Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-26

| continuing the search. !, too, had turned
| back. when one of those voices" now so
| familiar, spoke my name. / waited
Turn to the left. By the big oala you
win find Nellie" You may not believe it.
No matter. l had no thought Of hesitat-
| ing-u1y faith was sure-and turning my
| horse, / fairly few over the snow. 1t
was only short way, and was at the
oak. sprang out of the sleigh and
flashed my light here and there, then gave
one cry, "Nellie!" and knew no more;
When came out of my fathers house
again the snow had disappeared, the trees
were putting forth their tiny leaves and
the brave little crocus was in full bloom.
Winter had retired in favor OF spring
Most of the time was blank to me.
From the moment saw Nellie's upturned
face under the old oak | knew nothing
until, weeks after, found myself In my
room, with mother bending over me.
When | was able to bear it, they told
me all there was to tell Nellie had been
found living In the snow, dead There
were tracks of sleigh, but so far as they
were able to Judge, there WIS no struggle
of any kind. Where her head lay, there
was a large stone, and a mark on her
forehead made them theorize that per
haps she fell from tho sleigh and came
to her death through its means. But
why was she there, and who was with
her, and why did he leave her? Detec
tives had failed to find any clew. The
country was in such a state Of excitement
all the time, that the occurrence was for
gotten sooner than it might have been,
except by the heartbrohen family and
immediate friends.
Yes-one other did not forget it. He
who had caused her death could not for
get it. All the theories in the world
could not shake my belief that she had
been murdered-but by whom? My life
should be given to find out. | grew
better, but the great shock had taken all
the ambition and aim Of my life out OF
me. Work I could not. Even if l did
busy nv hand with this thing or that,
nv mind was not with it; it simply used
up time.
Father and mother, though they had
their own heavy grief to bear, sorrowed
still more to see me in such state. And
my God, how | suffered
At length could stand it no longer.
The president was calling for more troops
nero was q CllluCe lDT I6IIcI "cilb ~
nv father and told him it was nay only
hope-I must get away from myself or
die. can see him now, as he sat in his
study, his face buried in his hands, strllg-
cling against love and desire. At length,
clasping nay hands, he placed the other
on my head, and said: William, it is for
the best-go, and may God protect you."
will pass over the intervening days,
for though | had my desire, and all
thought it was for the best, the parting
was no less hard. ! obtained an officers
commission, and went out with home
regiment, In the hardships and the ex-
element of army Fife grew away from
my old self and grief, and became man
1t had been a day of heavy fighting. and
many Of cur brave men lay dead and
dying on the field. Ny regiment had
been in the thickest of 1t, and after it was
all over | went forth to look after my
men and to render such assistance ss |
could or that might be needed. was
wandering about in the vicinity where we
had been fighting, when one Of those
voices" that still haunted me, but no
longer gave me any uneasiness, said:
"Williep' | waited. Turn to yonr left.
Remember Nellie" Perhaps you can
imagine how this startled me; not the
sound of the ''voice" THAT was an old
story - but those words, Remember
Nelliel" Remember herl never forgot
her or her sad fate. Sleeping or waking
| seemed to see her upturned face as it
lay there on the snow; but the voice"
said. Remember Eellie!" turned and
walked on mechanically. l knew was
being led for some purpose, and soon the
voice" said, "Ie is here" Who was
here?
l looked down, and there ley vorng
man in an officers uniform; he had a ia
niliar look, but my memory refused to
place him. Suddenly, as by q great effort,
it flashed across nay brain he was one OF
the students at college, and great ad-
nlirer of Nellies. He was Of Spanish
birth, end Nellie often said she was fairly
afraid Of him.
And there he lay, cold and ifeless. But
why had l been led here? stopped down,
and saw that one hand had drawn small
leather case half out Of his pocket. l
loosened it and opened the case. Inside
found his name and q few papers, then q
picture. | gasped, and almost fell. Il
was NelEes, and fastened TO 1t was lock
OF hairi Then it flashed ACROSS MY mind,
as thoughts viii, without any apparent
reason, that here lay Nelue's murderer l
asked the question, in nv mind, and,
turning my face upward, | waited for an
answer. 1t was only q few seconds-it
seemed on age; then Il voice" close to my
ear whispered yes"
They tell me Twas picked up insensible,
and many wore the questions poured in
upon me By my comrades. What excuse
gave or what story I told them I have
forgotten. Had I told the truth they
would have thought as you do now, that
my brain was disorsiercd; ana SO l have
kept the story to myself, telling only my
own family.
How lac came to do it never knew, but
in my own mind there was never doubt
that he did commit the deed. You viii
say court Of law would never take such
evidence. They will never have the
chance. To me the evidence is conclu-
sive. found that be:left college the day
after Nellie was found and enlisted. His
comrades say he was sober and Dorose,
but brave and daring as very devil, and
that he met his death as the result.
To me there was n reason for all this
he was haunted man. I am strong in
my belief that ne suffered IS only one
with lead of guilt to bear can suffer.
My story is told, and | feel, as said in
the beginning, that you think it is only
the imagining of g disordered brain.
Never nind-call it what you will-call it
as DO, Another Strange Story. Prank
LesGsS.
4 Military sIlcrophone.
1t Is reported that n young infantry
officer Of the French army has invented a
kind of military microphone by means