Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1893-10-07
HIS RULING STAR.

Strange as it may sound, written in the
eel! of 8 condemned man, can say-and say
truthfully-that my life from my earliest
memory has been q blameless one.
My sentence told me that for killing my
friend, Louis Elsmond, should hang by
the neck till dead, dead, dead The words
had 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 no
one in the crowded room who believed me
innocent. The evidence was entirely cir.
cumstantial, yet so conclusive that my star
must have shone with unusual brilliancy
on the night when my friend was murdered.
The case would have seemed complicated
and unusual to any one save myself but
somehow l looked upon this as fitting
end for man who had from his cradle
known only misfortune.
Louis Elsmond had been my playmate,
my schoolfellow and in later years my
partner in business, but years before the
dreadful night about which write he had
laughingly said l brought him ill luck. He
sold his business interests to me and went
to 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 l an irretrievable bank
rupt. Misfortune, like dark shadow, fol-
lowed me in my business, my social and
my private life.
How distinctly ! remember the dull,
foggy morning in London when postman
brought to my dingy lodgings letter from
Louis Elsmond. 1t said he had returned
to dear old England and was to be at our
old home in Buckinghamshire where he
wanted me to come to him. For hours
after received this letter the world seemed
filled with sunshine. What mattered it to
me if the fog did get into my throat and
my eyes, that had not yet brcakfasted
and that my pocketbook was az empty as
my larders My oldest and dearest friend
would come to me if l could not reach him.
l knew him so we'll that ] felt sure he
would not remain many days in England
without finding me out.
Inever remembered how, but some way
during the day earned few shillings. But
my schemes to reach Buckingh had
failed Seated in a 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, ] saw man whose face had a familiar
look. but whose name Or personality
could not recall.
You do not remember me, he said, "nor
do wonder at it. l saw you enter this
place and followed you. Years ago had
business transactions with you. became
a bankrupt before you, but owed you con-
siderable sum of money. You were always
so 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. l could not, try as I might, recall
that. At last he arose to go, but before do
ing so drew 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. l am going tc
America by the next steamer"
He was gone, and sat stunned by this
unexpected good fortune. Had my luck
turned? asked myself. Was my unlucky
star, which had hung over me all my life
W Dc ICpluCcu Wy DIlSulcI tliu IuOIe
promising one?
In my exhilaration of spirits thought
So Vain hope Little did l realize that
the circumstances were weaving evidence
about me and all working toward my ruin
But during that one brief night was hap
| by. boarded the first train for Bucking
hamshire and arrived, dusty, excited ant
tired ut my native village. The light!
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 hool
and divided only by folding DOORS
Wearied by the journey and excitement
of the day slept heavily. The sun wa:
high when was awakened by excited con
versation in my friend room. The startled
face of Elsmond's valet appeared at thu
folded doors. In few almost incoherent
words lie explained as best he could in his
broken English the tragedy that had beer
committed. His masterhad 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 l heard then the
worAmen building my gallows as clearly
as l hear them now in the courtyard below
my CELL
The police were now in my room. fin
ished dressing mechanically. felt they
would suspect me of this crime. was the
last person to be seen the night before witt
my dead friend. My dress and appearance
were against me.
Twas put under arrest and my room ex
amined. Fatal examination! In my travel
ing bag they found nearly ESQ in gold. Thu
officers looked at me and the money sus
piciously
1.-THE murdered man drew ESQ of English
gold from the bank yesterday" said the
sergeant of police.
1--WE will take this money"
Twas not surprised.
There was long, dreary trial, but d.
not know how long it lasted.
Why should the Judge and jury have be
| lieved my confused story of Il man whose
name did not know paying me money sc
mysteriously and under such unnatural
circumstances Why should they believe
that loved Louis Elsmond better than my
own life; that to have spared that life
would willingly have suffered all the agony
was then undergoingf No; there was moi
one friend in the courtroom to come to my
aid They all believed me guilty.
Perhaps some one who reads these pages
may, like myself, have been born under al
unlucky star and after am gone grant K
my memory that sympathy which was new
er mine in life.-Albert Hardy in Once {
] Week.
One Problem of Transportation.
Street railways in Massachusetts are add
ing to their plant freight and baggage cars
! This is as it ought to be. The item O