The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-07-03

The night before the day set for the vindica
ton of the law l passed miserably. l fell
that an innocent man was soon to be launch
ed into eternity.
In the gray mists of the morning of Novem.
Der a yelled female walked to my door.
answered the bell in person, and admitted
the visitor to my of1ce-room. Being seated
she threw aside her veil, revealing young
face, pale aud thin, and almost beautiful.
Before she spoke l knew that she was the
daughter of the late Donald Durham.
us it too late 10 save Wallace Harper r.
she asked, in tremulous voice.
Certainly too late" l answered. "Of
course, if there was new evidence, of a posi-
tive nature, going to show that some other
person committed the crime for which he is
to suffer, I've no doubt we might save the
young man. But"
II have that evidence"
"You have? Why in heavens name did
| you not speak sooner, then? l cried, in q
| stern voice.
81 dared not" she said slowly "I-I must
speak now the world must know the truth.
Wallace Harper is innocent. 1t was l who
did the deed"
Her whole frame shook like an aspen, and
l could see that she was wrought up to an
awful pitch of excitement. could scarcely
believe her words, however. 1t must be that
she was driven mad on account of her lovers
peril. L requested her to speak, however
and she did SO, in rapid, low tones
at was l who did the deed. l hated to
speak sooner. loved my father, and did
not like to believe him capable 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 COB
lets. Then he called Wallace, and requested
him to quaff with him.
VI did not know what the powder was, but
an awful fear oppressed me- With quick
movement when fathers back was turned l
exchanged gotlets, and father drained the
one intended for his clerk. What followed
you know. l was Mortified when learned
that deadly poison had been administered.
Il could not speak. My father murderer
1t was horrible. I realized that my hand
had substituted the poison for his lips that he
intended for another. In the excitement of
the 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 his dying moments my father
cursed the name of Harper and accused him
of numbering him.
81 tainted, think, and have been near to
death since that. l have tried to bring N.Y.
Sell 10 speak more than once, but have been
unequal to the task. l am now anxious to
have the truth known. Can you save Wal
lace He is an innocent man."
There was no time to be lost. | sprang up
at once. l visited magistrate with Miss
Durham, and her affidavit was sent over the
wires to the Governor.
We were none too soon. A reprieve was
granted, and the facts at once investigated
Miss Durham adhered to her story, and Wal
lace Harper corroborated it. He saw her
move the glasses, but had refused to speak,
lest he should criminate the girl he loved
That was his secret
A thorough investigation was had, and
the story told by the girl accepted. Wallace
Harper went forth free man, and he has
since won an honorable place in the business
world.
l saw him, five years afterward, for the
first time since his narrow escape from tho
gallows.
Eyes, 1 am married." he said, when
brought up old times. mo, Miss Durham
is not my wife. Do you know, Mr.. Nelson,
have always believed that she poisoned her
fatherl | think her mad love unsettled her
mind. At any rate, she is now an inmate
OF an asylum, and hopelessly insane.
1t was strange case. l always believed
Harper innocent. AS to Miss Durham,
hold grave doubts.