The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-19

villain had rot kiElef her, Though che I1y
IN my arms ~ one dead.
Help. MURDER 1 shouted. and N
echo came hack through the gloomy woods:
.sEs~ps Murder"
I heard the sound of hurried footsteps
approaching. Was the would be murderer
coming back 10 try his strength with me
TIE figure Of man came rapidly toward
Us caught the gieam of . silver badge
on his breast, and knew that help was af
hand.
Whats upsH asked the almost breath
less officer, - he peered first In the woman s
face and then in mine
In Q quick. excited manner / told him
the story. He listened, and looked 1t me
susp:ciousiy.
The woman wss breathing hard.
Loosen her dress At the thfoat," he cried.
IS he tugged at il neryously. But. good
God ne are mile from the station. and
she may die before We get there
Tenderiy but swiftly we bore her along
until We reached our destination. We laid
her gently down upon . cot in one OF the
officers rooms. As the chief came for.
ward and saw the woman's face, be ex.
claimed: Why. / should know this
woman She is the mysterious creature OF
whom there has been 80 much talk IN the
city. Go for q pny sician-quick Is this
the wretch who did the devils work
He grasped rue by the wrist and peered
into nay face.
"Nor cried. Indignantly. 1T was ow
ing TO my efforts that the woman lives
now. was only q witness to it, !"
Here the officer briefly recounted the cir
cumstances of his meeting with me.
81 must place you under arrest. said
the chief. until we can get better evidence
of your innocence than you have given
Take him TO cell and lock him up.
II am not guilty of this foul crime.
cried. Come with me and 1 viii lay my
hands upon the guilty man."
By this time q physician had arrived
and accompanied by the same officer who
had answered my call in the grove, wenI
to the house where lodged.
The first gray streaks of dawn were in
the east when we reached it. We entered
the outer door with night key which
carried in my pocket. The door of my
room was locked. That was enough
the man we wanted was within.
Who is there?" he asked. in q hoarse
unnatural voice.
1T is I-your room mate, answered
The door was opened. The officer stood
behind me, in the shadow. He entered
with me. THAT Is the man." | said
pointing at him, land / am q witness
against him.
He sprang forward and raised his hand
to strike me, but the officer leveled pisto
at his head and babe him hold up hi
hands. In the twinkling of an eye the siee
bracelets were on his wrists, and cursinl
and denying all knowledge OF the crime
with which accused him. he was marchtt
10 the station.
The woman lay there, moaning and raw
ing in delirium. He was brought to hel
side. she shrieked rs she caught wild
glimpse of bis face: Don't kill me, John
don't kill me, Don't kill me, because
love you she cried.
ut is enough" said the chief. Take
him 10 a CELL
81 didn't mean to kill her." he said, a.
he cast one remorseful glance upon the
pale face. before he WAS lead away. ''bu,
she has wrecked my life, and she deserves
to die
My story is quickly told. The woman
died that night on that cot OF straw in the
stationhouse. Died raving, but blessial
the hand that had sought her life. As
knelt by her side when the breath had lei
her lips forever. asked the physician te
explain the mystery OF her life.
Few know" he said, "the story of her
r. L..k A. T.. H. 4.
for months past. She volunteered TO nurse
the sick at the hospital. and while there she
contided TO me her melancholy story. The
man who murdered her Is her husband
He Is . gambler. He made her young life
miserable her like dog. She
was beautiful, as you see now. Driven to
despair by his cruelty, she listened
10 the persuasions of man who
had known and loved her before her mar
riage with this fellow, and finally fed with
him to distant state. Her Old love for
this brute returning. and perhaps the de
sire to see her children again, she returned
and sought forgiveness. Few know what
she has suffered; few know what good she
has accomplished. To those who did no,
know her she was woman of mystery
and her somber habiliments her visits to
the sick. her vigils by the dead her hidden
life, aroused the fear and superstition 81
the ignorant. She has kept as close 10 thi:
man as she could for two years past. for hi
had hidden away her two children and she
doubtless hoped to obtain from him some
information of them. Besides, as | said
she loved him. Ii is a strange tale of sir
and suffering and love and sorrow"
He ceased. and a We folded the whit.
hands prayer-wise over the silent bosom.
said she has loved and suffered much
and should be much forgiven
Life Is too short 60 waste much OF IL in hunor
ing people who need clubbing -HilteaHkcs yoaF
AL