West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-09-12


darkness
She was gone about five minutes,
then the door opened and | was adj
mitted.
There was but one person i'm the room
besides the woman and myself, and that
was the old man i'm bed.
The room was not large, but every-
thing in 10 denoted comfort.
leave MS alone, Marguerite, spoke
the party in bed in firm, commanding
tone.
The woman obcycd, and we were left
alone
silence Of some moments lasted,
during which time | was making an ex-
animation of the old man. and knew
that he was doing the same of me.
lie was withered old man. and vet
II would have been hard To tell his are,
for passion and disease had placed their
imprint upon him. That he was
younger than my father | knew; but
could you have brought this man to
my fathers death-bcd you would have
declared him To have been fully twenty
years the senior.
He broke the stiffness by interrogat-
ing:
$50 you arc John Worth's son?"
al am" l answered.
pause ensued.
'Of course you know that your father
and were not on very good terms, 90
you not?' he asked.
$50 l have been informed" / an
swcrcd
"Do you bear me any ill-will?' he
questioned, rising little up in bed.
mot in the least"
al am glad YOU do not, =" he contin-
ued, settling himself again. ''for am
about to die and wish the ill-will of no
person"
"Indeed" | exclaimed. "Whatover
has transpired between my father and
you is dead letter to me. -
Let me see again spoke my
uncle, your father is dcad?'
Yes; and has been nearly n year"
"Did he leave you any propertyP" he
interrogated; and then, rs il excusing
himself for his ignorance, ne said:
You see. although brother, l was n
total stranger"
'He left me something which | value
very highly" | answered
What is that?' he demanded.
Fan honest name"
And | suppose that was allP'
Yes" replied.
''All the better" he muttered to HIM
self; and then continuing:
81 like you better than expected.
Draw your chaii nearer nv bed
l obeyed, and noticed for the first
time since my entrance very fine
French plate mirror that hung on the
wall near his head.
Give me your hand" he asked.
reaching out a long. withered hand for
me TO clasp.
did so, and the GOODNESS of that hand
sent tremor to my very heart
DO you know why | have sent for
your he now asked, looking at me
with those dark eyes that seemed TO
pierce my inmost thoughts.
do not, | answered
" / will tell you then. TO make YOU
my heir! am about to disclose to YOU
part of my life that few persons know.
But first you must swear never TO dis
close 1T To any one. Swear on your hon
or as genteman-a Worth-that il
shall never pass your lips"
Like Hamlet, took the oath.
Have you ever heard the name of
I Franccskic? But do not think YOU
have. You have seen his p.cture?"
Where? Down.stairsP'
Aye; the painting OF that beauti-
tul young man with the black eyes and
hair"
:" remember it
He was of Polish descent. as his
name indicates. He and I were the
hrmest of friends; but it has been TWEEN
ty-hve years ago since he waS-since no
died. correcting himself Did Won
notice the beautiful girl next to his
picture?
Yes. | did," l answered. growing
feveriShly interested.
"Well, that was his wife. Before
she married him her name was Dale
Flora Dale. knew her before Fran
ceskie, and-loved her"
How despairingly the old man spoke
the last part of the sentence!
''She married him. | was for a time
insane. | travelled Heaven knows
where anywhere to forget my terrible
disappointment ! had loved Frances
kic as friend and now / hated him.
How ! longed for his destruction, I
gloated over the time we mipht meet
year passed by and chance threw ms
together, and but come closer TO me. -
bent my ear down 10 his lips and he
Missed between his clcnchcd teeth -
81 murdered him.
started back as il | had been shot.
Happening TO glance up to tho mirror
for one second / saw the face OF Flora
Dale. 1t was but an instant there and
then disappeared. Tho painting was a
perfect one.
And the wife?'' / gasped under the
greatest excitement
Il am her murderer. too" Kissed
the old man. Tor my bloody deed made
her maniac for years, when she died -
Are you sure she Gied?'' / dc.
manded.
sure gasprd the old man Didn't
] see her laid out in the while shroud3
Didn't see her lowered i'm the cold
damp grounds Aye. yes,
How pitlfully he moanel these son.
fences Growing more calm. he said.
when my arm struck the fatal blow
did moro than murder n husband
murdered t0tbcr. The babe was a
little girl No one imagined me tb.
murderer. had been absent e, lon,
that when tho deed was done the world
supposed it was the work Of some un
known assassin. No one saw me. p.-
ccpi Marguerite Ny secret is safe in
b r keeping.
81 have provided for the child until
now she is woman The same face
#.H. u