Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-12-11

my mind that l could not shake oil. A |
few hours later messenger came to me |
from the prisoner, requesting an inter-
view.
at once repaired to the Jail
Wallace Harper greeted me with a
pleasantsmil and held out his hand.
81 am satisfied that you did all that a
haman being could do, Mr.. Nelson, and
want to thank you for it, and to tell
you that it is my wish that you do moth
ing toward securing new trial"
| expressed my surprise at this.
ut would only postpone the inevita-
ble," he said. I'LL luck runs in cur
family. l suppose l was born to be
hung" and the laugh that followed
made my flesh creep.
"But you are Innocent" l said,
sudden doubt coming, unbidden, to my
brain.
Il am innocent. hope You will
never doubt that, Mr.. Nelson"
A little later left him, promising
not to urge new trial. was satisfied
that now trial could not be obtained,
and had only entertained the thought
to delay matters as long as possible.
1t was two months to the 9th of No.
VEN Der. Much might DO done in that
time ii there had been any foundation
on which to stand. AS it was, | tried
to dismiss the prisoner frola my mind
and attend to other business. | could
not do this, however, and tho days and
weeks passed, until one day remained
before the day set for the execution of
the condemned. On this day | visited
Wallace Harper once more.
He had lost flesh, and ! could SEQ that
there was much inward suffering. be-
came fully convinced that something
rested on his mind, and / urged him to
make clean breast Of it.
''It could do no good" he declared.
81 will die without speaking" And
then left him.
AS passed from the Jail another WIS.,
| itor was announced--a vailed woman.
1t was doubtless the mans sweetheart
como to visit him for the last time. She
had been too i'll to appear at the trial,
and l had never seen her to speak
with her since.
The night before the day set for the
vindication of tho law | passed miser.
ably. felt that an innocent man was
soon to be launched into eternity.
In the gray rists of tho morning of
November 0 vailed female walked
to my door. answered the bell in per-
son, and ! admitted the visitor to my
otice-room. Being seated, she throw
aside her vail, revealing young face,
pale and thin, and almost beautiful.
Before she spoke knew that she was
tho daughter of the late Donald Dun
ham.
SIS it too late to save Wallace Har-
per?" sho asked, in a tremuious voice.
Certainly too late" answered. "Of
course, If there was new evidence,
of positive nature, going to show that
some other person committed the crimo
for which he is to suffer, I've no doubt
we might save the young man. But"
~ have that evidence"
"You have? Why in Heavens name
did you not speak sooner, then?" Icried,
in stern voice.
81 dared not" she said, slowly 81
must speak now; the world must know
the truth. Wallace Harper is innocent.
1t was I who did the deed"
Her whole frame shook like an aspen,
and could see that she was wrought up
to an awful pitch Of excitement. /
could scarcely believe her words, how
ever. 1t must be that she was driven
mad on account Of her lovers peril.
requested her to speak, however, and
she did so, in rapid, low tones
ut was who did the deed. | hated
to speak sooner. / loved my father,
and | did not like to believe him capa-
bio of doing an evil deed. He did it,
however. He invited Wallace to take
wine with him that last evening.
saw him pour the wine, and saw him
drop powder into one of the goble is.
Then he called Wallace, and requested
him to quaff with him.
II did not know what the powder
was. but an awful fear oppressed me.
With quick movement when fathers
back was turned exchanged goblets
and father drained the one intended fol
his clerk. What followed you know
l was Mortified when l learned that o
deadly poison had been administered.
81 could not speak. My father Q
murderer! 1t was horrible. l realized
that my hand had substituted the poi
son for his lips that he had intended
for another. In the excitement of tho
moment Wallace picked up the folded
paper containing the poison that lay
near by and dropped it into his pocket
| as he testified at the trial. In hi
. dying moments my father cursed tn,
: name Of Harper and accused him of muir
dering him.
II tainted, l think, and have beef
near to death since that. havo triet
to bring myself to speak more thar
once, but have been unequal to tn,
0 task. am now anxious to have tn,
truth known. Can you save Wallace
S He is an innocent man."
t There was no time to DO lost
4 sprang up at once. | visited q magis
trate with Miss Durham, and her aft
: davit was sent over the wires to tn,
o Governor.
n We were none too soon. A repriev
b was granted, and the facts at once in
d vestigated. Miss Durham adhered t
s her story, and Wallace Harper corrob
grated it. He saw her move tho glasscs
s but had refused to speak, lest he shoul
o eliminate the girl he loved. That wa
k his secret.
t A thorough investigation was had. an
r the story told by the girl accepted
Q Wallace Harper went forth free mar
It and he has since won an honorable plac
: in the business world.
O l saw him, five years afterward, n
n the first time since his narrow escap
Q from the gallows.
!, Yes, am married." no said, when
# brought up old times. "No, Miss Dur
8 hon, 10 not n -, NJ,