The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-08-22

Indeed! / exclaimed. ssW hateVer
has transpired between my father and
you is dead letter to me. =
'Let-me-s ee," again spoke my
uncle, ''your father is deadp"
Eyes; and has been nearly year."
"Did he leave you any property" he
interrogated; and then, as If excusing
himself for his ignorance, ne said:
"You see, although brother, was
total stranger"
HE left me something which / value
very highly" I answered.
''What is that?" he demanded. Is
can honest name.''
''And suppose that was alp"
eyes," / replied.
''All the BETTER" he muttered to him
self; and then continuing:
II like you better than expected.
Draw your chair nearer my bed.''
obeyed, and noticed for the first
time since my entrance q very fine
French plate mirror that hung on the
wall near his head.
"Give me your hand" he asked,
reaching out long, Withered hand for
me to clasp.
l did so, and the GOODNESS of that hand
sent q tremor to my very heart.
do you know why I have sent for
you?' he now asked, looking at me
with those dark eyes that seemed to
pierce my inmost thoughts.
a. do not" I answered.
81 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 it to any one. Swear on your hon
or as gentleman-a Worth-that it
shall never pass your lips"
Like Hamlet, took the oath.
"Have you ever heard the name Of
Franceskiep But | do not think you
have. You have seen his picture?"
"Where? Down-stairspn
"Aye; the painting of that beauti-
full young man with the black eyes and
hair."
81 remember it,
she was of Polish descent, as his
name indicates. He and l were the
firmest of friends; but it has been TWEEN
ty-five years ago since he was-since he
died." correcting himself. "Did you
notice the beautiful girl next to his
picture?'
"Yes, did," I 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 time
insane. / travelled Heaven knows
where anywhere to forget my terrible
disappointment / had loved Frances
kie as friend and now I hated him.
How longed for his destruction! I
gloated over the time we might meet.
A year passed by and chance threw us
together, and--but come closer to me. "
bent my ear down to his lips and he
Kissed between his clenched teeth
81 murdered himp'
started back as if / had been shot.
Happening to glance up to the mirror
for one second saw the face of Flora
Dale. 1t was but an instant there and
then disappeared. The painting was
perfect one.
"And the wife," I gasped under the
greatest excitement.
81 am her murderer, too,' Kissed
the old man, '.for my bloody deed made
her maniac for years, when she died!''
'Are you sure she diedP'' I de-
manded.
''Surep' gasped the old man. Didn't
/ see her laid out in the white shroud?
Didn't see her lowered IN the cold,
| ID my, o-,.Oundp Aua xocfii
How pitifully he moaned these SEN
fences! Growing more calm, he sand:
''When my arm struck the fatal blow
/ did more than murder a husband-I
murdered q father The babe was
| little girl. No one imagined me the
murderer. had been absent so long
that when the deed was done the world
supposed it was the work of some I'M
known assassin. No one saw me, ex-
cept-Marguerite. My secret is safe in
her keeping.
II have provided for the child until
now she is a woman. The same face
that caused me my life's agony and
crime is under this roof. She loves me
as a father, and little suspects me of a
crime. I am dying by degrees, and she
will be left alone in this cursed world.
make you my heir-the will is made
-on condition that you marry her.
All the wealth possess IS hers by
right. She need never know my crime.
Do as request"
Imadeno answer. / could not utter
word.
Seeing that hesitated, he said:
$50 to your room and at FIVE o'clock
tomorrow morning give me your an
swer."
Marguerite made her appearance and
conducted me to my ROOM
slept very little that night. Horrid
dreams came to vcx me, and I was
up long before five o'clock the next
morning.
How should I decided
Here appeared an opening which per-
haps never in q lifetime would come
again Here was fortune at my finger
ends only waiting for me to grasp. My
profession was slavish one at best.
Well did know what close compan-
ion poverty was. Here was wealth and
happiness before me-and an angel for
a wife-why did I hesitate?"
J Aye, it was that conscience that
''makes towards of US all" In accept
ing this | must sacrifice my manhood,
must be the receiver of blood-money,
the partaker of crime, He had &C
J knowledged that all his wealth was
hers by right.
1t was enough. Before the old
: fashioned clock in the hall struck five
, l had decided the course | should pur-
sue.
quickly stole from my room to that
Of my uncle's. Without knocking ]
went in, came close to his bedside and
said
81 reject your offer.
/ expected torrent ofpassion. There
he lay as had left him; one hand on
the Counterpart as it had been stretched
out to receive mine. His eyes were
glazed. He was dead!
: It is a hard thing to keep man down
L. L L