Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-16
COULD IT BE TRUE.

UUULD IL BIZ IRUE.
To-day the bells are ringing for his
wedding.
My name is Lima CHARTERS. and my
life has been a wicked one. If people
only knew what l had done they would
shrink away from me as from some
poisonous reptile.
How plainly l remember all the old
scenes Of my past life! l can almost
believe that l am once more beneath
the trees i'm the park at LydingtOn with
him-Jack-beside me.
And Yet I had no right even to think
of him. for had already engaged TO my
cousin. George Charters.
FL had been wandering about in the
park with Jack one day, and he came
TO the side gates with me. As We said
g00dby. he stopped suddenly and kissed
me-
81 was beginning to move slowly in
the direction of home, when l was start
led by the sound of footsteps. and I
looked up 20 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 if 1
ever catch YOU with Mr. LangJOn again
IN Kill him.
All. that day, Shall I ever forget
it2 knew ! 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 gar
den. So. in the afternoon, l went to
keep our usual appointment.
AS I turned the corner Of a clump Of
bushes l saw two figures a ljcie way
ahead-Jack and his brother Arthur
LangtOn They were talking, and
seemed to be quarreling. though 1
couldn't hear what they said.
Il managed 10 catch @ few words as
they came nearer, sufficient to know
that il was about money matters they
were quarreling. And then, in an in
slant Jack had lifted the loaded stick
ne carried and struck his brother on
the head with all his strength.
You here he gasped hoarsely.
springing 70 his feet, his face white
and his eyes blOOdshOt
some women would have tainted; |
didn't. my nerves were strong then. l
caught him by the arm.
.Jack-O. Jack. were you mad? You
have murdered him.
Hush. Not a word.
"I watched him in sort OF stupor,
while De dragged the corpse away and
hid it among some tangled grass ana
bushes
THE next day the whole village was
t rlur,r.1,N fots fhn h0fN had
been found
we were sitting at breakfast,
George. mother and I, when one OF the
servants told us the news.
Il stood by the open French WIN
dcws watching George as he rode down
The gravel path. Then I saw TWO or
three men move from behind q bush oN
the cate. that had concealed them.
They we're policemen IN plain clothes.
one of them laid his hand on George S
arm as he spoke: So,
DIR. CHARTERS, you must come WIN
me. I arrest YOU on suspicion Ior Ine
murder of Arthur Langton.
George was committed for trial,
What use to recount the evidence? /
never understood. / never can under
stand vet. how any train OF circum-
stances could so have cOnspired 10 rum
an innocent man.
Gwen then it wasn't TOO late. 1
could have saved him-Dut at what
c9st2 How could I betray Jack, anu
besides. wreck all my chances OF nap
piness2 For his death would make me
free. and then-ah. then.
Tam very I'LL have hardly strength
-o pen the lines; but l must go on WIN
rbis-mv confession, where L leIt OH
Yesterday. I want to finish lit seems
IN ease nv conscience a little. II darS
would tell some one. but l am alralu.
"Think of how l loved JACK ana
then think of what it must have meant
m me 10 see how day by day he grew
colder i'm his manner how his face Worc
a weary expression while in my pres
onca when once it had frightened Win
tender looks and smiles till the tline
came when he told me plainly mat ne
v,as tired of me-that l no longer hau
The newer to amuse him-thaJ all my
old cheerfulness had gone.
~ raved like q madwOman at hrsI
and reminded him that his liLe was IN
my hands. and swore tnaJ II ne ~ -. !.
, ,-'o me The whole world should know
what ne had done
"And he laughed at me ana salu
dared not speak; I should have 10 Keep
len, for my own sake Besides, no
cne would believe me; they would tnlhH
T was mad. I've never seen him since
"T9st night / had a frighttul dream
"A dark form seemed to stand before
me- wrapped in the folds OF ions
cloak and. though the face was inYls'-
he / knew perfectly well that II was
LGeorge-and it was his voice lAa1
sDol,e in exultant tones:
lyon are dying. l have waited long
fo~ the dav of reckoning but the time
has come nj last-at lastr
And i'm my terror / sank upon my
knees and implored for mercy: But the
answer came in a thrilling whisper;
...As much mercy as you gave SO vow
20. help me-forgive me! / repent!
.Vel Leslie. what do you think OF IT,
on p" asked the head doctor OF C