The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-10-11


! services would be moro required than tho
physicians. Hastily throwing on INV
'oberrock,' l followed the child to Helm.
rioh's 'gasthaus.'
"llc met Inc at the door, md in few
brief sentences told me that the sick man
only arrived that afternoon, that after
partaking OF glass of wine and prct
Eel, he deposited package of letters and
small pocket wallet filled with money
notes and silver-and bidding the
landlord goodnight, had gone to bed !;
mat some two hours after groans and
cries were heard in the strapger's room
"On opening the door the poor man
was found in great agony. His only
answer to the kind inquiries as TO what
could be done for him was to send for a
priess.
II never saw such n sad-spectaclc as
the man presented, stretched full length
IN tho bed, large and powerfully built
man, h's hair tangled and matted over
ms eyes, his massive frame shaking with
agony.
Il suspected suicide, and we searched
the room for some evidence of the case,
out discovered nothing to show an at.
tempt at self obstruction. crdered
Heinrich to bring some brandy aud with
great diiiiculty the poor fellow swal
lowed 1t. For moment he ceased to
toss in pain-slowly he opened his great
Diack eyes-aud waving his hand to
Heinrich to leave the room, smoke or
rather gasped out as follows:
"'Oh, Father, / am glad you are
mere have much to say to you. Are
we alone?'
Yes | said, assuriugly.
We'll, said he, while his eyes rnve
out a most unearthly glare, 4 am a
hunted man, hunted by visions of her
who fell by my hand. am n murderer
"a double murderer, Ten years ago |
was leading actor at the Royal Theatre
at lianau--thc favorite Of the grand duke
and the star in the Rhine provinces
Tell me your name, my SOD, said
Not yet, good father-not vet. At
lianau fell in love with girl attached
to the thcatrc-she was as pure as an
angcl-an orphan. Her father having
been for years the bandmaster, at his
death tho company at the theatre adopted
'er, and she was making rapid strides
towards proud position in the profcs.
sion when first met her.
1--we acted many nights together.
She played Juliet to my Romeo, Goethc's
heroine Margaret to my Faust We'll.
iathcr, this artless, pure child won my
heart, and she loved me too-shc told
me s..
"'We had arranged secretly to be.
come man and wife on her reaching
twenty. She was not yet nineteen.
Wy proISssinpalr duties to5n-nlG to
ColoGe+c: During my absence her letters
we're loving and trustful. -
~ was happy then. -
he very secret of our love, for no
one knew Of our attachment, was in itself
a charm, and thought with pride of the
h""r ~ h@" o7u'a present inc Gariing
girl before the world as my wife
Zone day while ut Cologne I re.
ccivcd n letter from Lena, for that was
her name, in which she spoke of the
great success of "A play written by very
young officer of Dragons Mt Coblcntz ;
that. as her acting had contributed so
much To The general success, the young
lieutenant desired to present her with n
bracelet, and she wished TO know IL |
had any objections to her receiving it.
i consented that she should acccp.
it, though at the time had some mis-.
giving as "a the propricty of the act.
From that hour 10 seemed as if she
had changed in her feelings towards me.
Her letters grew less frequent, and the
pur3 and tender tone formerly so
Characteristic Of her nature seemed
wanting.
Christmas was approaching, and !
had promised myself the pleasure of
spending that day with Lena. com
municntcd my intention TO her. Her
reply to my letter suggested that it. was
a long journey To make, and that she
had new part to study, and it did not
in TACT express tho least desire to sec
me.
The ooldncss of her letter stunp
me. l felt that another had taken nv
place in her affections.
'The- night | paced my room al.
most frantic with jealousy. threw
myself on the bed only to rise again,
for sleep had deserted me. That night
] made avow that, should my suspicion
Irove true, | would kill her and as day.
light appeared through my windows. I
repeated my oath, that she should die,
and by my hand
On Christmas eve. under pretcnce
oi desire for study and privacy, I fold
my landlord that / would keen NV room
Tor day or two, and did not wish TO be
disturbed. ordered some biscuits and
few bottles Of wine to he sent 10 INV
apartment.
The moment the waiter left nv
room, ] hastily put on my disguise-I
shaved of my moustachc. put on n brown
Wig, and as my professional skill came
to my aid, j was completely metamor
phosed. then locked the door. and
gaming the street, at once made for the
railway station.
Il was just in time to take the train
for Coblentz.
My companions in the third class
compartment were farmcrs and cattle.
raiscrs, who had been at Cologne max ing
purchases for their Christmas holiday
and their simple merrimcnt and happy
conversation made my poor heart sink
within me.
The honest people were joyous and
happy, while l sat there a miso,able
heart broken man, with premeditatcd
murder on my soul.
Just as they were lighting the lamps
stepped from the train in the station nj