The Dickinson press., 1895-11-09
COULD IT Be TRUE.
- 49,

my uI3 HIS UGel u NlChcU OAAes Al
people only knew what I have done,
they would shrink away from me as
from some poisonous reptile.
SLOW plainly I remember all the old
scenes of my past life! l can almost
believe that l. I'M nce more beneath
the trees In the park at Lydihgton
with hlm-Jack-beside me
"!And yet l had no right even to
think of him, for I was already en-
gagged to my cousin, George Charters.
II had been wandering about in the
park with Jack n day, and he came
to the side gates with me. AS we said
good-by' he stopped suddenly and
kissed me.
II vas beginning to move slowly In
the direction Of home, when / was
startled by the sound Of footsteps, and
I looked up to see George standing be-
fore me. What had he seen?
"'You needn't turn so white. I'm
not going to hurt you,' he said, but II
I ever catch you with Mr. Langton
again, Ill kill him.
"Ah, that day! Shall I ever forget
It? l knew I was safe for a few
hours, for George had gone to see q
patient who lived at some distance;
he couldn't possibly be back for some
time, and mother rarely ventured be-
yOnd the garden. So, in the afternoon
I went to keep our usual appointment.
"As / turned the corner of a clump
Of bushes l saw two figures a little
way ahead-Jack and his brother, Ar
thur Langton. They were talking and
seemed to be quarreling, though I
couldn't hear what they said.
81 managed to, catch a few words.
as they r'rr" rearer, sufficient to
know that il was about money mat
tiers they were quarreling. And then
-oh Goblin an instant, Jack had
lifted the loaded stick he carried and
struck his brother on the head with
all his strength.
"tJack! oh, Jack! Were you mad?
You have murdered hint
"'Hush! Not that world!
"The next LAY the whole village was
been found.
"We were sitting ut breakfast,
George. mother and I, when one of the
6Ok N0ulc tOANl uS luC uCNSs ~
Il stood at the open French win
dows watching George as he strobe
down the gravel path. Then 1 saw
two or three men move from behind
a bush by the gate that had concealed
them. They We're policemen In plain
clothes. One of them laid his hand on
Georges arm as he spoke.
cdr. Charteris, you must I'M with
SSN0 r n NvrOcsk vrNSN -, er,0vN&of~s> 0-- IT,
murder Of Arthur Langton!"
George was committed for trial.
What use to recount the evidence? /
never understood, l can never under
stand yet, how my train Of clrcum-
stances could SO have %transpired to
ruin an innocent man
Gwen then It wasn't too late. I
could have saved him-but at what q
cost! How could l betray Jack. and,
besides, wreck all my chances Of hap
pincss? For his death would make
me Free and then-ah' then!
81 am very I'LL have hardly
strength to pen these lines, but l must
go on with this-my confession
where | left of yesterday. l want to
finish lit seems to case my con-
science a little. If I dared, I would
tell some one, but I am afraid.
"Think Of how I loved Jack, and
then think of what it must have
meant to me to see how, day by day,
he grew colder in his manner, how his
fnce wore q weary expression while in
my presence, when once 1t had bright
ened with tender looks and smiles, till
the time came when he told me plain.
~ that he al tired of me-that I no
longer had the power to amuse him
that all my old c~heerfulncss had gone.
II raved like q mad woman ut first,
and reminded him that his life was In
my hands, and l swOre that If he did
not marry me the whole world should
know what lie had done.
And he laughed at ME and said /
dared not speak; l should have to
keep silent for my own sake. Be-
sides, no one would believe me.
They would think l was mad. I've
I ever seen him since.
Last night I had q frightful dream.
"a dark form seemed to stand be-
fore me wrapped In the folds Of q
dark cloak, and, though the face was
invisible, I knew perfectly well that
1t was he-George-and 1t was his
voice that spoke in exultant tones:
"'You nre dying! 1 have waited
long for the day of reckoning, but the
lime has come at last, Mt last,
And In my terror, I sank upOn my
knees and implored for mercy. But
the answer came in q thrilling Whis.
per:
":As much mercy 40 ysu gave, o
you will receivA'
ooh, help me! Forgive me-! I ~.
peutg"
= =
well, Leslie, what do you think of
II, eh7" asked the head doctor Of O.
asylum, ms his friend silently handed
him back the manuscript,
ut ID q fearful history. Poor thing,
! pity her for all her wickedness and
crlm0. 1t isn't astonishing that all
the trouble and remOrse turned her
BRAIN
"Thank God, she died repentant, at
any rate" answered the young clergy
man, earnestly, "Nas she any con.
nection OF yours, Charterisy' he add.
ed, inquiringly.
Eyes; a connection by marriage.
But she isn't dead" he said. "CoMo
with me; you shall zee her"
They passed through several cor.
r1d0rs into another wing Of the build.
Ing, and then the doctor opened the
door of a pleasant, brightly Furnished
room. A woman was sitting by the
barred window, q young and pretty
woman. singing softly In a singularly
clear and sweet voice and swaying
herself all the while to and fro. DR.,
| Ch0rteriR called hor Inv namo /.