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


gain nothing now by conccalment."
Am I dying?" he asked, anxiously.
Il think so. Speak on. But first let
me ask, Mr.. Trenholme, is there a
magistrate present."
Il am one," said Ralph's friend, Mr..
Brunell, who was stopping there for
the night.
Very well then Give this gentleman
the oath. can testify that he has no
conscientious scruples to prevent him
from swearing"
1t was done, and Rudolph proceeded
to speak,
1T is hardly fair to force things out
of fellow in this way. but I suppose
there's no help for it. There's too many
against me! This girl Is the very devil
herself"
II have once before informed you,
sir, that I am Miss Fulton, and in no
way relative of the person you men
tion."
20, have 1t your own way! but I'm
sure I don't understand how you came
to guess at what has puzzled SO many
| older heads. I've been hard case. I
don't deny it. It was all owing to the
way l had to struggle up. Everybody
was willing to give me kick because
l happened to be the child of poverty
and of disgrace. I stole the child Of
Mrs. st. Cyril, partly from motives Of
revenge, and partly because hoped to
get money from its father by it. I'm
not going to give history of my doings,
so don't get impatient. 1t seems lit
tie necessary that I should speak Of
that child, seeing as 1t was she that was
murdered. The ship that we came to
this country in was wrecked, and peo-
pie hereabouts thought that the little
girl was the sole survivor. know bet
ter, because myself escaped. 1t did not
suit my purpose, however, to let the
fact be known. had my own plans,
which l shall not now divulge. The
time for me to work is past, and I will
not tell you what I meant to If my
life had been heightened I found that
the child had good home, and for the
present, then, was satisfied. After
awhile l returned to Europe, and saw
Mrs. st. Cyril. But she had no money
with which to purchase my secret. I
then sought the father of the child, but
he refused to listen TO me a moment.
He had no children, he said, bitterly.
l came back to America. Part of the
time I was in New York, but I never
lost sight of Marina-for so they called
the girl had stolen from her parents.
At last heard she was going to be mar
ried. thought should like to see how
she looked in her bridal clothes. 1t was
little weakness Of mine which you
must pardon, seeing that / once loved
her mother.
II came here, and knowing no other
way. climbed the locust tree just out
side this window, and from its thick
leaved shelter, commanded complete
view of this apartment. Just after
the bridesmaids left the bride, the door
Of her chamber opened, and Imogene
Ireton entered. knew this woman by
sight. She came up noiselessly behind
Marina, and as she turned, l saw some
thing glitter in her hand. She stood
still moment as If to gather strength,
and then she struck down quickly and
silently? I heard low cry, and then
all was quiet"
Ralph's grasp had frightened around
his wife, until her face had grown pur-
pie from the iron pressure. He was
crushing her to death, but he would not
have known it, If she had breathed her
last sigh. st. Cyril touched his arm.
"Mr. Trenholme, look at your wife.
You are suffocating her."
He looked down upon her distorted
features, removed his arm, and took her
hand in his.
"Imogene Ireton came directly to the
window" proceeded Rudolph, land
looked down. She had the dripping
knife still in her hand. She cast about
her half fearful glance, but discover
ing no one, she stepped out upon the
grape vine that half covered that side
of the house. And just as she did so
Lynde Graham came along on his way
to the main entrance. He was dressed
for the wedding and had his gloves in
his hand. He looked up at her, and an
amazed expression crossed his face.
miss Ireton, how came you there?'
he asked, Fastening toward her.
"'Help me down, quick: she said,
imperiously.
HE lifted her down in his arms.
knew then that he loved her by the
way he performed the act. could have
sworn it.
"'What freak is this?' he asked.
why do you choose that means of
egress from the chamber Of the bride?'
"She looked at him-and such look.
He fairly recoiled before 1t. She lifted
up her hand, there was upon it a single
dash of crimson.
"'Lynde Graham she said, distinct
ly, there will be no bride, and If you
love me prove that love by keeping my
secret!
"She fled away, and he looked after
her like one In maze. 1t was five
before he seemed to recover
his faculties. And then his face was