Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-04-20
IheMZsterZofaHan
By FERGUS W. HUuE

forever, the darkest page of my lifes
history, | began to look forward to tho
future l married again, and my domestic
life was singularly happy one. As the
colony grew greater, with every year l be-
came even more wealthy than l had been,
and was looked up to and respected by my
fellow citizens. When my dear daughter
Margaret was born, felt that my cup of
happiness was full, but suddenly received n
disagreeable reminder of the past. Rossaias
mother made her appearance one day-a
disreputable looking creature, smelling OF
gin, and in whom could not recognize The
respectfully dressed woman who Used to ac-
company Rossana to the theatre. Sne
bad spent long ago all the money had
given her, and sank lower and lower, until
she now lived in slun OF Little Bourke
street. l mado inquiries after the
child. and she told me it was dead. Rosanna
had not taken it to England with her, but
had left it in her mothers charge, and, no
doubt, neglect and want Of proper nourish-
ment was tho cause Of its death. There now
s.,n,ed to be no link to bind me to the past
with the exception Of the old hag, who knew
nothing about the marriage did not at
tempt to undcceivc her, but agreed to allow
her enough to live on if she promised never
to trouble INC again, and to keep quiet about
everything which had reference to my con-
nection with her daughter. She promised
readily enough, and went back to her
squalid dwelling in the slums, where, for
all know, she still lives as money has been
paid to her regularly every month by my So
licitors I heard nothing moro about the
matter, and now felt quite satisfied that l
had heard tine last of Rosanna AS years
Al. -.,1 md en-
fortunate was il all speculations that my
luck became proverbial. Then, alas! when
all things seemed to smile upon .le my wife
died, and the world has never seemed the same
to mo since. l, however, had my dear
daughter TO console me, and in her love and
affection became reconciled to the loss of
my WIFE, A young Irish gentleman, called
Brian Fitzgerald, came out to Australia, and
soon saw that my daughter was in love
with him, and that he recprocated that af-
lection, whereat was glad, as have always
esteemed him highly. ! looked forward to
their marriage, when suddenly series Of
events occurred, which must be fresh to the
memory of those who read these pages. Mr.,
Oliver Whyte, a gentleman from London,
called on me and startled me with the news
that my first wife, Rosanna Moore, was still
living, and that the story of her death had
been an Ingenious fabrication in order to de-
ceivo ric. She had met with nm accident, as
stated in the newspaper, and had been
taken to an hospital, where she
recovered. The young doctor. who had
sent the certificate Of her death, had
fallen in love with her and wanted to marry
her, and had told me that she was dead in or
der that her past life might be obliterated
The doctor, however, died before the mar
yiace, and Rosanna did not trouble herself
about undeceiving me. She was then acting
on the burlesque stage under the name of
'Musette,' and seemed to have gained an un-
enviabl, notoriety by her extravaganza and
infamy. Whyte met her in London, and she
became his mistress. He seemed to have
a wonderful influence over her, for
she told him all her past life and
about her marriage with me. Her
popularity being on the wane in London, as
she was now growing old, and had to make
way for younger actresses, Whyte proposed
that they should come out to the colonies and
extort money from me- and he had come to
me for that purpose. The villain told me all
this in the coolest manner, and l, knowing ho
held the secret Of my life, was unable to re-
sent it. l refused to see Rosanna, but told
Whyte I would agree to his terms, which
were, first. a large sum of money was to be
paid to Rosanna, and secondly, Whyte
wanted to marry my daughter !, at first,
absolutely declined to sanction the latter
proposal, but as he threatened to publish
the story, and that meant the proclamation to
tho world of my daughters illegitimacy, at
last agreed, and he began to pay his ad-
dresses to Madge. She, however, re-
fused to marry him and told mo she was
engaged to Fitzgerald, SO after a severe
struggle with myself / told Whyte that I
would not allow him to marry Madge, but
would give him whatever sum he would like
to name On the night he was murdered he
came to see me, and showed me the certifi-
cate of marriage between myself and Ro-
sanna Moore. He refused to take a sum of
money, and said unless consented to his
marriage with Madse he would publish the
whole affair. l implored him to give me
time to think, so he said he would
give mo two days, but no more,
and left the house, taking the marriage
certificate with him. / was in despair,
and saw that the only way to save myself
was to obtain possession of the marriage GER
tiflcate and deny everything. With this idea
In my mind followed him up town and saw
him meet Moreland, and drink with him.
They went into the hotel in Russell street,
and when Whyte came out, at half past
10, he was intoxicated. / saw him 60
out along to the Scotch church, near the
Burke and Wills monument, and cling to
the lamp post at the corner. thought
would then be able to get the certificate from
him, as he was drunk, when saw a gentle
man in light coat-I did not know it was
Fitxgerald-come up to him and hail cab
for him. saw there was nothing more to
be done at that time, so, in despair, went
home and waited for the next day, in fear
lest he should carry out his determination.
Nothing, however, turned up, and was be-
ginning to think that Whyte had abandoned
his purpose, when heard that he had been
murdered in the hansom cab. I was in great
fear lest the marriage certificate would be
found on him, but as nothing was said about
1t began to wonder. knew he had 1t on
him, 50 came to the conclusion that the muir
derer, whoever he was, had taken 1t from tho
body, and would sooner or later come to me
to extort money, knowing that dare not de-
II tod nr,A