Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-04-14

Immediately the Inspector placed the
weapon in the blind mans hand. 1t
was at once apparent that the Doctor
understood the instrument and my last
doubt vanished as to the truth of all he
had told us.
Thank God, I am blind this hour
and cannot see her" fell unconsciously
from his lips; then, before the echo of
the words had left my ears, he raised
his voice and observed calmly enough,
considering that he was about to prove
himself a criminal in order to save
himself from being thought mad
man.
Let no one move. I must have my
ears free for catching the first stroke
Of the clock" And he raised the pis
toll before him.
There was n moment Of tOrturing
suspense and deep, unbroken silence
My eyes were on him, and so I did not
watch the clock, but suddenly l was
moved by some irresistible impulse TO
note how Mrs. Zabriskie was bearing
herself at this critical moment, and,
casting a hurried glance in her direc-
ton, perceived her tall figure sway
ing from side to side, as if under an
intolerable strain Of feeling. Her eyes
were on the clock, the hands of which
seemed to creep with small like pace
along the dial, when Unexpectedly, and
q full minute before the hand had
reached the stroke of five l caught a
movement on her part, saw the fash Of
something round and white show for
an instant against the darkness Of her
cloak. and was about to Shrek q
warning to the Doctor, when the shrill,
stroke of a clock rang out on the frosty
air, followed by the ping and flash of a
pistol
A sound Of shattered glass, followed
by a suppressed cry, told us that the
bullet had struck the mark but before
we could move, or rid our eyes Of the
smoke which the wind had blown in
our faces, there came another sound
which made our hair stand on end and
sent the blood back in terror to our
hearts. Another clock was striking,
the clock which we now perceived was
still standing upright on the stump
where Mrs. Zarbriskie had placed it.
Whence came the clock, then, which
had struck before time and been shat
tered for it's pains? One quick look
told us. On the ground, ten PAGES at
the right, lay Helen Zabrislie, bro
ken clock at her side, and in her breast
bullet which was fast sapping the
life from her sweet eyes.
We had to tell him, there was such
pleading in her looks, and never shall
7 forget the scream that rang from his
lips as he realized the truth. Break
ing from our midst he rushed forward
and fell at her feet, as if guided by
some supernatural instinct.
"Helenr' he shrieked. what is this?
We're not my hands dyed deep enough
in blood that you should make me an
swerable for your life alsO?"
Her eyes were closed, but she opened
them. Looking long and steadily at
his agonized face, she faltered forth
1T is not you who have killed met
is your crime Had you been innocent
of Mr.. HasbrOuck's death, your bullet
would never have found my heart. Did
YOU think I could survive the proof
that YOU had killed that good MANI"
Il did it unwittingly. L"
tuSO. she toMAIdllitus VIII an
awful look. which. happily, he could
not see. IT had another motive.
wished to prove to you, even at the cost
of my life, that I loved you, had always
/ loved YOU, and not
1t was now his turn TO silence her.
His hand crept over her lips, and his
despairing face turned itself blindly
| toward US.
Go" ne cried: leave us, Let me
take a last farewell of my dying wife,
without listeners or spectators. -
Consulting the eye of the physician
who stood beside me, and seeing no
hope in it. I fell slowly back The 9TH
ers followed. and the Doctor was left
alone with his wife From the distant
positionwe took.we saw her arms creep
round his neck. saw her head fall con-
fdinelv on his breast then silence set
tied upon them and upon all nature
the gathering twilight deepening, till
the last glow disappeared from the
heavens above and from the circle Of