The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-09-26
COULD TT BE TRUE :?

To-day the bells are ringing for his
wedding
''My name is Lima Charters, and my
life has been wicked one If people only
knew what 1 had done, they would shrink
away from me MS from some poisonous
reptile.
'tHow plainly remember all the old
scenes of my past life! 1 can almost be-
lieye that l am once more beneath the
trees in the park at Lexington with him
-Jack-besidc ME.
and yet had no right even to think
of him. for was already engaged to my
cousin, George Charteris.
Il had been wandering about i'll the
park with Jack one day, and he came to
the side gates with me As we said good
by he stopped suddenly and kissed me.
Il was beginning to move slowly in the
direction of home, when l was startled by
the sound of footsteps, and 1 looked up to
see George standing before me. What had
he seen?
'''You needn't turn so white. I'm not
going to hurt you, he said, but if 1 ever
catch you with Mr.. Langton again, I'll
kill him
"Ah, that day. Shall ever forget it?
I knew l was safe for a few hours, for
George had gone to see a patient who lived
at some distance; he couldn't possibly be
| back for some time, and mother rarely
ventured beyond the garden. So in the
afternoon / went to Keep our usual APP
| pointment
''As 1 turned the corner of clump of
| bushes 1 saw two figures a little way
| ahead-Jack and his brother Arthur
Iangton. They were talking and seemed
to be quarreling, though 1 couldn't hear
| what they said.
Il managed to catch few words as
! they came nearer, sufficient to know that
/ it was about money matters they were
quarreling. And then-O God!-in an
instant Jack had lifted the loaded stick he
| carried and struck his brother ON the head
! with all his strength
Jack Oh, jack We're you mad? You
| have murdered hi1nn
90 Hush! Not that wordp
1.-The next dly the whole village was in
state Of ferment, for the body had been
found.
I'VE were sitting at breakfast, George,
| mother and l, when one of the servants
told us the news.
81 stood by the open French windows
watching George as he strobe down the
! gravel path. Then l saw two or three men
move from behind a bush by the gate that
had concealed them. They were policemen
in plain clothes One of them laid his
! hand on Georges arm as he spoke
DR.. Charters, you must come with
me. 1 arrest you on suspicion for the muir
der of Arthur Langtonr
George was committed for trial What
use to recount the evidence? / never I'M
! derstood, l can never understand yet, how
my train of circumstances could so have
conspircd to ruin an innocent man.
Gwen then it wasn't too late. could
| have saved him-but at what cost How
| could 1 bctray Jack, and besides wreck
all my chances of happiness? For his death
would make me Free and then-ah. theni
81 am very I'LL have hardly strength
to pen these lines, but l must go on with
this-ny confession-where / left off yes
terllay. l want to finish tit seems to
| ease my conscience "A little. If l dared, l
would tell some one. but 1 afraid.
''Think of how l loved Jack, and then
think of what it must have meant to me
to sec how day by day he grew colder in
his manner, how his face wore weary
| preston while in my presence, when once
| it had frightened with tender looks and
smiles, till the time came when he told
me plainly that he was tired of me-that l
no longer had the power to amuse him
that all my old cheerfu1ness had gone.
81 raved like mad woman at first and
reminded him that his life was in my
| hands and swore that if he didn't marry
me the whole world should know what he
had done.
''And he laughed at me and said dared
not speak, l should have to keep silent for
my own sake. Besides, no one would be-
lieye me. They would think l was mad
| I've never seen him since.
Last night L had Il frightful dream.
"A dark form seemed to stand before
me, wrapped in the folds of long cloak,
and though the face was invisible knew
| perfectly we'll that it was he--George--and
it was his voice that spoke in exuItant
tones:
Yon are dyingl l have waited long
for the day of reckoning, but the time has
come at last, ut last
And in my terror l sank upon my
knees and impIored for mercy. But the
answer came in il thrilling whisper:
As much mercy as you gave, so you
will receive
"Oh, help mel Forgive mel I repentl''
Well Leslie, what do you think of it.
eh?'' asked the head doctor of c. asy-
lum as his friend silently handed him back
the manuscript.
at is IL fearful history Poor thing,
poor thing! pity her for all her wicked
ness and crime. 1t isn't astonishing that
all the trouble and remorse turned her
brain -
Thank God she died repentant, at any
rate, answered the young clergyman
earnestly. Was she any connection of
| yours, ChaTterlS! he added lnquIrlngly.
Yes, a connection by marriage. But
she ism t dead, +" he said Come with me,
you shall see her. =
They passed through several corridors
into another wing OF the building, and
then the doctor opened the door of pleas
ant. brightly furnished room. A wom-
was sitting by the barred window II
young and pretty woman, singing softly
in singularly clear and sweet voice and
swaying herself all the while to and fro
DIR. Charters called her by name.
Come here, Lima, and shake hands
with the gentleman.
She rose Immediately, and walking
| across the room she held out her hand like
an obedicnt child.
But this--this story?" gaspcd Leslie.
1t is all Il fabrication Il myth that's
| all. shock unhinged her mind, and she
firmly believes that this extraordinary
| history she has written is gospel truth
| She has never even been seriously ill 1t.
| is Il fact-I'll swear it if you like. aud l
| ought to know, Leslie, she is my wife -
London News.
AIIMAN NATURE