Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1896-04-24
| AM GUILTY.

It is a trite old saying that there can
be no love without jealousy. was pas.
sionately attached to my wife and will
freely confess that was madly jealous
Of her, and with good cause it would
seem. One day met her out talking to
o strange man. who moved hastily away
on my approach. She was confused, agi-
tated, and when / taxed her with II 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 babe long
farewell to happiness
IL came to terrible crisis when one
day, returning home at an unexpected
time. found him in my house. l 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 Leeson,
and would take me to a little public
house in Rotherhithe, where I might
meet him and demand an explanation,
but at the same time implored me to do
nothing rash.
All that day l stepped my senses in
strong drink, the FOOLS Lethe, wherein
he browns all his troubles l saw Grim
ston again, and at night we went to
Rotherhithe. 1t was low, horrible den.
and it is strange what one who appeared
gentleman could be doing there.
met him, but by this time was 80 mad
and blind with drink and with passion
that all that followed IL an utter blank
to me.
When at last returned to complete
consciousness, the first faint gray streaks
Of morning light were peeping between
the blinds, and lay on 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? All, ! remember, dimly.
Where is AdelaT'
she is gone.
Not with -----l Oh, what happened
last night? can't remember. What a
fool | was to drink like that Tell me,
Crimson, for heavens sake. tell mel"
Don't Sou really remember" he
asked slowly as he gazed down stead
lastly at me.
mo.
lyon met Eric Lesson. You had o
terrible quarrel. You were so drunk You
seemed unconscious of what you said or
did. tried to restrain you. You would
mot Iistan RI mo and THANH
"Then what?" / demanded. starting
to my feet.
There was a pause. We looked at each
other, / stupidity helpless. he with
solemn pity and sorrow in his eyes.
Eyes, what them" Iexclaimed again.
He laid his hands upon my shoulders,
and bending forward whispered:
''Then You shot him dead -
have left the country. lam dwelling
by myself in lonely hut high up
among the Swiss Alps l did not see my
wife before left home. Thank heaven
for that How could bid her FAREWELL
Is she not faithless to me. and am not
guilty-guilty Of murder2
Clement Grimston was truly friend
in need to me in my present horrible
situation. He had managed to get me
away from the public house at Rother-
hithe before my crime was discovered
before was conscious Of it myself--and
he again it was who helped me to leave
England.
Iproyided myself with money enough
for my few simple necessities. Adela
has means Of her own and will want for
nothing, whatever may befall her. II 10
best she should think me dead-lost to
her forever. am no longer Oswald L.
strange. l have changed my identity.
Would to God / could 30 easily change
the past am indeed dead to the world.
then the shepherds and peasants of the
mountain land. When the English trav.
elers pass near my retreat, shun them
az would pestilence
Then there are the terrible nights
when ] wake up in a sweat from some
CHASTITY nightmare-but not more ghast
ly than the reality-wake up in al
agony Of remorse for the human if'
which have taken. And then another
terrible thought generally follows upol
this: Suppose should have made a mis-
take? Suppose Adela could have ex
planned had l given her time? Suppos
she should have been guiltless? All
heaven! What difference can that max
now? None, save to intensity my suffer
ing and remorse. Inever dare approach
her again. l must remain dead to her
for IL am guilty All. poor Adela
how / loved her once-aye, and Low
her as much still, God help mel
How can go ON leading this exist
enoe? How is it all to end-this Twin
death. this self inflicted expiration of
crimef often wonder. Yet here hav
dragged out three horrible, weary year
three years that have seemed 10 m
like an eternity.
One day in my lonely wanderings
came upon a spot where some tourist
had been lunching. They had left
newspaper behind them. Mechanically
took It mp. 1t was London daily. nov
some three or four weeks old. witt
eager longing read the news. 1t wa
the first had seen Of the old home Ian
In three long, weary years. That jour
nal falling in my way was one Of thos