The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-01-16

you that it is my wish that you do moth
ing toward securing = new trial.
] expressed my surprise ~ this.
1T would only postpone the iaevitr-
bic" he said. "Ill luck runs in our
family / suppose ! was born TO be
hung and the laugh that follow I
made my flesh creep.
"But you are innocent" ] sail, q.
sudden doubt coming. unbidden, to Ii
| brain.
Il am innocent. ] hope you viii
never doubt that, Mr.. Nelson"
A little later left him, promi pg
not to urge new trial was sati=nPd
that q new trial could not be obtaiHo d.
and had only entertained the tbougD1,
To delay matters as long "a possible.
1t was two months to the 9th OF No
VEN hcr. Mach mi ght be done in tina
! time II there had been any foundation
| on which to stand. AS il was, ! tr,C2
to dismiss the prisoner from my m.rl
and attend to other business. I co. >
not do this however, and the days and
weeks passed, until one day rem2incu
before the day set for the cXccUlion 0i
the condemned. On this day l S4sIteI
Wallace Harper once more
He had lost flesh, and j could sec that
there was much inward suffering. Sc
came fully convinced that somcthiHE
rested on his mind, and / urged hiln 10
make a clean breast OF IL.
1T could do no good, he declared.
II viii die without speaking" And
then ! left him.
As ] passed from tho Jail another Wis
| itor was announced-a vailed woman
| 1t was doubtless the mans sweetheart,
come to visit him for the last time. she
had been too i'll TO appear at the trIai,
| and had never seen her 70 speak
with her since.
The night before the day set for the
vindication Of the law ! passed miseT-
ably. ] felt that an innocent man w.
soon TO be launched into eternity.
In the gray rrists of the morning of
November . a vailed female walked
TO my door ] answered thC boil u per-
son. and 7 admitted the visitor % nv
oficc-room. Being seated sho throw
aside her vail revealing a young lace
pale and thin, and almost beautiful.
Before She spoke ] knew that she was
the daughter of the late Donald Dun
ham.
''Is ii too late to save Wallace Har-
per?" she asked, in a tremuious voice.
Certainly too late" I answered. ''Of
course, il there was new evidence.
OF a positive nature, going 70 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"
Il have that evidence.
You have? Why in Heavens name
did you not speak sooner, tben?' Icried,
in stern voice.
Il dared not" she said. slowly IL
L 81.
the truth. Wallace Harper Is innocent.
1t was who did the deed "
Her whole franc shook like an aspen,
and could sec that she was wrought up
TO an awful pitch OF excitement !
could scarcely believe her words, how
ever. 1t must bc that she was driven
mad on account or her lovers peril I
requested her to speak. however, and
she did SO. in rapid, low tones.
1T was who did the deed. I hated
TO speak sooner. ] loved my father,
and 1 did not like to believe him capa-
BILE of doing an evil deed He did il,
however. io invited Wallace 70 take
wine with him that last evening. ]
saw him pour the wine, and ] saw him
drop powder into one Of the eoblets.
Then he called Wallace, and requested
him TO quaG with him
u did not know what tho powder
was. but an awful fear oppressed mo.
With a quick movement wien fathers
back was turned ! exchanged goblets.
and father drained the one intended for
his clerk. What followed YOU know
| / was horriiied when | learned that
deadly poison had been administered.
II could not speak Ny father
murderer! 1t was horrible. realized
that my hand had substituted tho poi
son Tor his lips that he had Intended
for another In the excitement Of the
moment Wallace picked mp the folded
paper containing the poison that lay
near by and dropped IL into his pocket,
as he testified at the trial In his
! dying moments my father cursed the
name OF Harper and accused him of MUIR
dering him.
81 tainted. ] think. and have been
! near TO death since that j have tried
10 bring myself 10 speak moro than
| once, but have been unequal 10 the
task. ] am now anxious 20 have the
! truth known Can you save Wallacef
He is an innocent man"
There was no time 10 be lost
| sprang up at once. / visited a magis-
trate with Miss Dunham, and her All
davit was sent over the wires TO the
Governor.
We we're none too soon. repriove
was granted, and the facts at once m
vestgated- Miss Durham adhered t.
her story, and Wallace Harper corGob-
GRATED it, He saw her move the glaesos,
but had refused 10 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 a free unan,
and he has since won an honorable place
in the business world.
saw him. fye years afterward, for
the first time since his narrow escape
from the gallows.
Eyes, / am married." he said. when
brought up old times mo. Miss Dun
ham Is not my wife. Do you know. Ar.
Nelson, have always believed that SD,
poisoned her fatberi / think her mad
love unsettled her mind. At any rate
she is now an inmate of an asylum, ano
hopelessly insane"
II was strange case. ] ALWAYS be
lieVed Harper ihnocent As 20 Miss
Dunham. hold grave doubts. "
Merrill in Frank Leslie's Populai
Monthly.
Coffee ss Disihfectant
1t is asserted by men OF high profes
sional ability that when the system
needs a stimulant nothing equals a cs
/ of fresh -o5ree Those who desire l