Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-05-21

such great abuse that / really expected
that Alexander would end by striking
me.
"Dav after day the request was re-
newed. but would not yield. Upon
my marriage, Uncle Richard had sold
his CITY residence and took up perma-
rent abode at Grassbank, where, know
ing nv husband to be an unwelcome
guest. I never visited him. wrote oc-
casionally, but the love of years, hkethat
of father and child, had been 80 sadly
strained by my persistence in marrying
Alexander that even our correspondence
was languid and commonplace.
ST would not, therefore, write to him
to ask q favor that [ knew would not
have been necessary without criminal
recklessness of expenditure, and each
refusal made my husband more furious.
Then came an overwhelming blow.
Alexander forged a check, and drew
so, 900 of Uncle Richards money from
the bank. I don't think my uncle would
have prosecuted him, had he guessed
who was the forger; but ne handed the
whole matter over to the law as soon as
it was discovered that the check was
forged. 1t was then traced to Alezan-
der, and at the same time it was found
that he had robbed in the same way his
former employers. He had given up all
work on his marriage but when he
found himself without money, his
knowledge of the business enabled him
to forge the note of Dirkiss & Co. Even
! if Uncle Richard had spared him for my
sake this other forgery would have en-
titled him to penal servitude He was
sentenced to seven years, and Uncle
took me home, full of heavenly pity and
forgiveness for the child who had treated
him SO ungratefully."
"Then your husband is in prison ?"
said Gerald, in hard, strained voice.
"No, no, he is dead He died within
the first year. Uncle Richard saw the
death in a paper and sent the money for
his burial. No, am free }; but none
the less I am the widow of a convicted
felon.'
''But none the less," quoted Gerald,
ssthe woman I honor and love above
all others, and hope still to make my
wife"
It took, however, more than one inter
view, full of loves pleading, to win
Maude from her resolution. She so
honored her lover. and was SO proud of
his good name and position he had at
tanned by his talent, that her sensitive
nature shrank from even the shadow Of
her misery upon his life. But the VIC
tory was won at last, and the lawyer
walked home one evening full of proud,
glad Joy, for Msude had then promised
to be his wife. ''If you are willing to
take Alexander Rull's widow to be your
wife," she said, ST will not oppose you
any longer, for love you with all my
heart"
He had not 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
bis bedroom, in Gaze 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 introduc-
ton, the note ran:
s'You did the best you could on my trial, but
the facts were too strong for you. have now
last favor t. ask of you. l 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 win the gratitude of the
man you know as JAMES Foxw
"Theman know as James Fox" NUT
tered the lawyer; ''the smooth, plausi-
BILE scoundrel who actually made me be-
lieve him innocent of the hideous MUIR
der for which he was convicted. [ can
find extenuation for some murderers,
but this -blooded assassination of an
old man for money only was revolving.
How he deceived me, though, for a
time, and how he exulted over his sue
cess in doing SO when he saw facts we're
too strong. Shall go to him? I sup
pose I must. It is still very early"
It was not yet midnight wnen Gerald
Langton was ushered into the cell of the
man who, in a 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
ranged, his mustache faultless, his hands
white and refined looking. He arose
from his seat upon the bed as his law
yer entered the cell.
''I knew you would come" he said,
courseously, "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?"
Not if [ can grant it" was the re-
ply.
s'Ihis," said the murderer, Sc is not
my first ofense against the law. Some
years ago I was sentenced to term of
years for forgery. By strange accident
I escaped the penalty. On the same day
James Fox was sentenced to two years
for petit larceny, and we were sent to-
gether TO prison. James Fox-my COM
panion, understand, not nlysef-was de-
ranged, but his lawyers 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 [ saw the advantage to be
gained by 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 lived by my wits until year
ago, when I returned to try to raise
money for my wife, and thought saw