Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-02-16

examineing the ruins of Of the bridge he
discovered the body of a man lying at
the bottom of the abyss which the
bridge had spanned.
The boy rushed back TO the plsnta-
ton and told of the CHASTITY discovery.
The slaves FASTENED with him to the
scene and found that the body was that
of their old MASTER One of their gruOp
went to the mansion TO acquaint
young master Fairfox of the sad ca
lamity. Ere long FalrfOx appeared
upon the scene. What his fet lings were
was not revealed as he stood beside the
dead. He dispatched old Pompey to
the city for the coroner, and turning to
old Chloe commanded her to break the
sad news TO her mistress. Cd Chloe
went 20 the house as Fairfox had order
/ ed. But we draw Il veil over Aleen'
great sorrow which is too deep and "a
cred to be revealed Two days after
/ the funeral Col. De Lency's will was
read. After hearing the contents Of the
Will, FairfOx left the house never % re-
I turn. He went to the rendezvous Of "a
part Of the Confederate army and join
ed their numbers, and went with taem
% Join the hordes pressing on the POto-
mac.
Al the battle Of Cedar Mountain the
Confederates were Iepulsed. and re-
treated leaving their killed and wound
ed on the battle field. Among the
wounded was Clarence Fairfox. He
was taken care of by the FederaIs who
were lett in victorious possession OF the
field. Eairfox knew that life with him
/ h., Il
soldier who stood near him and family
murmured "My hours on earth are
numbered, will you write for me, l
must make such reparation as is yet
within my power The soldier bowed
his head IA silent acquiescence. "Then
bring pen and paper quickly for have
much to say and my life is quickly
drawing to its close" He drew a
small table beside the cot and waited
for the man to speak. II make this
my dying confession to right great
wrong.
THE CONFESSION.
II, Clarence Fairfox, at an early age
was left an orphan. A kind uncle gave
ne all the affectlonate care of father
for his child (Which was by adoption.)
Ny aunt died some years after. They
had child, daughter, her name,
Aleen My uncle's name was CASTOR
DE Lenncy." At the mention of that
name the soldier dropped his pen and
started to his feet, his face white, his
hands trembling. Why did that name
effect him so Strangely Forcing back
all signs of agitation he sat down once
| 70 no n a
made me an equal heir with his own
child; he educated me and tried to
make an honest man of me. And L
Oh God! how repaid him! was hon.
est and upright through youth up to
manhood till in an evil hour fell in
with evil companions. With them
sought the saloon and gambling hall
the launts of vice. played and lost,
became desperate at my bad luck.
borrowed large sum of money hoping
to regain what he'd lost | staked it
all with the same result, lost. ! stag
| gered from the room ruined man.
| forger. For to obtain the money which
| had How lost | forged my uncle's
name. | sought my uncle's home. 1t
was near midnight. After that terrible
night spent in anguish, and remorse,
arose from my couch, and after some
! time / was summoned to the library,
into my uncles presence. One glance |
at his stern countenance proved to me
that | had been detected Then follow
ed stormy interview. was discard
ed. | sought my room, that was mine
no longer. kney that remorse came |
too late; repentance now was useless, |
must leave. / mechanically began to |
form my plans. threw myself into
chair that CHANGED to be near the win
dow. Voices caught my ear, recog-
nized that of my uncle in earnest con-
versation with his daughter who stood |
out upon the verenda. He was on the
eve of departure for the city of Vicks-
burg, where important business, he was
telling his daughter, would detan him
until Friday 1.-TWO days later). | heard |
him moment later, ride away on /
horseback. | sat as one petried as
the import of his words dawned upon |
my senses. think the evil one took |
possession of my soul at this moment, |
for like flash came the diabolical plan, |
and determination that he should never |
return alive to alter the terms of his |
will, that if changed would leave me |
peniless | formed my plans hastily. |
Just then woman's voice came in low |
tones 20 my ear, mingled with the tones
of another. 1t was Aleen and her lover |
conversing on the verenda, where they
were seated. As their voices reached |
my ear, another crime was presented |
TO my lnind would cause her to be-
lieve her lover false, would separate
them, | would get her father out of the
way, would assist nature to remove
him, then |. Clarence Fairfox, would be
soul heir (for the loss of both father
and lover would doubtless break Aleen's
heart to CASTOR De Lency's vast for
tune, and who would know of the crime
whereby it had been obtained? There
was time enough to attend to my uneles
case must see to the lover first (Archie
l4eith). went to the headquarters of
the Vigilance Committee" of which
was a member. reported him as an
abolitionist. 1 then went on my way
| toward the city This was the last I