Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-10-19


think as little as possible until he
grew stronger. He promised to obey,
and lay back on his pillow. ] looked
ia few minutes later aud found him
sleeping calmly with a smile on his
face
He began to conyalesce after this,
but the old look returned and checked
somewhat the progress OF returning
health. One afternoon l said: Dave,
1 want TO be your friend. You are
in trouble. | knew that something
was making you unhappy before you
became i'll, but during your illness l
heard YOU refer to the cause. Do not
be afraid, but tell me all, and / may
be able to help you" He opened his
honest, blue eyes with a look so sad
that l pitied him as l had never done
before.
''Dr Leonard" said he, ''did you
learn that / am suspected of murder
ing an old friend, and thatif l should
be discovered here there is circum-
stantial evidence enough to convict
me, although l really committed no
crime? l had an intimate friend by
the name Of Iveson, and his sister
had promised to be my wife. My par
ents were dead, and lived with my
uncle not far from the lvesOn man
sion. Everything went well with
George Iveson and me until after nv
engagement with Elsie
L was poor. The Ivesons were
wealthy. My father had betrayed a
trust and the blow killed my mother.
! Father died while serving his time
! and | was left to the care Of an uncle
whose reputation was bad. My life
| had been very unhappy until / met
! George lveSon. He did not treat me
like the rest, but invited me 10 his
home, and there l met Elsie. She
was a beautiful girl, and her SYM
pathy for my loneliness grew to love
and we were very happy.
| 1T was some time before George
! learned about it, but we thought he
ought to know and it was decided
that L should tell him. George was
| feeling moody the day | chose to dis
! close our secret and at the news flew
| into fearful rage, taunted me with
| the i'll name of my parents and said
| that no such blot should ever be cast
/ on his family He said that | had
| betrayed the friendship he had given
| me from pity and because he believed
| l was trying TO do ri.ht, but he was
| mistaken and we were friends no
longer AT first tried to be reason
able, but when ha spoke of M par
ents | lost all restraint and we ex-
changed many bitter words. He swore
! that he would fix it so that /
should never marry Elsie, and l said:
, If you 90 I'll kill YOU l was in a
| threatening attitude when 1 spoke
| these words, and frenzied with rage.
They were heard by some passers by,
and among them by Joe Wilkinson. a
man who bore me an old family
grudge.
Il went to bed early that evening,
but was unable to sleep, and about
midnight 1 arose and left the house.
Ny head tbrobbed violently as 1
| picked my way along the stony road
I leading to the river where there is a
! deep gorge and waterfall l found
resting place on the edge of the
precipice and trYed to descry the bot
tom through the dim light The
clouds were scudding across the sky
driven by a raw, damp wind, which
swept through the gorge and kept the
trees above moaning, as if bewailing
with me the loss of friends 1 re-
manned in the place until daylight
broke ana the sun disSipated the
chilly gray of the east, then l started
pack toward my uncle's house.
Il turned through a neighbours
field, the same that had heard ny
threat but before l reached the road
on the other side savage voice called
for me to halt. 1 stopped and turned
back in surprise. What was my hor-
rOr when l reached the SPOT where
the man was to see George 1veson
lying on the stony ground dead.
There was al ugly wound on his head
as if struck heavy blow with blunt
instrument. l forgot my resentment
in = moment and was overcome with
grief. lstooped to lift the body into
au easier position, but was knocked
completely of my feet by a club
which the man had in his hand. You
young murderer he cried, your sniv-
cling will not help you out OF this.
\ ou will hang as high as Haman or
my name is not. Joe Wilkinson. We
heard your threat yesterday and I
have caught yon to-day. You will go
step higher than your dad, reckon
Il was thunderstruck, but sud-
denly the hopelessness OF my condi-
tion dawned upon me. Wlkinson's
fierce taunt reused me to action. l
leaped upon him, struck him TO the
ground and turned back among the
rocks. 1 found a hiding place and
the next night got away from the
country. l wandered about like a
beast for a few weeks, until at last,
growing bolder, 1 came here and OBJ
tanned work. 1t proved some relaxa-
tion to the misery l suffered, but l
am innocent. Do you believe me,
foctOr?"
l told him that l did and would
make efforts TO learn ali the subSe-
ouent circumstances and advise him
accordingly. In the meantime he
should be patient and try to get wei
faster.
A few DAYS after this occurrence a
carriage containing lady and gentle
man stopped at the old farmhouse and
the gentleman requested the privilege
of r.slIu- MS horses and outalnI-g
dinner The farmer rook the horses
and l led the way to the house The
young lady was beautiful, but there
was a tinge of sadness in her man.
ner. She spoke softly to her brother
and called him George. l thought
nothing of this, but a few moments
later, when he addressed her as Elsie,
| was so startled that l leaped to my
feet. pray, what is your manner" L
exclaimed excitedly. The gentleman
appeared surprised, but answered
quietly: any name is George Ivesop
and this is my sister Elsie"
Have you a scar on your head