Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-11-11

had longed aud prayed with frantic
eagerness, was at hand-the moment
when my guilt would be proclaimed ana
George Vane's innocence established.
Yet the fact gave me no pleasure; my
burden was no lighter; there was no
sign OF termination Of my punishment.
For when George stepped out OF
prison there would be no Hattie TO well
come him-he would learn that she was
engaged TO another, aud his torture
would begin anew AS thought over
this, and saw that although my actual
crime and its hrst consequences were
being left behind, we were entering
upon a fresh series OF troubles arising
out Of ii, was filled with despair. 1
could no longer belive that my punish
ment had an end and yet with some
sort OF excitement which served as
substitute for hope, followed cease
lessly In the track OF events
Aunt Priscilla made haste 70 visit the
gaol. She saw the Governor and the
Chief Constable, and, having told them
her news, she was conducted TO the ONCE
OF the legal firm who we're acting on
behalf OF the Crown. The immediate
result was, as we have seen, a post
pOnement Of the preliminary inVestiga-
tlon before the magistrates.
George was next examined privately.
He had been undergoing severe men
tai struggle, trying 10 decide to hold
his tongue for my fathers sake, II there
should be a chance of acqUlttal without
the disclosure of my guilt, and when he
learned that the decision no longer
rested with him-that the disclosure
had been made aiready-his relief was
uuSpeakaOle. He cOrrOborated Aunt
Priscilia's story in every respect.
Still the lawyers we're not satisfied
They interviewed everybody who could
give any evidence on the subject, Hattie
being one Of the witnesses; they went
20 Cronkvssb aud saw for themselves
the grave which had dug for Henry
Wilmott, the bloodstsined clothes
which l had worn, and the bottle from
which I had afterwards taken the
poison; finally, they had a long talk
with my father.
After some hesitation he confessed
that be had expected suicide from the
very first lie had seen several instances
of poison IN India, he said, and the
symptoms had very much resem0led
those which be observed in my case.
But 1 had always suffered from weak
action of the heart had been looking
iil for some time, especially during the
last few days OF my life; the family
doctor had seen me several times; hence
there was no difficulty about the certii-
cate OF death.
Pressed as to whether he had stated
the whole ground for his suspicion, my
father admitted that be had seen the
bottle OF poison, and had himself lock-
ed the cupboard and removed the key.
Then you returned it later?" said
they; "why was that?'
because" answered nv father, with
his white head bent almost TO his
knees as he sat in his chair, "Some
feeling grew upon me that my son was
murderer as well as a suicide. l knew
nothing 10 justify the feeling, but it
became so strong l could not shake it
off. l was afraid that others would see
it, so much afraid that although
l wished 10 benefit the Vanes, the
chief sufferers if the feeling had any
truth in it, l dared not leave my prop
erty 70 them directly, but choose an
other man as a gO-between, lest after
my death people should say, 'Lo! the
father knew all the time that his dead
son was guilty" Ibid not know 1t, l
sOlemnly assure you, but l felt it,
Therefore I determined that although
1 would 90 nothing 70 prove his crime
II wouldn't turn against my own son,
could I?-I would place no obstacle in
the path Of justice. So l put the key
back
The two lawyers smiled significantly
at one another. And this they thought,
was the old gentleman whom they had
been trying TO prove insane.
II suppose yCv will prosecute me-"
said my father. "Urless you are very
quick, l shall be gone after my wife"
But they shook their heads.
"Surely all the victims OF this unfor-
tunate affair have suffered enough as II
is" said one. There will be no more
prosecutions II have anything TO do
with the matter You may rest assured
Of that, Major Veywood. People pun
ISL themselves far more severely than
the law can ever do"
After leaving Cronkvash they went
gu ~ rNl lAu dACNs 4 nNy AN1A "a -NAAs
Vane's explanation Of the destruction
OF Georges stick, and obtained from
him q confirmation Of certain other
points in the evidence which had been
laid before them. They scarcely need
ed il, however, for the case was perfect
" clear. Although unable TO make
any definite statement as 10 Georges
release, they had no hesitation in ex-
pressing their belief in his innocence
Many formalitics had 10 be gone
through vet kilograms had 70 be de-
spatched and answers waited fori papers
had 10 be drawn up aud signed; inter
views with various officials followed in
apparently endless succession. All this
occupied much time. So the day passed
and the next came and went, too, with
out anything definite having been done.
But about o'clock in the evening the
Governor OF the gaoi entered Georges
cell and told him that he was free.
Although George had been prepared
for the news, his legs nearly gave way
under him when be actually heard il.
lie gasped for breath, scarcely daring to
believe that his troubles were alta end.
Thea he made a rush Tor the door, tut
changed his mind and stopped. No, he
said, be would not go; let those who had
publicly accused him, publicly acknowl-
edge their fault, and ask his pardon; let
his innocence be proclaimed before mis-
fellow -townsnen in open Court; he was
not going to slink away like thief in
the dark.
You had better go while you can"
said the Governor 10 him. "You may
think yourself lucky 10 getof so cheap
~. It is quite true that you are inno-
cent OF murder-and everybody in the
town knows il by this tine-0ut who
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