Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-08-01
I AM GUILTY.

1t is trlte old saying that there can
be no love without jealousy. was pas
sionately attached to my wife and I will
freely confess that was madly jealous
of her, and with good cause it would
seem. One day l met her out talking to
a strange man, who moved hastily away
on my approach. She was confused, agi-
tated, and when I taxed her with it re-
fused to tell me who he was. His name
was Leeson-that was all she would
say. Constraint and mistrust rose up
between us then, and we bade long
farewell to happiness.
1t came to terrible crisis whom one
day, returning home at an unexpected
time. / found him In my house. over
heard part of their interview, beheld
the passionate kiss of farewell, and wild,
mad, distracted. rushed into the street.
Here met Clement Grimston, to whom
poured forth all my wrongs. He said
he knew something of this man Lesson,
and would take me to little public
house III Rotherhithe, where l might
meet hin. and demand an explanation,
but at the same time implored mo to do
nothing rash.
All that Gay stepped my senses in
strong drink, the FOOLS Lethe, wherein
he browns all his troubles. saw Grim
ston again, and at night we went to
Rotherhithe 1t was low, horrible den.
and it is strange what one who appeared
q gentleman could be doing there. /
met him, but by this time was so mad
and blind with drink and with passion
that all that followed is an utter blank
to me.
When at last l returned to complete
CONSCIOUSNESS, the first faint gray streaks
of morning light were peeping between
the blinds, and lay Oh n couch in my
own house. The only other occupant Of
the room was Clement Grimston, who
paced restlessly up and down.
"What is the matter?' cried, pass
ing my hand over my brow. "What has
happened? ALI, l remember, dimly.
Where is Adela?"
''She is gone p"
mot with -! Oh, what happened
last night? can't remember. What a
fool was to drink like that Tell me,
Crimson, for heaven S sake, tell mei'
Don't you really remember?" he
asked slowly as he gazed down stead
fastly at me-
"No."
lyon met Eric Leeson. You had a
terrible quarrel. You were so drunk you
seemed unconscious Of what you said or
did. I tried to restrain you. You would
not listen to me, and them
''Then what?' l demanded, starting
to my feet
There was a pause We looked at each
other, l stupidity helpless, he with a
solemn pity and sorrow III his eyes.
Eyes, what them" Ioxclaimed again.
He laid his hands upon my shoulders,
and bending forward whispered:
"Then yoa shot him dead!"
/ have left the country. lam dwelling
by myself in lonely hut high up
among the Swiss Alps. / did not see my
wife before left home. Thank heaven
for that How could I bid her farewell?
Is she not faithless to me. and am not
guilty-guilty Of murder?
Clement Grimston was truly q friend
in need to mo in my present horrible
situation. He had managed to get me
away from the public house at Rother-
hitho before my crime was discovered
before was conscious Of it myself-and
he again it was who helped me to leave
England.
l provided myself with money enough
for my few simple necessities. Adela
has means of her own and will want for
nothing, whatever may befall her. 1t is
best she should think me dead-lost to
her forever. am no longer Oswald Le-
strange. l have changed my identity.
Would to God I could SO easily change
the past am indeed dead to the world.
never speak to soul. save now and
then the shepherds and peasants of the
mountain land. When tho English trav-
elers pass near my retreat, shun them
as would a pestilence.
Then there are the terrible nights
when l wake up in sweat from some
CHASTITY nightmare-but not more ghast-
ly than the rcality-wake up in an
agony Of remorse for the human life
which have taken. And then another
terrible thought generally follows upon
this: Suppose should have made a mis-
take? Suppose Adela could have ex-
planned had given her time? Suppose
she should have been guiltless? All,
nes.vei,i What siiffsret,,p f.,, that ma Ep