Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-12-13


he was calm. but it was the calmness Of
despair-the nisfortunes Of the past year
seemed 10 have come TO a climax, and he
looked forward to the publication Of the
whole bitter story with an indifference that
surprised himself. His own name and that
Of Madge and her dead father would be on
every tongue, yet be felt perfectly callous to
whatever might be said on the subject As
long as Madge recovered, and they could go
away to another part Of the world, leaving
Australia, with its bitter memories, behind,
he did not care Moreland would suffer the
bitter penalty of his crime, and then nothing
more would ever be heard of the matter 1t
would be better for the whole story to be
told, and momentary pain endured, than to
go on striving TO hide the infamy and shame
which might be discovered at any moment.
Already the news was all over Melbourne
that the murderer of Oliver Whyte had been
captured, and that his confession would bring
to light certain startling facts concerning the
late Mark Frettlby. Brian well knew that
the world winked at secret vices as long as
there was an attempt at concealment, though
it was cruelty severe on those which were
brought to light, and that many whose lives
might be secretly far more culpable than
Door Mark Frettlby's would be the first to
slander the dead man. The public curiosity
however, was destined never to be gratihed
for the next day it became known that Roger
Moreand had hanged himself in his cell dur
ing the night, and had left no confession be-
hind him.
When Brian heard this he breathed heart
.elt prayer of thanks for his deliverance, and
No xx-hn hn M
chambers, in deep conversation with Chinston
and Kilsip They all came to the conclusion
that as Moreland was now dead nothing
could be gained by publishing the confession
of Mark Frettlby; SO agreed t. burn it, and
| when Fitzgerald saw in the heap of blackened
| paper in the fireplace all that remained of the
bitter story he felt a weight lifted off his
heart. The barrister, Chinston and Kilsip,
| all promised to keep silent on the subject, and
they kept the promise nobly, for nothing was
| ever known Of the circumstances which led to
the death of Oliver Whyte, and it was gen
orally supposed that it must have been
caused by some quarrel between the dead
man and his friend, Roger Moreland
Fitzgerald, however, did not forget the
good service that kilsip had done him, and
gave him a sum OF money which made him
| independent for life, though he still followed
| his old profession of a detective from sheer
| love of excitement, and was always looked
upon With admiration as the man who had
solved the mystery of the famous hansom
| cab murder Brian after several conslllta-
| tons with Caltun, at last came to the concu.
| sion that it would be no use to reveal tc Sal
Rawlins the fact that she was Mark Frettlby's
daughter, as by the will the money was
clearly left to Madge and such a revelation
could bring her no pecuniary benefit, while
her bringing up untitled her for her position;
so yearly income, more than sufficient for
her wants, was settled upon her, and she was
allowed to remain in ignorance of
her parentage. The influence of Sal
Rawlins' OLD life however, was very
strong on her, and she devoted her
self to the task of saving her fallen sisters
Knowing. as she did, all the intricacies of
the slums, she was enabled to do an immense
amount of good, and many an unhappy
woman was saved from the sgualor and
hardship of gutter life by the kind hand of
Sal Rawlins.
| Felix Rolleston became member of par
lament, where his speeches, il not very deep,
were at least fmusing, and while in'the house
always behaved like a gentleman which
could not be said about all his parliamentary
colleagues
Madge slowly recovered from her illness,
and as she had been implicitly named in the
will as heiress to Mark Frettlbys great
wealth she placed the management Of her es-
tates in the hands of Mr.. Calton, who, with
rhintou & Tarbet, acted as her agents in
Australia On her recovery she learned the
story of her fathers early marriage, but both
Calton and Fitzgerald were silent about the
fact of Sal Rawlins being her half sister, as
such revelation could do no good, and would
only create a scandal, as no explanation
could be given except the true one Shortly
afterward Madge married Fitzgerald, and
both of them only too gladly left Australia
with all it's sorrows and bitter memories.
Standing with her husband on the decl
of one of the p and O. steamers, as il
plowed the blue waters of Hobson's bay int
foam, they both watched Melbourne as /
gradually faded from their view, under tn
glow of the sunset. They could see tn
Two domes of the exhibition, and the Law
; courts, and also government house, with it
tall tower rising from the midst of tn
green trees. In the background was brigh
, crimson sky, barred with masses of blac
clouds, and over all the great city hung
, cloud of smoke hike pail
, The glaring red light of the sinking su
J glared angrily on the heavy waters, and th
, steamer seemed to be making its way throug
] a sea of blood Madge, clinging to her hui
, bands arm, felt her eyes fill with tears, {
4 she saw the land of her birth recedin
n slowly
( "Good-by," she murrnured softly. "Goo'
l by forever"
g "You do not regretf' he said, bending
Q head.
/ Regret, no." she answered, looking
e him with loving eyes. ''With you by n
| side, | fear nothing Surely our hearts ha'
It been tried in the furnace of atfliction, al
S our love has been chastened and purified"
d 1--WE are sure of nothing i'll this world" r
II pliel Brian, with a sigh. "But after all Il
:, >orrow and grief Of the past let us hope tn
=, the future will N; peace"
1, "PeaceP'
! A white winged sea gull arose sudden
q from the crimson waters, and circied rapid
lie in the air above them.
| "a happy omen," she said, looking
I'd fondly to the grave face of her husband, #
TO your life and for mine"
* He bent down and kissed her.
The great steamer moved slowly out to 81
" and as they stood on the deck, hand clasp
0. in hand, with the fresh salt breeze blowi
i keenly in their faces, it bore them away il
y, the placid beauty of the coming mig
towards the old world and the new life.
p, TIE END.
. - -
;" The attempt to organize q grave ST.
trust has failed grave stone is