Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-04-18

in default Of any commands to the con-
trary, opened IL.
There was an inner cover directed not
20 Sir Laurence Estmere OK to Lady Est
mere, but TO Lord Rothwell. Mary VIII
lIams was a clover woman, and knew who
'would he certain 10 see that the confess
fsion did It's work.
tore the cover open rs we'll 10 was
no time TO stand upon ceremony Several
sheets covered with writing were inside.
sit is all here?" said
She was cycling me eagerly ALI
every thing she whispered, az finished
IL that night. You first made me think
of putting 1t on paper.n
81 must have IL attested by two wit.
nesses," ! said. al will 20 and find
them"
"Not my children--my dear children"
she said IN fierce whisper. "If you
bring them I WIN die swearing 1t Is a
lie.r
ut shall not be your children"
u placed the precious document In nv
breast and left the room felt / could
not betoo cautious. So many interests
turned on that paper. Unless the most
lndisputahle evidence Of It's authority was
forthcoming, suspicious man, as felt
sure Sir Laurence Estmere must be, would
reject ID IS fabrication. To him IL would
be u warrant of condemnation
/ went TO the clergyman of the parish:
for North road had church Of lis own.
had scraped up kind OF acquaintance
with him. / told him the facts OF the
case, that dying sinner wished 10 make
what atonement She could, and asked
him II he would accompany me TO her
bedside, aud also II he would bring an
other man of standing with him. He was
interested and anxious to help me.
''My neighbor Is magistrate" he said.
. lie viii be the proper person IL we can
find HIM at home.n
The worthy magistrate was at home.
potterlng about his greenhouse. Such a
request as mine must have been an event
In his quiet life, and he gladly acceded |
to it, In very short time we were
standing by the dying woman's bed.
Yet even in that brief interval change
had taken place. !, without professional,
skill, could see that. SO l drew |
out the confession ana read it through
as quickly as possible, so quickly |
that scarcely gathered the gist |
OF Its contents, although could see from |
time TO time the two witnesses looking |
skance at the dying woman, who lay Il. |
lent, but, as was glad to think, perfect
Iy conscious.
At last l came TO an end. The mapjs- |
trate took the paper from my hand aud |
leaned over Mrs. Merton.
"You have heard the contents OF this
paper" he said, in solemn, judicial
voice, "and declare that TO the best of
FOUR belief they are the truth"
"Ihey are the TRUTH" repeated the dy-
ng woman.
The magistrate asked for pen and ink,
md the clergyman and himself signed
he document.
"You have nothing you wish to add?"
asked, bending over Mrs. Merton.
"Nothing for them to hear. Come
loser"
Her voice was growing fainter aud
ainter. placed my ear nearly touching
Ter lips.
"You may add why did it," she whis-
'ered. "A'giddy, vain girl; | loved Sir
laurence | offered him my love. He
would not condescend to understand me.
was too far beneath him for him to tell
Is vile to get rid of me. Then / hated
inland he paid for it,"
The clergyman having signed the
aper, fell on his knees at the bedside ana 1
cyan to pray for departing sinner. His {
riend handed me the attested confession, ,
nd creYt silently from the room.
'Send for my children-my children - ,
loaned the dying woman.
1 saw there was not a moment to SPARE
no at once summoned them, at the same &
cling the servant to run for doctor. q
hen returned to the room.
Her children's young faces were pressed a
sainst her wasted cheeks, her feeble a
ands were trying to c8ress them, her a
er Ups were moving convulsVely. The d
lous mlnistrations Of the good vicar fell j
pom needless ears AS l re-entered the a
DOH, Mrs. Merton looked at me, and d
1ere was something In her eyes which 4
lade me draw close to her. n
"You PROMISE" l heard her saw or .
ather, saw her lips form the words, il
~ Will keep it; die in peace, - replied =
Her eyes closed to open no more. and :,
lie only sound in the room were the sobs q
the boy and girl and the voice of the Z
ergymsn o.
"ihere Is more joy in heaven o
lear II The good man had known the q
anne OF mind in which she died he Il
ould scarcely have found that text an. il
roprlate: But penitent and unre- Ia
infant, Mrs. Merton had drawn her las, ID
reS,h' and her last act had, as far as Il
qua be, undone the evil she had Ie
Fought. ~
go DC Continued Neat Sunday.) /;
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