Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1896-06-05

would establish his innocence, because
by so doing he would condemn her to
the gallows.
"You may we'll believe that / was pre-
pared to take advantage of what I
knew. guessed at first that she had
murdered Marina because she wanted
to be mistress of Trenholme House, and
1t was not long before I sought her out,
and revealed to her my terrible secret.
For moment thought she would have
killed me. I think she would, II she
had had the means at hand After her
passion had a little subsidized, / made
terms with her. Money was what I
wanted, and she gladly consented to
pay me for keeping dumb. This began
before she married Mr.. Trenholme. At
terward 1t continued just the same. You
all wondered at her frequent journeys
from home; she only went to pay me
my allowance at times when was I'M
able, through illness, to come for 1t.
You, Mr.. Trenholme, thought me your
wife's paramount! bah! she would SOON
er have killed herself than submitted
to the caresses of one like me. II she
was a murderess, she was true to you.
I remember once made her kiss me,
and she touched me with just the loath-
But what did care? wanted money,
not love. 1t was dangerous secret to
keep, but have been we'll paid for 1t.
Thank the powers above and below! l
am out of the reach of the law! I defy
you all!'
He lifted his hand in wild defiance,
and fell back a corpse!
Helen rose from her kneeling posture
and faced Imogene, her face pale as
that Of the dead man before her.
you have heard the confession OF
that dead villain" she said, slowly.
Now, We will listen to yours"
Imogene shrank from the steady gaze
of those clear eyes, shrank back pitt
fully, crying out:
20 spare me! spare me! Do with me
as you will, but do not force me to
confession"
Ralph drew her sternly forward, and
took in his own the hands with which
she strove to conceal her face.
"You shall not be spared" he said,
hoarsely. You did not spare her! But
we will not condemn You without a
hearing. Clear yourself, If you can"
II cannot! o, you know I cannot! /
4 D,,f
loved you! I could not live to see you
the husband Of another! With her
dangerous face under the sod, I thought
my beauty might win you! God will
bear me witness that it was pure love
alone that influenced me. l never once
thought of the power that would be
mine as your wife. Wealth and sta
ton were nothing to me! 1t was your
love wanted! o Ralph, only that!
20 Godv' cried Ralph, striking his
bosom as my wife the murderess of my
poor Marina! 1t is too much! 1t mad
dens me! And but for you, Miss Full
ton, might have lived on to the end
in ignorance, and Lynde Graham would
have died an innocent man"
II did not seek this" Helen said, in
a subdued voice. Heaven knows did
not! But I was obliged to come here,
I could not keep away. 1t was what
some call fate, suppose. After I came
here some things were forced upon my
knowledge that did not care to know.
But having once become convinced that
Lynde Graham was wrongfully accused.
1 set to work with my whole soul to
bring the real culprit to light.
II think Mrs. Trenholme has habit
Of walking in her sleep. The ghost Of
this chamber is none other than her
self. Ihave watched here for the phan-
tom, and satisfied myself. The last
time l tore a piece of silk from her
sleeve, and if you will take the trouble
to make the examination, you will find
that this fragment" drawing it from
her pocket, will fit exactly rent in
the sleeve of the black silk the lady Is
in the habit of wearing.