Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-06

his feet.
She rose weeping Then the man,
grasping her arm and kissing the words
In her ear, said:
II swear will kill you II you cross
my path again!n
ooh, my God!" she cried, ''my burden
is heavier than can bear! Only let me
see my children once more and you can
take my life If you wilt"
"You shall never see themp said the
man. "You have disgraced them as
you disgraced me, They are dead to you
forever"
She uttered cry like that OF lost
soul, and fell heavily to the ground.
She lay there moaning and notion
less. Isaw the man glance furtively
around, as IL fearful that he was seen.
Then he bent down.
l saw his fingers on the woman's
throat-there was struggle and sti-
fled cry, and-I sprang from my hiding
place with cry of horror on my lips,
the blood in my veins boiling with rage
and Indignation. / rushed forward.
The wretch fed at my approach, stoop.
ing to shield himself from detection as
he ran. Iraised the woman in my arms;
the print of his cruel fingers was on her
while throat; but the villain had not
killed hes. though she lay in my arms
as one deal.
Help! Murder!" / shouted, and an
echo CANT back through the gloomy
woods: Hep! Murderp'
heard the sound of hurried footsteps
approaching Was the would-be MUIR
derer coming back to try his strength
with me! The figure of a man came
rapidly towards us. l caught the CLEAN
of silver badge on his breast, and
knew that help was at hand.
whats up?" asked the almost
breathless officer, as he peered first in
the woman's face and then in mine.
In quick, excited manner told him
the story. He listened, and looked at
me suspiciously.
The woman was breathing hard.
| Loosen her dress at the throat" he
cried, as he tugged at it nervously.
"But, good God! we are mile from the
station, and she may die before we get
there!"
Tenderly, but swiftly we bore her
along until we reached our destination.
We laid her gently down upon a cot in
one of the officers rooms. AS che chief
came forward and saw the woman's face
he exclaimed: "Why, l should know
this woman. She is the mysterious
creature of whom there has been SO
much talk in the city. Go for physi-
cian--quick! Is this the wretch who did
this DEVILS work?'
He grasped me by the wrist and peered
into my face.
mol" l cried, Indignantly. at was
owing to my efforts that the woman
lives now was only a witness to it. 81
Here the officer briefly recounted the
circumstances with his meeting with
me.
81 must place you under arrest" said
the chief, until we can get better evi.
dence 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 will lay
my hands upon the guilty man.
By this time physician had arrived,
and accompanied by the same officer
who had answered my call in the grove,
went 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 dool
of my room was locked. That was
enough; the man we wanted was within
"Who is there?" he asked, in hoarse
unnatural voice.
ut 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 wit
ness against him."
He sprang forward and raised hi
hand strike me, but the officer levele(
a pistol at his head and babe him hold
up his hands. In the twinkling of al
eye the steel bracelets we're on hi
wrists, and, cursing and denying al
knowledge of the crime with which
accused him, he was marched to tn,
station.
The woman lay there, moaning ant
raving in delirium. He was brought t,
her side. She shrieked as she caught
wild glimpse of his face: Don't kill me
John, don't kill me! Don't kill me, be
cause love you" she cried.
ut is enough" said the chief. "Tak
him to a cell"
81 didn't mean to kill her." he said, a
he cast one remorseful glance upon tn
pale face, before he was led away, "bu
she has wrecked my life, and she de
serves to die"
My story is quickly told: The woma
| died that night; on that cot of straw i
the station house. Died raving, bu
| blessing the hand that had sought he
life. AS knelt by her side when tn
/ breath had left her lips forever, aske
the physician to explain the mystery {
her life.
| Few know" he said, "the story {
+ her life, but it is familiar to me, an
has been for months past She voluI
, teered to nurse the sick at the hospita
and while there she confded to me he
/ melancholy story. The man who mu
dered her is her husband. He is o gan
bier. He made her young life miser;
able-treated her likea dog. She wa
beautiful, as you can see now. Drive
q to despair by his cruelty, she listene
TO the persuasions of a man who ha
known and loved her before her ma
= riage with this fellow, and finally file
:. with him to a distant State. Her Of
love for this brute returning, and pc
haps the desire to see her children agar
she returned and SOnpht forgiveness