The Panola weekly star. (Sardis, Miss.) 1882-18??, 1885-04-04
MY FIRST MURDER.
Reasons for Committing H. and
Why II Shall Be Ny Last.

~ ~ @AAfA ~ 80 AHNAnNH
never realized. uniIl quite lately.
wha, q lot the fellows who write book.
md things have to answer for Fori in.
stance, ! am pretty sure that / should
never have thought Of committing mur.
der but for q particular article IN the
CorHhW Magazine. dom often read
magazine articles. hut this one was
brought TO my notice IN a rather cycep-
tional way | had occasion 70 pas a
visit 10 my dentist. and on bring shown
into bis waiting-room | observed 81 once
that there was an addition to the cur.
rent literature upon the table | had
been there (irom circum tanccs over
which have unfortunately no controD
70 frequently that | knew the list hy
heart had tried them all. at various
times, and had found them, without "a.
ccptiou. vanity. Under such circum.
stances, it may BE- imagined that !
caught sight Of the familiar yellow cover
81 the CTHhW with much stii faction.
found, to my surprise. that il was a
quite recent number. bearing date Sep.
tcmbar last. ! pounced upon IL. and
was soon deep in n highly interesting
story. entitled. The Curaic Of Churn.
side II set forth how a nice Young
curate, by name Walter Dcnr. OF
charming manner aud artistic tastes
n man who showed the lrndrrest
solicitude for little sick girl., and a
touching consideration even for their
aged grandmother was imprllcd. by
pressure Of circumstances, 10 murder
his uncle. I had always had n
prejudice against murlrrcrs, whom
pictured 70 myself as vulgar and brutal
persons like the late Mr. Peace. but |
began to see that there might be another
side 10 the question. The story showed.
In the c%lcarest and most unmistakable
manner, that Walter Dene really had
no alternative. He had not the least
wish 10 murder hi, uncle. hut the old
gentleman formed an obstacle 10 Wal
ter's union with an amiable and desery-
ing yOun. lady, and IL was absolutely
necessary that he should be- removed.
Accordingly. Walter makes up his mind
10 remove him, and does 80. siahbing
him artistically In tho back with =
bowie-knife. IL shows the natural
kind-heartedncss Of the man. tina, hay-
ing, In Withdrawing the knife. acct
denlally wounded the paw Of the muir
dcrrd mans fayoriie spaniel. Walter
Dene sits down quietly by the side Of
the corpse, and binds up the dogs
wounded limb with his own pocket
handkerchief. had reached this point
in the story. when tho folding doors
opened. My dentist appeared in the
opening. with his usual crocodile smile
Il never could realize CROCODILE tears.
but can picture their smile exactly),
and beckoned me in. | Rad 10 lay
down the story unfinished. and 10 this
day ] don't know what ultimately be-
came Of the tender. hearted murderer.
For the next half hour or so my atten.
ton was diverted from the subject by
extreme personal discomfort. but on
leaving the chamber Of horror, and re-
gaining the street the history came back
TO me with renewed yiyidness. found
myself examining Walter Dcne's argli-
ments for the suppression Of his uncle
with a sort Of personal interest. Tor |,
too. have an uncle. |. too. love land
am beloved by a charming girl. aud
my uncle i the only obstacle 10 our
union. don't mean 10 say that he OBJ
jects to it-qnite the contrary; but the
mere fart Of his continuing 10 exist,
and thereby retaining possession 81 his
money. which would otherwise eome 10
No, Is an effectusl bar 10 our happiness.
Dear Julia Is a charming girl. but, like
the young lady In the song. her face is
her fortune, and Il Is hardly TO BE- sup.
posed that !. Benjamin Grylls. a clerk
In her Maicsty's Civil Service at fi5O
syear. could marry on fhai, even with
the additional hundred or 80 NV uncle
allows me. Really the parallel was
wonderfully close. In some respects.
indeed. mine was the strongest case.
For Rev. Walter Dcnc's uncle was not
Gave by the nero fact Of his eSisiencel
objectionable. Mine cdsi Not 20 men.
ton his disgusting habit Of calling me
Benny, and Of cracking what he was
pleased to consider jokes al ms expense.
he had sundry manners and customs
which. TO = delicate. minded person,
were extremely offensive. He tcouid
wear an old serge jacket and carpet
slippers. and no, ~unfrequently be would
come down 10 breakfast without collar
or neektie. and not always In the clean.
est Of shirts Now II there i one thing
more than another on which | pride
myself. Il Is my shirts I always wear
tuncle Thomas pays the laundress'
BILL q clean shirt every day. and nv
cuffs and collars are the envy Of ali The
fellows In our ofice.
leone down 10 breakfast | fstter nv.
eli. Ike > gentleman. Uncle Thomas
shssnbles In ten minutes or = quarter Of al
hour later. with his carpet slippers his
sh'rtfroni runpled % II be had slept in Il,
nd very often sofrsycd out 81 the button.
o. ttas he studs woa I keld Ia them.
when ! entrsst him 10 show m1rs self.
v.speee aud 10 buy himself half do,-
eeeest shirts. he old reprohsts
sealf - he ccsr-en~z= - fru ne
s4prt n -Ah. Benny. my
seys. zen hasen't an
- - laaeks al he