Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-13
THE RICHMOND DISPATCH-SUNDAY, MAY IL, 1883

derer, round whose neck nc hau WIN
such matchless skill and patience been
/ twisting n halter was her husband And
he had not even known that any man
/ had called her wife He stood outside
gazing across the street. his eyes dark
aud burning with suffering, Jealousy,
bitterness.
Why had she not told him ?
"Mark :" She stood by his side. For
I the first time she used his Christian
name. The name by which she had
( hitherto called him was not his. and she
could not use his other, which showed
him 10 be the dead mans avenger. lie
/ did not stir nor speak. and she laid her
hand on his arm. Mark" she said
again. u never told you because | was
80 ashamed that such man had called
me wife. We were married seven years
900. was a girl then---only eighteen
+ foolish. Ignorant. romantic. ! met hun
in At,erica: he was over there posing as
a MARTYR for his cOuntry--lreland. he
was eloquent. enthusiastic about the bit
ter wrongs Of his country and people. and
+ I believed him." Her voice broke into
/ n more Passionate rOte. bat she quelled
+ IT, 81 believed that be was a brave
patriot. who had given his all for his
/ country and vas being shamelully per
secuted by its OppTcssOrs. | married
/ him. and found him to be liar-rapa-
cious, reyen2eful. cruel Instead OF
having given up all for his country, he
was growing rich out OF the poor and
ignorant who trusted him. / learned TO
hate, despise. and fear him. After
time lett him, and have lived as you
know how. And now TO add to bis
crimes he has committed this last most
dreadful one Of all-and still | come TO
Won 10 plead for his life, though he has
been the anguish OF nine.
/ She knew the man 10 whom she was
/ pleading some desperate, dumb fear OF
herself guided ner to the knowledge. If
she could plead for that miserable wretch
he could crush his own feelings and
listen. 1t was no time for love ; yet she
/ knew that he loved her as she loved him.
But between them this unspoken love
Law Ike a naked sword, commanding
their faith and purity. And she could
see but one way to obey that command
TO spare the man who kept their lives
apart. He understood her. But his
mind refused to submit because OF an
other element warning in It,
There was love If he let this man
escape. he lost his love. Fear For If
no laid bis hand on this man, might 1t
not he a treachcrous revenge for the love
he was losing? But amid this tumult OF
beart-voices another spoke, and it grew
louder and clearer Duty II he let
this man 20 he was q traitor himself
lie had bad bis orders. Till tonight he
had obeyed such orders rs an honorable
man should. Yet he Obeyed tonight,
would not she turn from him as a coward
who had sacrificed this rival for the sake
Of his love? She could not see tins duty.
She wa, arguing desperately against their
love to save their honor. But there was
this other call --
And then suddenly oil fear of her mis-
understanding him vanished. The clouds
OF stormy passion cleared from his
hrain. He had always made duty a
plain path TO his feet. And now in tins
momentof his supreme ordeal the SIM
ple rectituCe of his life saved him.
"Jauct." he said quietly, though his
voice was fainter for the storm that had
shaken him, 81 cannot do what you
ask.
She fell back against the railing,
closping ii with her hand to steady her
SELF 81 hesitation gone now. he ran
MP the steps leading 10 the house door.
+ ii WAS aiar as she had left 1t. Though
tue scene might have taken an age IL
measured 10y the passion Of 1t, 1t had in
reality passed III a few seconds. But
now that he was acting again, every
second lost seemed precious as an hour.
What if his quarry had escaped ?
lie ran upstairs with swift, light
feet. drawing his revolver as he went.
The man WAS powerfully built and des-
prrate. If he bad met any men on bis
wav upstairs ne would have told them
10 guard the door and the windows IN
case out only woman came ont OF one
of the rooms as he passed, and he had
no time to stay and seek help. Hemust
grapple with the murderer alone. His
only fear now was that he had escaped
I by the back Of the house.
Oh Why had he lost even those few
seconds ? lie reached the landing
there was no sound IRON the closed door
/ OF Janet's room.
he tried the handle. 1t was locked on
the inside, for, bending swiftly to look,
he saw the key showing the dark against
/ the light in the room.
With a mighty effort he flung himself
with his whole force against the door.
The frail lock gave way, and bursting
open the door, Jermyn sprang into the
room. To see that Joseph Malone had
escaped : The room vas az he had al
ways seen it, when in passing, he
had caught a glimpse into its purity
of neatness and cleanness. The only
disorders were the remains Of that supper
lett on the table and the disauanged
coverlet. upon which the murderer had
flung himself mud-stained, weary, sub
len, and full of hate of the woman who
had done her best to save him. And he
lay now across her hearth, beyond the
reach Of Justice rs Of human help, done
to death by his own desperate despair
ing hand. This was his last way of
escape from the halter already closing