Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-06-17

falling about her in - wealth OF
golden glory, and an expression OF
sadness upon her spiritupile face, she
carried my thoughts instantly to the
magnificent painting Of the Ma
donna in the chancel of the cathe-
drai of Milan, in my native land.
'Beckoning to me, / instantly
arose and followed her to the room
from which she had come. 1 there
saw before me little group of men
gathered about a bed upon which
lay man of apparently middle age,
whose brown and livid face betok-
ened the speedy coming of the dread
messenger.
"By his side kuelt u sobbing wo-
man, upon whose deeply lined coun-
tenance / saw resemblance to the
dying mans features, which pro-
claimed them near of kin.
AS approached the bedside the
eyes of the PROSTATE man slowly
opened, and, seeing me, he made a
sudden effort as ifto rise, then sank
back with piteous moan.
II placed my crucifiX to his lips
and tegan TO murmur prayer, be-
lieving him about to die, when he
turned to me, and with q strong
voice, asked:
care you the priest?'
"Yes, l said. "What have you
to say to ease your conscience or as
suage the sufferings of n dying
man%
"An expression of pain crept over
his face, and reaching forth his
his hand he uttered the name,
'Myra.'
"The girl / have described glided
quickly forward, and, reverently
kissing the outstretched hand, sank
upon her knees and wept bitterly.
As he tenderly stroked her golden
hair, he thus spoke, his words being
listened to at his request by all pres
eut:
"'Kuowing that am soon to die
| want all here to listen to what l
have to say, and desire that my en-
fession shall be written down.
"'I had my note book in my
pocket, and drawing it forth, 1 took
his statement word for word, as
shall attempt now to give 1.-THE
public nature of the recital releasing
me from the sacred secrecy of the
confessional
" Twelve years ago | lived with
my sister here in the city OF New
York. We piled the trade Of "fenc-
ing" or, to De plain, we were re-
ceivers of stolen goods. There lived
in the same street man with whom |
had many confidential transactions.
Our two places of business were near
one of the great city parks, into
which thousands of people, many of
them of wealth and leisure, came to
promenade on summer afternoons,
and here the trade of the piclipucket
was profitably piled, giving us UNI
usually convenient opportunities
for securing the plunder.
" The park was often visited by a
nurse girl who had in her charge
the little 5-year.old daughter of one
of the weaithiest men of the city. l
had often seen the pair, and the
extraordinary beauty Of the child !
often attracted my attention, as she
sometimes came through the gates |
laden with rare flowers, stolen gifts
to her by the conservatory keepers,
and entered with her guardian the .
family carriage always waiting near,
Zone day my neighbor came to
me and put terrible temptation in
my heart. 1t was scheme to kid
nap the child in question, send it in
to concealment ut Il distant point in
care of some relatives and exact
large ransom for the recovery of the
stolen babe.
al did not then consent, but the
soft and seductive words with which
ne repeatedly urged his fiendish
project at length overcame my reso-
ution, and we lay in wait for the
little one for days, until, the nurse
yirl being temporarily enticed away,
We obtained the desired opportunity
'nd snatched the child away from
home and friends.
1--WE had not anticipated the
rightful hue and cry which our
Iced awakened, and before we could
over our tracks the sleuth.houuds
II the law were hot upon our trail.
the tolls slowly closing
about me, | sold my business one
lay for what ! could get for il,
md, accompanied by my sister, fed
o the place where the child was
hidden, and taking her away, went
'Ar out into the wilds of Colorado.
There l took up gambling as pro-
'ession, and following one mining
stampede after another, at last
iritted into Montana.
"'ro-night, in an alteration over
4 game of cards, received the fatal
shot which sends my sou! To perdi-
Iion, hut of that have no wish To
speak. | desire, In the few short
moments remaining 20 me, to re-
par SO far as can, the wrong | .
have done.