The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-02-15

found, stolen it, deciphered its meaning
perhaps from mere verbal slip on her
fathers part, passed it to me, and
had passed it to Duncan's father
AS we walked through the town we
saw body being carried along on a
stretcher.
Here is the man who blurred thy
fair name, lassie! Rest sure, they've
found him at last, and he hath no mind
TO escape the coward See, here is a
note for thee!" @
Yes, a constable was thrusting a note
into my hands. | stood tongue-tied,
and, glancing from the constable to
Mr.. McTavish, with trembling fingers
got the envelope open:
DEAR MISS CAMERON: am shooting my
self over Nairnie's grave. My child tells me
that piece of blue ribbon is in your hands. lido
not wish to recover it, You may be able to de-
cipher the letters with little ingenuity or the
truth may flash before your eye at once How
ever that may be l have decided not to live an
other year in disgrace, l cannot endure my
present mental state and the stings of my con-
science There is nothing but premature
grave for me. Yes, it was l who poisoned
Marine Cameron, did the deed few minutes
after you had left her that night in Coodie
Haugh. Deed did the deed. 1t was done subtly
in draft of brandy, My sole reason for taking
this step was that she tormented me once too
often by saying that Duncan McTavish would
be a better matrimonial speculation for her
| than Henry Deed Dicconson, the widower.
| While she lay dead wept over her l carried
away piece of blue ribbon she wore. 1t be-
came more permanent and valuable keepsake
| after l had perforated on it the clew of the
crime, which l should not have objected to be-
coming patent 10 the world after my death.
For present safety however 1 secreted it in
my little Bible
Now I ask your pardon for all the damning
| evidence that gave against you three years
| ago You have suffered; but you will soon be
| popularity acquitted by the most scrupulous of
| those who think a murder never sufficiently
atoned for, and you may yet gain your golden
crown in the world that is TO come. AS proof
| that you to some extent forgive me- will you,
| being now of age, execute my affairs ON behalf
| Of the child of my predeceased wife? To her,
| to my Oracle, through you 1 send the message
| of farewell Yours ETC.
HENRY DEED DICCONSoN."
After | had recovered from the brunt
| of this two faced surprise Roderick said
| to me:
MY missis is dead, Robina, and thou
shalt come to keep my house for me,
and thou shalt be Gracie's mother, and
| l will be her father"
Dear Mr.. McTavish," l said, then
if that is to be my lot, no longer is my
liberty loveless one"
| 1t was spreading like wildfre in
quaint Dummersbra that l had nc
more to do with the death of Marine
Cameron than had either the late Dun
can M. lavish or his present father.
was besieged now by old enemies turned
suddenly into new friends, by all those
who condemned circumstantial evi.
dence, by all the town who had the
gift Of commiseration. There was Miss
| Monnsell among them; and. notably,
the local patriarch and the pedagogue,
who shook hands right affectionately,
proclaimed Dummersbra' purified and
turned their moralizations off into the
direction of the imported Englishma1
who lad just been found struck dead by
the hand of conscience in Dummersbra
cemetery. After this reendearment tc
the natives of our own dear little town
the philabegs and the pipes surrounded
my champion and myself, and l do MOI
think that | ever felt much happier il
my life.
Yes, reader l went to Rodericl
McTavish's as his housekeeper, anc
Oracle has since come tous.
He wants me to marry him, but
have not yet forgotten Duncan. / an
quite happy to remain single, since
Duncan is no more. Little Grace i,
the crown of all my earthly hopes.