Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-10-25

stranger lay dying, and that the priests
services would be more required than the
physicians. Hastily throwing on my
'oberrock,' followed the child to Helm
rich's 'gasthaus.'
HE met me at the door, and in q few
brief sentences told me that the sick man
only arrived that afternoon, that after
partaking of glass Of wine and a pref.
Eel, he deposited package of letters and
q email pocket-wallet filled with money
notes and silvcr-and bidding the
landlord goodnight, had gone to bed;
that some two hours after groans and
cries were heard in the strangers room.
ION 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 q
priess.
II never saw such sad spectacle rs
the man presented. stretched full length
in the bed. a large and powerfully built
man, his hair tangled and matted over
his eyes, his massive frame shaking with
agony.
Il suspected suicide, and we searched
the room for some evidence of the case.
but discovered nothing to show an at
tempt Mt sclf-dcstruction. l ordered
Heinrich t" bring some brandy aud with
great difficulty the poor fellow swal-
lowed it. For n moment he ceased to
toss in pain-s'owly he opened his great
black eyes--and waving his hand to
Heinrich to leave the room, spoke or
rather gasped ont, rs follows:
"'Oh, Father, I am glad YOU arc
here. l have much to say to you. Are
we alone?'
Yes I said, assuringly.
"'Well, said be-, while his eyes gave
out most unearthly glare, 4 am II
hunted man, hunted by visions of her
who fell by my hand. am murderer
"A double murderer! Ten years ago
was leading actor at the Royal Theatre
at Hauau--the favoritc of the grand duk Q
aud the star in the Rhine provinces
Tell me your name, my son. said
Not yet, good father-not vet. At
Hanau fell in love with girl attached
to the theatrc-she was as pure as an
Anglican orphan. Her father having
been for years the bandmaster, at his
death the company at the theatre adopted
l'er, and she was making rapid strides
towards proud position in the profcs-
sion when first met her.
"'We acted many nights together.
She played Juliet to my Romeo, Goethc's
heroine Margaret to my Faust. Well,
father, this artless, pure child won my
heart, and she loved me too-she told
me 90.
"'We had arranged secretly to be-
come man and wife on her reaching
twenty. She was not yet nineteen.
My professional duties took me to
Cologne. During my absence her letters
were loving and trustfuI.
~ was happy then.
The very secret of our love, for no
one knew of our attachment, was in itself
charm, and thought with pride of the
hour when l could present the darling
girl before the world us my wife,
"'One day while ut Cologne l re-
ceived a letter from Lena, for that was
her name, in which she spoke of the
great success of play written by very
young officer of Dragons at Coblentz;
THAT. as her acting had contributed so
much to the general success, the young
lieutenant desired to present her with a
bracelet, and she wished to know if l
had any objections to her receiving it.
consented that she should acccp.
it, though at the time had some mis-
givings as to the propriety of the act.
From that hour it seemed AS if she
had changed in her feelings towards me.
Her letters grew less frequent. and the
pure 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
municated 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 fact express the least desire to see
me.
"'The GOODNESS of her letter stunc
me. felt that another had taken INV
place in her affections.
. That night l paced my room al
most frantic with jealousy. l threw
myself on the bed only to rise again.
for sleep had deserted me. That night
made vow that, should my suspicion
prove true, l would kill her; and rs day.
light appeared through my windows. 1
repeated my oath, that she should die,
and by my hand.
"'On Christmas eve, under pretence
of desire for study and privacy, l told
my landlord that would keep my room
for day or two, and did not wish to be
disturbed. ordered some biscuits and
q few bottles Of wine to be sent to nv
apartment.
1.-the moment the waiter left nv
room, l hastily put on my disguised
shaved off my moustache, put on a brown
wig, and as my professional skill came
to my aid, was completely metamor-
phosed. l then locked the door. and
gaining the street, at once made for the
railway station.
81 was just in time to take the train
for Coblentz.
"'My companions in the third class
were farmers and cattle.
raiscrs, who had been at Cologne making
purchases for their Christmas holiday,
N nd thar 81 ~