Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-08-17

i WOulu ldhe HO IclIeSIlI1cuL VI dsSIol-
ance until he had seen the mistress.
Margaret gave the order to show
him in, and directly a tall skeleton fig
ure, wrapped in a heavy cloak, stag
gered into the room and fell helplessly
II "A chair
EDO you know mcp" asked the fig.
IRE. in a hollow voice. and Margaret
lifted one OF the candles and let the
light fall on the face of the stranger.
She started back a pace. and some
strong change passed over her cOun
tenance
IL think l do. You are Peter Sew
clip"
Yes. / was you brother Johns
valet. And ! murdered my master!'
my God!"
"Yes. How strange it was that no
one suspected ME! Why, it seemed to
me for years that the very trees aud
stones by the wayside called out TO me:
Thou art the mani"
Still Margaret was silent, a white
horror frozen on her face. and the mar
went on, speaking rapidly, and with
evident effort:
Il came here to tell you the story,
but must make it brief, or my strength
will fail me, and | shall die uncon-
fessed. Your brother was high tenn
percd, ard i was lazy and insolent |
beat his favoritc horse unmercil J
for some slight cause, and John re-
buked me about it. I answered him
anything but respectfully, and he
struck me with his horsewhip. know
now that l deserved it, but then it fired
my blood to madness, and / vowed TO
be revenged.
"The night he went to the %city--the
fatal night had been at the village
tavern, and drank pretty freely. On
my way home | encountered him. |
do not think ! should have killed him
if he had not tainted me with being
drunk. Even her ! did not have muir.
der in my heart. but | was mad with
whisky, and easily enraged. | struck
at him with my po~cket-knite, aud he
fell bleeding ut my feet. | took some
money from his person, and crept
home.
II was up in my room, You know,
when you called me to 90 and search
for my master. ALI. | knew just where
to look for him!
"A little while after his death | left
Locust Hill. You all thought it was
because | vas so deeply attached To
my master that | could not bear TO re-
main where everything reminded me
of him. How easy it is for folks to
make fools of themselves, | went
away because | was haunted at every
step. He was always beside me. |
felt the cold breath continually on
my check; | heard his voice day aud
night, calling me by the name of muir
derer.
Il went to California and worked
like IA slave. Fortune prospered me.
I grew ricn. But | was none the less
haunted there. From the time | struck
John Harper his death blow, until the
present moment, he has never left me,
has never ceased calling on me 10 con-
fess aud make atoncmcnt. He has
worn me to Il shadow, and ut last
have yielded to his importantly.
have come here to confess, andt to atone
SO far rs possible TO the unfortunate
man who for fifteen years has suffered
Imprisonment in my stead.
'In tins pocket is my written con-
fessiou of my crime, duly authenticated
and with it my will. When Churchill
ONE out of prison place them in his
hands. All my wealth, and | am
worth q handsome sum, | have giveu
him."
lie ceased; aud Margaret, rousing
from her stupor of amazement, went
towards him, touched his arm aud
his cheek, and rang the bell for assist,
aucc. 1t was no use. Fhe man was
dead.
The next day, when they opened the
prison doors to Clement Churchill.
and the haggard prematnrely old mar
stepped forth into liberty once more,
Mrrgarot Harper met him at the pris.
on gate, and, taking him by the hand,
led him TO her carriage.
In a few moments he knew the
whole story, and lie listened to tho
last of it with his poor grey head phi
lowed on her bosom, for in her low,
and pity Margaret had ignored til,
flight of years, and was once more the
loving, confiding girl Churchill Ia,
known SD long ago.
Such 4 demonstration rs there wa,
over Churchill. when the whole iruti
came oul, never was witnessed. TaI
enthusiastic Villagers embarrassed tllt
bor~rs "ml drew Margarct's carriage
containing tnurc,liit and herself
through the streets.
That evening. Churchill, having rcat
Scwcll's confession. aHdhaving irargct
that the viii making him a !ich nmi
was y genuine document. drew Mar,
-arat 20 a seat beside him.
She was a young woman again nnwt
her bloom had comc back; she had
curled her soft hair, and PAT OF her
black dress for IA white muslin Just
sucIl rs she used 10 wear in the old
days.
"Margaro,.' said Dr.. Churchill, ..in
all these years there has been one
thing which has known no change
my love for you. Do not tell me- that
it is too late for us TO be happy
A slow crimson crept up to her check;
she yielded 10 the arm which drew her
down to rest upon his heart.
A pair Of old fools, do you say?
Never mind. They would not care a
particle for your opinion. People who
are as happy as DR.. Churchill and his
wife can well afford To be laughed III.