Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-07-15
SELECTED STORIES.
HIS RULING STAR.

Strange as IL may sound, written In the
cell Of a condemned man, can say-and say
truthfully-that my life from my earliest
memory has been blamelsss ORA
My sentence told me that for killing my
friend, Louis Elsmond, / should hang by
the neck till dead, dead, deadi The words
had q dreadful sound when they fell upon
the hush Of the courtroom. Women sobbed
and men turned their faces away to hide
their emotion. but there was probably nc
one in the crowded room who believed me
Innocent The evidence was entirely CIR
cumstantial. yet 90 conclusive that my stan
must have shone with unusual brillancy
on the night when my friend was murdered.
The case would have seemed complicated
and unusual to any one save myself, but
somehow I looked upon this ss . fitting
end for q man who had nom bis cradle
known only misfortune.
Louis Elsmond had been my playmate,
my schoolfellow and In later years my
partner I'm business, but years before the
dreadful night about which I write he had
laughingly said brought him Ill luck. He
sold his business interests to me and went
10 India. Yellow gold seemed to roll from
his very fingers. In two years he secured
great wealth and high social and financial
position, while my warehouses IN London
were In ashes and an irretrievable bank
rupt. Misfortune, like dark shadow, fol-
lowed me IN my business, my social and
my private life.
How distinctly I remember the dull,
foggy morning In London when postman
brought to my dingy lodgings letter from
Louis Elsmond II said he had returned
to dear old England and was to be at our
old home in Buckinghamshire, where he
wanted me 70 come to him. For hours
after received this letter the world seemed
filed with sunshine. What mattered II to
me II the fog did get into my throat and
my eyes, that / had not yet breakfasted
and that my pocketbook was as empty as
my larderf Ny Oldest and dearest friend
would come to me II could not reach him.
! knew him 30 we'll that felt sure he
would not remain many days In England
without finding me out.
never remembered how, but some way
during the day earned a few shillings But
my schemes to reach Buckinghamshire had
failed. Seated In quiet corner of little
inn In retired street ate my poor even
ing meal and deplored my fate Suddenly
was aroused from my reverie by friend
ly hand which touched my shoulder. Turn
ing, I saw man whose face had familiar
look, Dub WuOSo uhuC VI pcfbouhiiey
could not recall.
"You do not remember me, I" he said. ''nor
do wonder at IL. saw you enter this
place and followed you. Years ago bad
business transactions with you. became
q bankrupt before you, but owed you con-
siderable sum of money. You were always
30 honorable with me that, although the
law exempts me, always meant to pay
you"
As my unexpected friend ordered wine
and chatted over the past his personality
gradually came back to me, but not his
name could not, try as might, recall
that. At last he arose to 60. but before do
ing 40 drcw purse of gold from his pocket.
"Here." said he lightly. "are ESQ fresh
from the Bank Of England. This pays my
debt to you with interest. am going to
America by the next steamer"
He was gone, and ! sat stunned by this
unexpected good fortune. Had my luck
turnedf asked myself. Waa my unlucky
star, which had hung over me all my life,
to be replaced by brighter and more
promising onei
In my exhilaration of spirits ! thought
30. Vain hope.~ Little did realize that
the circumstances were weaving evidences
about me and all working toward my ruin
But during that one brief night was hap
py. boarded tho first train for Bucking
hamshire and arrived, dusty, excited and
tired at my native village The lights
cleaned out from the little inn where my
friend was to be. What pleasant meeting
there was over the dinner prepared to Louis
ordering. We reviewed the past and build
ed castles-such bright castles--for the fu-
ture. At late hour we separated for the
night, occupying rooms on the same floor
and divided only by folding doors.
Wearied by the journey and excitement
of the day slept heavily. The sun was
high when was awakened by excited con-
versation in my friends room. The startled
face Of Elsmond's valet appeared at the
folded doors. In a few almost incoherent
words he explained as best he could in his
broken English the tragedy that had been
committed. His master had been strangled
In the night and was dead.
Like vision of second sight, my terrible
fate seemed then and there to pass before
me. In my imagination ! heard then the
workmen building my gallows a. clearly
as Ihear them now In the courtyard below
my cell.
The police were now In my room. fin
ished dressing mechanically. j felt they
would suspect me of this crime was the
last person to be seen the night before with
my dead friend. My dress and appearance
were against me.
was put under arrest and my room ex-
amined. Fatal examinationi In my travel
ing bag they found nearly ESQ in gold. The
officers looked at me and the money sus-
piciously.
"The murdered man drew ESQ of English
gold from the bank yesterday" said the
sergeant Of police
1--WE will take this money"
was not surprised.
There was a long, dreary trial, but do
not know how long It lasted.
Why should the Judge and Jury have be
lieved my confused story Of a man whose
name did not know paying me money so
mysteriously and under such unnatural
eircumstancesi Why should they believe
that loved Louis Elsmond better than my
swn life; that TO have spared that life
would willingly have suffered all the agony
\ III hoc nd No. tharo xuo pof