Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-01-17

Day 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-
nent abode at Grassbank, where, know
ing my husband to be an nnwelcome
guest, 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
marrying Alexander that even our cor
respondence was languid and common
place.
Il would not, therefore, write to him
to ask q favor that | knew would not
have been necessary without criminal
recklcssnesS of expenditure, and each
refusal made my husband more furious.
Then came an overwhelming blow. AL
GXander forged 4 check, and drew e.
600 of Uncle Richard S money from the
bank. l don't think my uncle would
have prosecuted him, had he guessed
who was the fOrger; but he handed the
whole thing over to the law as soon as
it was discovered that the check was
forged. 1t was then traced to Alexan-
der, and at the same time it was found
that ne had robbed in the same way his
former employers. He had given up all
work for himself upon his marriage;
but when he found himself without
money, his knowledge of the business
enabled him to forge the note of Derkiss
q Co. Even if Uncle Richard had
spared him for my sake this Other
forgery would have entitled him to
penal seryitude. He was sentenced to
l.
full OF heavenly pity and forgiveness for
the child who had treated him so ur-
gratefully"
Then your husband is in prison?"
said Gerald, in Il hard. strained voice.
mo. 30, he is dead! He died within
the first year. Uncle Richard saw the
death in paper and sent the money
for his burial. No, | am free; but none
the less | am the widow Of 4 convicted
felOn.
''But none the less" quoted Gerald,
''the woman | love and honor 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 50 proud of
his good name and the position he had
attained by his talent, that her sensitive
nature shrank from even the shadow of
her misery upon his life.
But the victory was won at last, and
the lawyer walked home one evening
full of proud, glad Joy, for Maude had
then promised to be his wife.
IF you are willing to take Alexander
Hull's widow to be your wife, " she said.
Il will not oppose you any longer, for
love you with all my heart"
He had no 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
his bedroom, in 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:
"You did the best you could on my trial
but the facts were too strong tor you. have
now q last favor TO ask of y',u. / 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 W n t. gratitude
of the man y'u know as JAMES FOXY'
1.-The man / know as james Fox"
muttered the lawyer; ''the smooth,
plausible scoundrel VINO actually made
me believe him innocent of the hideous
murder for which he was convicted. |
can find eXtenuation for some murders,
but this cold-blooded assassination of
an old man for money only was revolt
ing. How he deceived me, though for a
time. And how he exulted over his
success in doing so when he saw facts
were too strong. Snail 90 to him? /
suppose [ must. 1t is still very early"
1t was not midnight when Gerald
Langton was ushered 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 revo,tin9 in
the appearance of the criminal His
dress was neat, his hair carefully ar
ranged, his mustache faultIess, his
hands white and refined looking. He
rose from his seat upon the bed as his
lawyer entered the cell.
II knew you would come" he said,
courteously, Though you were Offend
ed 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.
This" said the murderer, sis not
my first offense against the law. Some
years ago l was sentenced to term of
years for forgery. By strange acct
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 deranged, 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 fash SAW the adj
vantage to be gained by the deception,
and allowed the error to pass. Ny COM
panion committed suicide. and | escap-
ed with two years imprisonment in
stead of seven. But l feared recogni-
ton and went to Canada There | lived
by my wits until q year ago, when | re-
SYY1~Y II 80