Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-26

doubt that it will surprise you as much as it
surprised me-"
Ruth SAID nothing until they had crossed the
bridge over the Dare.
"What is it2' she asked at last
"Well, Ruth, at present it is only known TO
Mr.. Vickery Mr.. Volkes and myself, and what
ever happens want you TO say nothing about
it until give you leave. Now, Ruth. ! have
some sort Of idea that what am going to tell
you will relieve your mind Of burden"
Ruth turned pale.
Relieve my mind. sir!" she repeated.
''Yes Ruth; may be wrong and If lam can
only say beforehand that am sorry, but have
an idea that You suspect and have for long
time: suspected, that George FORESTER muir
dered Miss Carne"
Ruth did not speak But looking down, the
doctor saw by the pallor of her cheeks and the
expression cfsher face that his supposition was
correct
II think, Ruth. that has been your idea. If
SO, / can relieve your mind. Mr.. Carne before
his death confessed that he murdered his
sister" Ruth gave a start and cry she
reeled in her seat, and would have fallen had
not the doctor thrown his arm round her.
STEADY my child. steady" be said, this is
surprise to you, have no doubt, and whatever
it is to others, probably joyful one."
Ruth broke into violent mt OF. sobblng.
The doctor did not attempt to check her, but
when she gradually recovered, he said, THAT is
strange news. is it not RUTH?
"But did he mean 1t, sir?" she asked. "Uid
he know what he was saying when he said
SOP
He knew perfectly we'll Ruth; he told us a
long story but will not tell you what 1t is
now. We shall be at Mr.. Volkes' in minute.
and we shall find Mr.. Vickery there, and
want you to tell us what you know about it
before you hear what Mr. Carne's story was
do hope that you will tell us everything you
know. Only in that way can we clear Captain
Mervyn.
Il will tell you everything know, sir" Ruth
said, quietly; II told Miss Armstrong hye weeks
aud, r,ra1x-
some one she has written to before telling 1t to
The gig now drove up to the door of the mag
istrate's house, and DIR. Arrowsmlth LED hutn
into the sitting room. where Mr.. Volkes and
the clergyman were awaiting her. -
''Sit down here, Ruth" the doctor said, handl
you first that have told Miss Powlett that MrI
Carne has confessed that he killed his sister. s,
have not told her a single word more. lt wa e
of course. of the highest Importance that she
should not know the nature of his story beforr
telling You her own. She has expressed he,
willingness to tell you all she knows. Now
Miss Powlett will you please begin In your own
wav."
Quietly and steadily Ruth Powlett told her
story, beginning with the conversation that she
had had with Margaret Carne relative to her
breaking off the engagement; then she de-
scribed her interview with George Forester,
his threats against Miss Carne and his attack
on herself: and then told how she had found
his knife by the bedside on the morning of the
murder. She said that she knew now that she
had done very wrong to conceal it, but that she
had done it for The sake of George Forrester's
father. Lastly, she told how she had gone to
the trial. taking the knife with her, firmly re-
solved that in case verdict of guilty should
be returned against Captain Mervyn, she
would come forward produce the knife, and
tell all that she knew.
Her three hearers exchanged many looks of
satisfaction as she went on.
When she had finished Mr.. Volkes said: I'VE
are very much obliged to you for your story,
Miss Powlett Happily it agrees precisely with
that told us by Mr.. Carne. 1t seems that he
was in the wood and overheard your quarrel
with Forester and the threats against Miss
Carne suggested to him the idea of throwing
the blame upon Forester. and to do this he
placed the knife that he had found on the
scene OF the poaching afray short time be-
fore, in his sisters room. After this contirma-
tion given by your story, there can be no doubt
at ali that Mr.. Carne's confession was genuine,
and that it will completely clear Captain Mer-
vyn of the suspicion of having caused his
sisters death. We shall be obliged, 1 am
afraid, to make your story public also, in order
to confirm his statement This will naturally
cause you much pain and some unpleasantness,
and hope you will accept that the inevita-
BILE consequence of the course-which you
yourself see has been a very mistaken one
pursued in this affair"
4 am prepared for that, sir" Ruth said,
quietly; II had already told Miss Armstrong
about it and was ready to come here to tell
you the story even when thought that by SO
dong should have to denounce George For
rester as murderer. l am rejoiced that he
Is now proved 10 De innocent IlaL can very
well bear what may be said about me-"
But why not have come and told me at once
when you made up your mind TO do so?' Mr..
FoIkes asked. why delay it?''
Il was waiting. sir; was waiting-but-a and
she paused. that secret is not my own; but
think, sir, that if you will go to Mr.. Armstrong
he Will be able to tell you something that you
who is Mr.. Armstrong; Mr.. volkes asked,
in some surprise.
''He is gentleman who has been living in the
FOrf los fof1r
not think that there is any harm in my saying
that he knows where Captain Mervyn is to be
found.
That will certainly be useful information.
All this will be joyful news to him. We must
get him back among us as soon we can. He
has indeed been very hardly treated in the mat
ter. think, Miss Powlett, we will get YOU to
put your story into the form of sworn informa-
tion. We may as well draw 1t up at once and
that will save you the trouble of coming up here
again."
This was accordingly done, and Ruth Powlett
walked back to the village leaving Mr.. Volkes
and the other two gentlemen to draw up
formal report of the confession made by Regi-
maid Carne.
Ruth Powlett went straight to the cottage oc.
cupied by the Armstrong;
What is your news Ruth?' Mary said, as she
entered. II can see by your face that you have
something important to tell u.s."
Il have, indeed" Ruth replied. 81 have Just
been up to Mr. Volkes. the magistrate, and
have told him all knew"
What induced you to do that. Ruth?" Mary
asked, in surprise. II thought you had quite
settled to say nothing about it until we heard
from Captain Mervyn."
"They knew all about 1t before 1 told them
and only sent for me to confirm the story Mr.
Carne, before he died last night made full
confession before Mr.. Volkes, Dr. Arrowsmith
and Mr.. Vickery. 1t was he who, in his mad.
ness killed his sister, and who placed George
Forrester's knife by the bedside and Captain |
Meryyn's glove on the grass to throw suspicion
on them. Captain Mervyn and George Forres- |
ter are both innocent"
The news was SO sudden and UNEXPECTED that |
it was some time before Mary Armstrong could |
sufficiently recover herself to ask questions |
The news that Ronald was proved to be inno-
cent was not SO startling as it would have been |
had she not previously believed that they were
already in position to clear him; but the |
knowledge that his innocence would now be |
publicly proclaimed in a day or two filled her |
with happiness. She was glad, too for Ruth's |
sake that George Forester had not committed |
this terrible crime; and yet there was a slight |
feeling of disappointment that she herself had |
had no hand in clearing her lover and that this |
had come about In an entirely different way to |
what she had expected. |
Mr.. Volkes and the clergyman called that af- |
ternoon and had long talk with Mr. Arm |
strong, and the following day thrill of ex- |
citement was caused throughout the country |
by the publication in the papers of the confess
sion of Reginald CarDe. DIR. Arrowsmith GER
tilted that, although Reginald Carne was up-
for some years, he had no hesitation in saving |
that he was perfectly conscious at the time he |
made the confession, ana that the statement |
might be believed as implicitly as if made py a |
wholly sane man. In addition to this certificate |
and the confession, the three gentlemen signed |