The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-08-09

when received k, she continued, with
the Injunction to deliver It into your hands
directly you came home, I thought would
first see what 1t contaiued."
"You infamous womanr'
II advise you to be polite. Therefore
went to my room aqd opened It Shall tell
you what it contained?"
~ am listening to you."
sit is most conslderato OF you, seeing that
Jour life hangs upon thread which 1t Is in
my power to cut 1t contained letter ad-
dressed to you By the Clergyman. I read it
with great interest. 1t contained also copy
of Samuel Fleetwood's false confession. /
read that with creator interest. 1t contained
also private lotter to you from Samuel
Fleetwood. read that with even greater
interest indeed-indeed. with 80 much inter-
est that retainedit.
"You stole it, then2'
''If you choose to put 1t in those words
am agreeable. ( stole 1t. Mr.. Pardon, you
are not young MAN; You must have had
experiences and ftdWensHEess you must know
something of men aud }ife. am younger
than you-much, very much younger-but
have had my experiences and adventures,
and know something, too. OF men and life.
Just now, judging from your agitation. am
the clear-headed 81 the two, and tell you
that never did man stand In such fearful
danger as you do at this moment. "A dis
graceful. an Infamous grave .is yawning
wide for you, and alone can lead you from
it to safe ground But you shall buy your
safety upon my terms"
looked helplessly around her words car
ried conviction with them. She wilfully mis-
construed my distracted gaze.
81 know why you are looking about. You
are strong, man am q weak woman. Have
you any intention OF committing a second
murder? Do not entertain 1t. beg; weak
as am, shall be able to defend myself till
l ALARM the house. Then no power on earth
can save you from your fate. was speaking
OF Samuel FleetwOod's private letter, and
told you that retained it. What Is more, I
made copy Of 1t. The original is put safely
away; it Is in ths hands OK one who viii use
it if the need occurs. Samuel Fleetwood did
not murder Mr.. Wflmot, but he saw the deel
done"
HE saw 1t done3" gasped. "Who. then,
is the murdererYt
"What question: Who Is the murdexer2
You'll You, and no other mani"
"You llep cried. "You Her
II speak the truth and you know It. Sam
uel Fleetwood's confession Is 3n1se cenfes-
sion. made not so much to save you as to
save your wife and daughter from lndolible
infamy. l told you had read The confes.
sion, which, of COARSE. you have also done.
What do you think 81 that part Of 1t which
speaks of the cord with which the unfortun-
ate gentleman was st+aueled9 Do you know
anything Of that cerd3 Could you produce
1t If you were forced to do SOP"
1t did not seem 70 me that human being
was speaking. The words heard seemed to
be uttered by some rensorseless devil.
$50 much for the cord, )" she said. '@Fhere
IL another part Of tho confession which must
have puzzled you-the ring with its remarka-
BILE diamond. What do you think Of the
description Samuel Fleetwood gives In his
confession of having taken 1t of tho dead
mans flnger2 What do you think OF the
description he gives OF having thrown 1t
into rivorp Shalt y hazard q guess, and
declare that you. and no other man, know
where that ring is oe this moment? Shall
hazard guess, and declare that, if you were
at this moment seized and searched, the ring
which proclaims you thief and murderer
would be discoveFeds Ohlige me with an
answer to that"
She paused, obviously with the intention
Of giving mo time to reflect, But all power
Of logical thought had passed from me. All
could say was;
~ must know ntoRe. Have you with you
tho copy of tho prtvGte lettor YOU say you
made"
II have 1t with me-"
"Will you let me read it''
Il brought it foo you to read. Invite me
to be seated"
"Be seated"
She laughed, and made me a mocking
obeisance; then, seating herself, handed me
the following document:
From SAMUEL FLBETwoon. dead, to RICHARD
PARDON, Esq, living. -
when this reaches your hands I shall be
dead. lying in O dishOnored grave BY man
shall be condemned, and In mans eyes my
name will be infamousS btlt the Supreme, I
hope and believe. will forgive the sin 1t Is my
intention to commit. This contemplated sin
will take the form Of o confession In which
shall declare myself to be guilty OF the awful
crime you committed. When you read these
lines, you alone, OF all men living, will know
that am innocent.
at was an hour past midnight when was
awoke from my sleep by Mr.. Wilmot's voice;
thinking he needed my services, / went into
his room, and found him in deep slumber,
talking to himself He was talking Of you
and my honored and beloved mistress and
daughter; and although, after I had con-
vinced myself that was not required, did
not stop TO listen, heard sufficient to sus-
pect that, unless you bent yourself to Mr..
Wilmots commands. 1t was his purpose to
ruin and beggar you.. Sad at heart, re-
presently fell asleep again. ! must have
slept about two hours, when started up in
bed with an impression that some person be-
sides himself was In Mr. Wilmots apartment.
rose, and was about TO ascertain il this was
SO, when the door between his room and
mine was softly opened, and you came forth.
Ishrank out of sight, and could not help see
ing that your face WAS white and convuisod,
and that your limbs were trembling violently.
Stepping very quietly. fearful OF attracting
while to give you time to get clear away. l
once more entered Mr. Wiimot's apartment,
and discovered, TO my horror, that he had
been murdered-bY you!
"What was l 20 do2 To give the alarm,
and point to you as the murderer In fhat
case, indeed, your rdln and digrace would
be complete; and not alone yours, but that
of the beloved mistress for whom I would
cheerfully have laid down my life. Over
whclmed by this reAeetion, l devoted a few
minutes to thought ToRll outward evidence
! was tho only witness to your awful crime;
my evidence, and only mine, could convict
you. What frightful repayment for all the
angelic kindness and my dead wife hld re-
ceived from my beloved mistress! To con-
denim the man she loved TO the seaffold, and
kI.A - h.