol She is still your widow"
'It is hard TO deny myselfone more sight
of her face and the hope had that She
would say she forgave me.''
s"fhink of her, not yourself"
There was long silence in she 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, If you have any personal reason
for your request. Perhaps you love her ?'
II dor, was the ranlx slSha hos nrop,