Milford chronicle., 1888-09-07

of any Kind. Where her head lay, there
was a large stone, and mark on her
forehead made them theorize that per
haps she fell from the sleigh and came
to her death through its means. But
why was she there and who was with
her, and why did he leave herr Detec-
tives had failed to find any clew. The
country was in such state OF excitement
all the time, that the occurrence Was for
gotten sooner than It might have been.
except by the heartbroken family and
immediate friends.
Yes-one other did not forget 1t. 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 whomi 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
we. Work ] could not. Even If did
busy my hand with this thing or that,
my 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 Ia such state. And
l'I-my God, how suffered
At length could stand 1t no longer.
The president was calling for more troops
here was chance for relief went to
my father and told him 1t was my 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, strug-
CLING against love and desire. Atlengths
clasping my hapds, he placed the other
on my head, and said; William, it IS for
the best-go. and may God protect you'll"
viii pass over the intervening days,
for though I 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 Che hardships and the ex-
element Of army life grew away from
my old self and grief, and became a man
It had been day of heavy Sighting, and
many of our brave men lay dead and
dying on the field My regiment had
been in the thickest Of it, and after it was
all over I went forth to look aftor my
men and TO render such assistance as
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;
1 "Willie" i waited. 'eTurn to yOnr left
Remember Nelliep' Perhaps you can
imagine how this startled me; not the
sound of the "voice"-that was an old
story - but those words. Remember
NelheP 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 Nellie" turned and
walked on mechanically. I knew was
being led for some purpose, and soon the
''voice" said, "He is here" Who was
here9
l looked down, and there lay young
man in an officers uniform; he had fa-
miliar look, but my memory refused to
/ place him. Suddenly, as by a great effort.
/ 1t flashed across my brain be was one Of
the students ct college, and great ad-
mirer Of Nellies. He was Of Spanish
/ birth, and Nellie often said she was fairly
afraid Of him.
And there he lay. cold and lifeless. But
| why had been led hereS IstOoped down,
and saw that one hand had drawn a small
leather case half out Of his pocket. I
loosened 1t and opened the case. Inside I
/ found his name and q few papers, then b
1 picture, 1 gasped. and almost fell. It
\ was Nellie's, and fastened to 1t was lock
/ of hairl Then It flashed across my mind,
as thoughts viii, without any apparent
reason, that here lay Nellie's murderer.
asked the question, In my mind, and,
| turning my face upward, waited for an
answer. It was only a few seconds--it
seemed an age; then ''voice" close to my
ear whispered yes.
They tell me was picked up insensible,
and many were the questions poured in
/ upon me by my comrades. What excuse
| 1 gave or what story told them have
/ forgotten. Had l told the truth they
would have thought as you do now, that
I my brain was disorderedi and so l have
kept the story to myself, telling only my
| own family.
How he came to do it never knew, but
! in my own mind there was never doubt
| that he did commit the deed. You VIII
say a court Of law would never take such
/ evidence, They will never have the
/ chance. To me the evidence Is c0nclu-
sive. found that hesleft college the day
after Nellie was found and enlisted. His
comrades say he was sober and morose,
but brave and daring as a very devil, and
that he met his death as the result.
To ME there was a reason for all this
he was haunted man; / am strong in
my belief that ne suffered as only one
with a load of guilt to bear can suffer.
Ny story is told, and feel, as | said in
| the beginning that you think it is only
the imagining of q disordered BRAIN
Never nind-call 1t what you will-call It
as do, another Strange Story. Frank
Leslies.