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

sun, 10 noL FoA H1o ny iAuulBiuB any ionbos
in such baseless speculattons."
did not share her hope that Fleetwood
would die In prison. 1t was my wish that he
should be brought to trial md found guilty
after that should be content that he should
die before the lust sentence of the law was
carried out. But at the prison my inexor.
able wish melted into thin air; 1t was de-
stroyed by higher than human judge
Samuel Fleetwood was dead
"He died quite peacefully, SIR" said the
inspector, with smile upon his lips. "He
must have been In queer state of mind al
ter what he did, to say almost with his last
breath, 4 go to join my beloved wifep"
did he make no further confession?"
asked, confounded by the news.
81 believe he did, sir" replied the inspec-
tor; 'the clergyman will produce 1t at the in
quest, which must, OF course. be held on
him. Whom he left the prison understood
he was going to your house."
"We did not meet him." 1 said, looking
helplessly around; eve came straight here.
"It's no use worrying, sir, said the in
spector. "With Fleetwoods confession and
death there is an end OF the affair.""
Nodding. retraced my steps, and on the
lawn in front OF my house was accosted by
Mdlle. Rosalie.
"a clergyman has been here to see you
sir" she said, "and left this packet for YOU
I took it from her hands, and would have
passed on, but there was something In her
face which awoke within me In fullest force
tho feelings OF disapproval had long enter
tanned towards her.
"Mdlle. Rosalie," 1 said, II am about to
exercise an authority which properly belongs
to my wife,"
Indeed, SIR" she said, raising her eyes to
my face with sly meekness.
1rrltated by tho look, and bringing to mind
the number of compromising circumstances
In connection with her which had annoyed
me in the past, l said:
"It will be agreeable to mo, mademoiselle,
if you will regard your services In my estab-
lishment at an end"
"Do you discharge me, sirp" she asked
with placid smile.
If it was her purpose to anger me, she
succeeded. II discharge you," said, with "A
wratlful look.
mot suddenly and Immediately, sir9"
Yes, suddenly and Immediately"
"But it is almost dark sir, and to be thrust
from your house 80 abruptly would ruin my
reputation"
"You Shall leave my house tomorrow" I
said. "After tomorrow you shall not sleep in
it another night"
"Do you forget. sir, that am to be one Of
YOUR dauahter's brideSmaids2'
'I forget nothing that has occurred 1t is
my opinion that you are not 1T associate
for my wife or my daughter"
"In point Of character, slrT"
'In point Of everything"
"That is shocking thing to say to o vir-
tuous woman" she said, slowly and with
marked emphasis. "But wonder who will
be tho first to leave this house-you or I?'
She glided away, leaving mo in q state Of
the bitterest resentment against her for her
impudent words. But I would not waste
further time upon her. 1t was necessary
that should ascertain without delay what
the packet contained which the clergyman
had left for me. went to my study, lit the
gas, and opened the packet
The first thing which attracted me was an
unsealed letter from the clergyman, which /
proceeded to read:
"MY DEAR SIR:-I write this at the bedside
Of Samuel Fleetwood, whose confession have
taken down from his own lips. The original
OF this confession, duly, signed by Samuel
Fleetwood and Witnessed BY me, retain, to
will find herein is u faithful copy Of the same,
which made at the unhappy mans urgent
request, who exacted from me the promise
that would deliver it to you as soon as he
was dead. Desiring to comply faithfully and
exactly with the request, write these ex-
planatory lines, to provide for the contin-
gency OF your not being at home when call.
have time to do this, as Samuel Fleetwood
is still lingering, and I cannot leave him until
all Is over. / cannot say that I am eI,-
tirely satisfied with the confession, clear
read 1t. My reason for dissatisfaction
lies in the fact that, after tho confession
was drawn out, asked the dying criminal to
swear 10 its truth, and that he lightly re-
fused, saying that surely the words OF dy-
ing man would suffice. There must be
strange contradictions In his nature. AS one
who has sat ut many death-bsds / should
have expected that, having committed crime
SO horrible, Samuel Fleetwood would have
been afraid to meet his Maker. 1t is not so.
Unless have gathered false Impression
from his utterances, he goes to his account
in a cain, reliant spirit, weighed down by no
fears of the Judgment Of the Eternal Lord.
You will find also In the packet leave for
you Il sealed letter from the criminal which
he must have already prepared before he
gave himself up to human JUSTICE and sue
cessfullly concealed from those who searched
him In prison. 1t is, he says for your eyes
alone, and have faithfully carried out his
most earnest, nay, his solemn desire. by en-
closing it herewith. Heaven have mercy
upon all sinnersW
This lotter led me to expect that 1 should
find two enclosures in the packet. There
was, however. but one, the heading OF which
was, "Copy of Samuel Fleetwood's Confess
sion." The sealed letter was missing!
Had the clergyman forgotten to put it in
the packet, or had dropped 1t on the lawnp
No, not the latter, because the packet was
firmly tied round with string, which had to
cut before could open it, the knot being
fast. However, went out and looked but
did not find it. There was another possible
explanation: that Mdlle. Rosalle had cx-
tracted it, with the idea that 1t contained
some information which would be of value
to her. Should go to her and accuse her
of the theft2 No, 1t would be useless; she
would deny it, and should be no better off.
1 decided, after little reflection to read the
confession first, and then to hasten to the
clergyman's house, and ask him for the
missing document. 1 should have gone
Immediately had it not boen that was too
anxious to read Samuel Fleetwood's confess
sion. 1t ran as follows:
81, Samuel Fleetwood, lately, and for
many years in the service of Richard Par
don, Esq, being on the point OF death, and