Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-08
Reached Through Ny Guardian

1t is perhaps worthy of remark in
connection with this tale that time
and time again life has been
sacrificed to the guillotinc. Not only
has the testimony given been consider
ell by both Judge and jury as more than
concus We. but the pubic at large has
nodded its approval; and when the YER
dict, which is just fable bv such testi.
mony, has been pronounced. satisfac-
ton has. in most cases. been expressed
on all sides. Nevertheless, great
wrongs have sometimes been commit
ted. and innocent part es have suffered
for the crimes Of the guilty.
Curious murders have taken place.
not only IN out-of.thc-way places, but in
our midst; the community has been
startled by some horrible outrage that
has caused for a time the widest ex-
element At no time during life can
we fee perfectly safe. for some of the
most icvolting of crimes have taken
pace when no motive could poss lly
be assign q. and a fear, N consequence.
that has not wholly been without cause
has deprived MANY of the more agree
able pleasures which an abundance of
money could afford.
Ia writing this tale for publication, /
have wei ghed the undoubted threats
of The populace which Will be leveled
at ne; yet my purpose is not to draw
your attention To me as criminal, but
is. as | have int mated, 10 place the
facts before YOU and II Il measure, to
curb that obliquity of judgment which
is every day becoming more atrocious
in its results.
have struggled successfully for
years to live down all thoughts Of the
ghastly occurrence rs it happened. |
may AS well tell. too. that in guarding
myself against giving vent 10 the lat
ent know ledge of mine. | have used
means before which the bravest among
YOU would pale.
The saddest heart has been buried
beneath the appearance Of gaiety; a
false aspect has been ven TO muir
derous eye; mirth has been introduced
Of hell was to overcome; and To all the
world the buoyancv OF thought. the
lightness of touch. the fam liarily of ac-
ton. has been Il sin, because untrue.
When | did it | had no III .ht; yet
strange cunning possessed me. for |
not only mapped out how should do
it. but | contrived that the guilt should
be fastened on another 1t was not
Al. Il, a. l.. Al. II II
be mine that prompted me. Oh. no; en-
joyed his money now; but meant that
Regneior should suffer for me. 1t would
teach me lesson. too; but he would
be IN the horrors of death ere he told
it | promised myself th much
Nv guardian should die. but Reg
neor, and not !, was TO pay the pen
atty had no grudge against the old
man; he had always been kind TO me.
1t was the thief-the villain who stole
nv secret-to whom death would
come.
The old man was to suffer but little. j
had arranged all that He could die
at one time as well rs another. The
trap had all been prepared. but the
time had not vet fully arrived when ]
should do the deed.
Regneior would not come tonight
he was away. and he had NV secret
with him-I knew that. He thought
TO gain by il. to become famous
have Irene love him for his discovery
and for this he should die-yes. die.
but not by my hand. All. was too
acute for them! They would hang him
for the mrud of & @ old man.
/ had labored hard. but had found
what sought, and it would go forever
They had all failed, but | had found it!
Had l not seen what | discovered?
That finger with the tip of
flame had traced it on the wall as lay
asleep, and from this had | copied
That one piece alone was wrong but
all was right now Fool that was
too show it to him! He saw that when
it was balanced it started Of its own ac-
cord. and went smoothly. not pausing
and Jerking and twitchlng rs before
lie laughed for JOY. and l-ah. such
mad delight as then possessed me.
recall now that heard him
chuckle; but he had been brother to
me. and Il not doubt him. imag-
med that he loved me so much as to
be glad of my success; but see IL all
now. He was thinking. cit shall be
mine; | will steal it from him..
and the low chuckle involuntarily
escaped him. But fooled him fine
ly. Ali. | was cunning!
knew Regneoir would como that
night, but did not prepare for him.
That had been completed long before.
What IL his wine were drugged? He
stole my secret from me, and had been
with Irene. But mine was clear Ha.
hal He thought drank it No. no.
nv friend. did not touch it; you knew
il before the fatal drop. before that
knot was placed beneath your ear; but
II was too late-too late even for hope.
They thought him crazy when he de-
nounced me- but we knew, aud | was
happy.
All. how noiselcssly crept to the
old mans cha mbcr! IL door did not
lock that night had seen to all this
nefore So when he had gone To his