Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1896-04-01

AT the DOtlOm OF III. No NObuSl tHO pun
girl had written as she did no wonder
she had doubted my love for her. | tore
the miserable thing into hundred frag-
ments, and watched them sail down into
the qniet street below.
"Then started from the window, pack
ed my travelling bag put on my coat and
left the hotel. Going directly to the sta
ton. found that | had but a few min
utes to wait before the departure of the
New York train. The next day found
me in Boston. Stopping at some small
eating house for a hurried breakfast, |
called cab and was driven to my cous-
in's boarding house. 1t was about ten in
the morning. The servant showed me
upstairs to his room. | tried the door
it was locked, but my cousin opened it in
answer to my knock. | found him, in
company with another young fellow, in
/ the act of dressing. They had evidently
been having a time of it the night before,
for the table was Uttered with cards and
chips, and cigarette stumps and empty
bottles cIuttered the hearth. Arthur
started when he saw me. | do not Won
der. Ny face, know, was livid, and my
lips twitching with passion. Paying no
attention to his companion, | cried out,
you internal scoundrel will you never
cease playing the blackguard ! VIII you
never cease meddling in my affairs How
dared you steal that letter from my desk
and send it to Miss Marston Wasn't it
enough to nearly kill me- 'Ah, you know
them he gasped, backing toward the
other end of the room. Yes, I know. |
knew it all the time; but | kept the he'll
lish secret, and was willing to forgive you
for it but this last piece Of villainy Is
more than | can stand = But, Miss Mar
stou-' Hold on cried, don't dare
mention her name, or III kill you | al
most thank God she is where your miser-
able lies can't reach her = Where is she
then 7? he asked, with some effrontery
doubtless bis friends presence, which, at
first, he seemed to have forgotten, was be-
ginning to reassure him. She is dead !
| answered in voice so strange that |
was startled by it. Dead ! he gasped.
yes. dead | turned TO leave the room.
Hot tears had sprung into my eyes. In
my grief forgot my anger. 1t was no
time for revenge. In crossing the room
to the door, | caught sight of a picture
on the mantle. God 1t was Jessie's !
The sight maddened me. He had stolen
the pictureswith the letter. 1t, too, had
been in my desk. In an instant was be-
side him. seized him by the throat,
and, though he was larger and heavier
than I, and fought with frightened cour-
age, | hurled him to the floor, and struck
him again and again in the face with my
clenched fist. His friend must have been
a coward for he made no move to assist
him. Presently he lay very still and
white. His face was cut, and blood was
trickling down upon the floor. | arose,
thrust the picture into my pocket and
then without turning to look at him, left
the room and the house"
"had l killed him? The thought
haunted me. | could not leave the city un-
til I knew. Late that evening, | rang
the bell, so mufled up in my great coat
that the servant did not recognize me, and
asked for Mr.. Arthur Cranston. You
can't see him tonight, sir, the servant
answered, He's very sick Not danger
ously so? asked. "No, sir, heard the
doctor tell my landlady that he had been
badly hurl, but would be out again in a
week or so. Thank you, III call again,
said, and went down the steps
"rwo days later l was home. My
son, said my father to me at the break
fast table, you are looking much the
worse for that spell Of yours; l believe
you need a change Of scene and air
Neither he nor nay mother knew the true
cause of my haggard face, for had said
nothing to them about Jessie. This
thought best for two reasons. In the first
place my doing SO might direct suspicion
to my cousin in the second, my mother,
who was as proud as she wss gentle and
good, would never have approved Of such
hurried engagement, and would have
Judged poor little Jessie rather barshly
So l kept my secret.
"My fathers views about change ot
scene were agreeable to me. was anx
ions 10 get away; so, a few days later,
left for Florida There l soon regaineC
my health, and few of the acquaintance
made dreamed the heavy load l carried
+, on my heart, for laughed as loud as th'
80. Rr. o,-adualIv I hepan taking n