The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1888-09-21
ey for his burial. No; l am free; but
mono the less | am the widow of a con-

ey for his burial. No; 1 am free; but
none the less | am the widow of a con-
victed felon.n
"But none the less" quoted Gerard,
''the woman i honor aud love above
all Others, and hope still to make my
wife"
1t took, however. more than one in
terview. full of lovers pleading, to
win Maude from her resolution. She
SO honored her lover, was so proud Of
his good name and tho position he had
attained by his talent, that her sersi-
tive nature shrank from even the shad-
ow of her own misery falling upon his
life. =
But tic victory was Won ut last, and
the lawyer walked home one evening
full Of q proud glad JOY. for Maude
had promised to be his wife.
He had no thought but of that glad
triumph when he turned up the gas in
his Office. He was in the habit of max
ing his last visit there before going up
to his bedroom, in case notes or mes
sages had been left for him.
One lay there on this evening, q
shabby-looking envelope, but directed
in y bold hand, ONE hand that he rec
OTnlzed ut once.
He tore it open. After q few words
OF Introduction the note ran:
You did the best you could for me
on my trial, but the facts were too
strong for you. l have now q last IA
vor to ask of you. Idle, as YOU know,
at noon tomorrow. You, as my law
yer can see me at any time. Win you
come as soon as you receive this. md
win the gratitude of the man you know
as JAMES Fox"
1.-The man I know as James FoxH'
muttcred the lawyer; .'the smooth
plausible ,scoundrol who actually made
mo believe him innocentof the hideous
murder for which he was convicted. j
can find e%Xtenuation forsome murders,
but this cold-blooded assassination of
an old man for money only was revolt
ing. How he deceived mo, though. for
a time! And how he exulted over his
success in doing S when, rs he says,
facts were 100 strong! Shall l go to
him? suppose / must. 1t IS still
early" -.44.is@
1t was no yet midnight when Gerard
| the man who in q few short hours was
to meet the extreme penalty OF the law
for the worst crime. >a E ath
II knew you would GOMEZ he said
c%ourteousiy Though you wcretoffended
at my want of ~frankness, Well. that
is all over! You will not refuse the
last request of q dying man, Mr.. Lang
tonp"
mot if I can grant it," was the re-
ply.
This" said the murderer, sis not
my first oflense against the law. Some
years ago l was sentenced for q term
of years fora forgery. BY y strange
accident [ escaped the penalty. On
the same day James Fox was sentence
cd to two years for petty larceny, and
We were sent together TO prison. James,
Fox-my companion, understand, not
myself-was deranged, but his lawyer
had not been able to save him, as
his alteration was not always appar.
ent.
when we were entered upon the
books of the prison. imagine my
amazement when my fellow-prisoner
gave my nam for his own. Like n
flash ! SAW the advantage to be gained
by the deception, and allowed the cr-
ror to pass. My companion committed
suicide, and ! escaped with two1ycars'
| Imprisonment. instead of seven Rut
fnaroa r~econnit;Snrn md Won't "a C,n.
ada. I,hero T lived by nv wits until /
ycar 400. when / returned here TO try
ia r,;sa money from my w;fa and
thought / saw IN easier plan by com.
mittinm the crime for which I die ia.
morrow.
"Bat I want to sec nv wife. wrong
ed he--I robbed hor-but, Heaven Is
nv witness. ! loved her. When I was
nut in prison she dronped nv name,
and took her own arain. So It is not
for Mrs. Alexander Hull Won must 60,
but for Mrs. Maude Yemplc.n
Was the room roelina-the ceiling
falIin@1tbo vail ]closina around himp
Gerard Laneton felt us if they were.
rs the name fell on his cars.
MauIe-his Mallae-the wife of this
cool villain who talked of his bideous
crimes as ii they were ordinary events!
Well he knew that to carry this mans
message was TO separate himself from
Mande forever. Never. would she let
him marry tho widow of a murderer.
Very rapidlv all Inc terrible facts
pressed one after another upon his
brain, and he said; elf YOU love her.
why add n new misery TO her lifep She
NAV have lived down the old pain Won
caused her; WIN for n selfish oratitica-
ton will You make her whole life a
misery?"
.S6e is nv wife, I would bid her
farewell" ~
uShe is not vour wife. Your own
crimes have released her from nny al
l~ceiance 10 you!n
You know hero"
Eyes! / know what she has suffered,
and beg of YOU TO let her still believe
YOU died years ago"
"She is happyp"
Scarcely that. Such wounds as
hers never heal entirely. but il is cru
city to tear them open when they are
a~uict!"
HAS she married aeainp"
mo. She is still our widow!n
1T is hard TO deny myself one moro
that she wonid sayashe ]forrove me.n
Ti'ann ,t,s nJi ~ Ia 49,; - H., ~,