The Bessemer indicator., 1893-01-07
A ALAWYER's ROMANCE.

For twenty years Hamilton Duke
was my client. In fact it-was to him
that owed not only competent for
tune, but my position in society. But
fos this should never have under
taken his defence in this last case, my
first feelings were SO against him
not that l was an migrate, but because
1 believed that he had murdered his
wife. Many things compelled me to
draw such conclusion. He was
well-bred, refined and cultured, while
she was OF common stock, the person
-ification OF ignorance and low breed
ing. For ten years he was all OF chi
valry and tenderness to her that
lofty nature could be, while she was
always sullen, morose, and disatis-
fled. 1t was claimed by their closest
friends that he loved her the first few
years OF their united life, though l
never believed this-it seemed such
manifest impossibility. Anyway he
hated her cordially when her life came
to its tragic close, and SO he had for
u considerable period prior to that
event.
Being entirely in his confidence, he
often came to my office, pallid and
trembling, to tell me OF some new
vulgar violence OF hers which had
driven him to the last extremity OF
desperation. And SO, one morning,
when Mrs. Duke was found dead with
AN ugly stab through her heart, her
husband standing over her with q
reeking knife in hand, l naturally
believed that he had killed her.
Later on, when saw him, my sus-
picions seemed confirmed. He was i'll
q state OF wild excitement when en-
tered the sheriff Office, in answer to
his summons. Until that moment,
no one had succeeded in getting "
word out of him about the MUIR
der.
"What does it all mean?" Iasked,
when we were alone.
~ don't know" he gasped. 81
don't know whether it was 1 who
killed her or not. But don't want
to die. I mustn't be allowed to die.
You must defend me-you must save
mel"
Though pitied him, I believed him
guilty; and though l defended him l
felt that he merited death. But my
efforts were vain ones. The evil
dence against him was too conclu-
sive.
An unusual noise in Mrs. Dukes
room had attracted the butler's at
tention on the morning of the muir
der. On entering, he saw Mr.. Duke
rising up, knife in hand, from the
prostrate body OF his wife, as if
he had just stabbed her. That, and
the fact that the Dukes had INDUCED
in many bitter quarrels OF late, was
enough to win a disastrous verdict
from any jury.
Mr.. Duke was found guilty and SEN
fenced to death. He was to be hang
ed in forty-five days. Re-opening u
case at that time was not the easy
thing it is now, and l found it impos-
si''le to get him new trial. On and
on those grace days swept, seemingly
with lightning swiftne.s, until the
time set for the execution was but
fifty hours off. was desperate, Duke
was frantic.
"You must go to the Governor" he
cried, at length. "You must get a
psrdon for me-"
impossible" l answered. "There
isn't enough time"
Eyes, there is. This is Wednesday
m orning, and Pm not to hang until
Friday noon. The train goes in an
hour. If you leave here at once you
can make the trip and get back here
in time"
"But on what pretext? Simply see-
ing the Governor will do no good.
I-"
"You must think of pretext on
the way. Don't stay here and talk.
You are wasting time, and my life
must be saved. Do go at once"
He was in such u wrought-up state
that there was no use arguing
with him, so went away, walking
about the streets in sheer bewilder-
ment. By blind chance went to the
railway station, arriving just as the
train rolledin. Detected and reckless,
scarcely knowing what / was about,
clambered on board at the last mo-
ment, and went whirling away to-
wards the Governors, bent on q wild,
mad purpose, which knew could only
prove entirely fruitless.
When the station next to my desti-
nation was reached, q woman came
on board, who instantly pounced on
me and kissed me. 1t was my neice.
what under the sun is the matter
with you?" she demanded.
When told her of poor Dukes pre-
dirament, her face became very grave,
but the moment she discovered my
business with the Governor, it bright
ened.
"How very fortunate!" she exclaim-
ed, clapping her hands gleefully.
"WhatW demanded, nearly stupe-
fed with amazement.
leave it all to me-" she said, "and
will save your friend. No-I'm not
crazy. Listen! Last night the Cover
nor-proposed to me. OF course, /
love him dearly, but 1 don't want to
bo too cheaply won, and SO refused
to give him an answer. He dimes
with us tonight. After dinner, when
his stomach is full and his heart easy
to get at, I'll promise to marry him
on the condition that he pardons
poor old Duke"
Then and there, on q public train
though we were, both hugged and
kissed her. She was as good as her
word, and six hours later 1 was on
board another train, homeward
bound, and in my pocket was q re-
prieve for Duke-the case against him
being SO strong that the Governor
deemed full pardon impolitic then.
l.