Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-04-02

jim bowed and made some polite re
ioinder. and Nancy went briskly out Of the
room, followed by Tommy.
They found her maid busily arranging
her gown for the evening You can go
down for half an hour. Susan, said
Nancy. and as the maid obeyed- closed the
door behind her and turned the key in the
lock Then she went across the room TO
Toramys side. and surely. If Beautiful
jim could have seen her a. that moment.
lie would 10. have found much forgetful-
hess Of the past in the sternly coz pressed
h. and tie shining scornfui eyes
+ have not asked you TO come here to
rr-roach you. Sfuar-." she began. looking
Straight at him with her wonderful, clear
gray shining. honest eyes.
Young Tommy shifted irresolutely from
one foot to the other. 4 should think.
b. blurted out, tina. you could hardly lie
So mean when I'm just of TO active ser
vice, and may never come home again
"a very good thing If you never do.
she responded. eoldly: "b7.. all the same.
1t Is Just because you arc going to the
front, and perhaps never may come home
again. that ! asked you to come up here
want to know if you have considered
that. in the event Of such happening. il Is
possible. even probable. that Your guilt
may fall on the shoulders of another who
Is perfectly Innocent
Tommy looked at her blankly What
do YOU rnean,'' he asked
Il mean. said Nancy steadily that
supposing you happen to be killed out
there or to die, and Mr. Beresford gets
home safely. the charge against him
might be raked up again, and he might
SD - trarN n
clear himself"
i never thought OF it," said Tommy
with evident sincerity
Il don't suppose you did-you don't
think very much of any one but yourself
you know, said Nancy. very seornfully
Il have thought Of it. however, and !
mean you TO secure him from any such
risk
How"
by leaving a written account behind
you OF Capt Owen death
Il shall do nothing Of the kind Do
you think I'm going to incriminate my.
self in that way No. I'll be shot if
do. he cried. Indignantly
Nancy eyed him coolly Hanged. you
mean she said. with extreme quietness
Tommy made a great start ''Nancy.
he said, hoarsely, are you trying how far
you can goy''
No, she replied. steadily. for have
no need know exactly how far can go,
and you also. You will sign that paper
before you leave this room. she
added. 'or | 20 straight to my father
with the whole story. II you were
man. with great scorn. you would be
only too glad to save q man who had
borne SO much for you from such q risk;
but you are the same Stuart you have
been all along bad, selfish and reckless TO
the lowest depths of your wicked heart. ="
Beresford has not kept silent for me-
muttered Tommy, sullenly.
No, but he has done SO for me, she
rejoined; and therefore am going to
secure him from running any further risk
through your sin than he had done be
fore"
You are going 10 do this and that. you
won't have the other. Tommy cried,
furiously. Pom my soul. Madame
Nancy, you will carry things too far, if
you don't mind Shall not stand very
much more Of your high hand. | assure
you By Jovel madame, he blurted out,
in a vain attempt to bounce Nancy out Of
her stronghold, you forget yourself. DO
you know who am
before she spoke Yes" she said. slowly
Il am sorry to say do know exactly
what you are You are Capt. Owen S
murderer
All rommy's artificial Indignation died
out instantly NO. I'm not that it was
an accident. " he stammered
Nancy smiled 1T is not worth while
to mince matters between you and |. she
answered 1T does not signify what you
call it. you killed him; that was enough
for me Now. we have no more time to
waste over this kind Of argument, sit
down there and write out what wish"
Tommy sat down and rested his head
jectedly on his hand. IL don know
what you want, he said forlornly.
Il knew you would not, said Nancy.
taking her keys out of her pocket and un-
locking her desk II have put down ex-
actly what want you to copy and sign
here it is.
She handed sheet of note paper to the
wretched boy, on which was written the
following:
Il. Stuart Earle, lieutenant in the
Biankshiro regiment, being on the eve #
departure for active service in BurInah.
do testify that on the --th OF May.
lsS-, l caused the death Of my brother
officer, Capt Richard Owen. by throwing
dumb bell at him swear that no other
person was in any way involved in his
death, or knew anything whatever about
it,"
Il tell you 1t was an accident, said
Tommy, fercely
Then you can add it. if you choose. =
said she.
So Tommy seized pen and passion
ately copied ont the few words. adding at
the end that the entire affair was an acct
dent that although he had thrown the
dumb bell at Owen in n passion, he had
never had the smallest intention Of kill
ing him, or even OF doing him any injury
whatever And how do | know you
won't let this get out of your hands," he
asked. raising . haggsrd and wretched
face to look at her
You may trust me, D." she said, quietly
Under no other circumstances than the
imminent danger to an innocent person
would disclose the truth not on account
of our family honor. which must be poor
indeed. since it has not had better in
tuence on you-but solely because of the
blow it would be to my father,
And you won't use it to work an in
fuence against me with my father he
asked To get me cut out Of my inner
itance, for instance"
Nancy looked at him in Disguised scorn.
Am you she asked. contemptuously
and so, stung to the depths of his ignoble
soul, young Tommy seized the pen once
more, dipped 1t into the ink, and signed
his name ut tho foot Of the page; Stuart
Earle, Lieutenant. Blankshire Regiment.
There, will that satisfy you?" he asked.
sa. ayely