The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-05
sosra,oHr. 1857 ev G.e pUTAAms SONS.

II was sitting in the parlor, ponder
ing bitterly over my position. I had be-
gun to realize the fact that II should
pursue the course which had begun
and should prosecute Marvel 1t must be
at the cost to myself Of Virgie's love- I
was debating as to the most sensible
course to adopt when, suddenly, / heard
q pistol shot and bullet broke through
the pane. I jumped up, hurried to the
window and distinctly saw man Crap
pling with my dog. The snow had
ceased to fall, and there was light from
the moon, which was visible through
the clouds as they broke away. Thought
this was young Marvel and that he had
deliberately fired through my window,
In pursuance Of the threat made on the
day Of the party. I had seen virgie pass
through the parlor and leave her pistol
on the msntel; go quickly possessing my
self Of 1t ] fired at the retreating figure.
At the same moment q second shot was
fred, this time at me, for it struck me
on the head, though it inflicted but a
slight wound.
II learned at the inquest that these
shots were fired respectively by Lucas
and Miss Marvel-the first accidentally
and the second deliberately, though ut
the time ! did not see whence the latter
came and supposed that it was from the
mans weapon.
IA very few minutes after this
heard the knooker at my front door.
Thinking that it might be young Mar
vel still DESTROYS Of injuring me, con-
oluded to 60 prepared and took a weap-
on in my hand. did not again take
Virgie's, for had time to think before
acting, and as was possibly about to
take life it occurred to me that it
would not do to use Virgie's pistol, be-
cause it has her name on it. At the
same moment it flashed across my mind
that young Marvel's also bore bis name
and that it was in my possession. I took
II from the drawer where I kept 1t, and
went to the front door, where the man
outside was again knocking. Iopened it
and bearded man entered. When I
saw that it was not young Marvel, I led
the way back to the parlor. Reaching
there, I faced the man and inquired his
name.
walter Marvel he replied, and
your day Of reckoning has arrived For
a moment I was dazed, and did not
remember that there were two who bore
this name.
That Is impossiblei' I exclaimed.
I do not recognize you
"'You will in moment. he an
swered, and put his hand to his hip
pocket. Immediately understood. This
was the elder Marvel, and the time had
come for him to take my life or for me
to take bis.
II was certain that he was at that
moment getting out a weapon, though,
as 1t proved later, it must have been
that as evidence Of his identity he
meant to show me the locket which my
sister had sent to him. I think that he
wished to know where his daughter was
before going to extremities. Bo that as
1t may, I thought that he was about to
raise his hand against my life, and so,
having a pistol already in my hand, I
shot him, and he died almost without
struggle.
II at once proceeded to carry out my
long prepared plan. Istripped the body,
cutting the garments away, with the
exception of the long coat, which, with
much difficulty, I succeeded in remov-
ing without destroying, as decided to
wear it away from the house. There
was not a moments delay, for had
long been ready for this emergency
and SO acted promptly. I got one Of my
own shirts, making sure that it was
marked with my name, and slipping |
this on him made it appear that had
been aroused after going to sleep. Next
I arranged the shirt SO that it touched
the wound and allowed some Of the
blood to soak through. This served as a
mark, and fred at it in order that /
there should be bullet hole through
the garment and near enough to the
otucl lOI DOtu edOts " udNo tuttICu tlo
same spot. Isuppose that my hand trem-
bled somewhat, and that is why, as the
doctor testified, this was but a slight
wound and the bullet passed out again,
1t can be found in tho floor, Of course,
II it DO deemed necessary to substantiate
my statement in that way.
Next, to make the Identification com.
plete, placed upon the finger of the
corpse the large diamond ring which I
had always worn, and which is well
known. This was again fatality, for
his is ring which he gave to my sis
Ter when he engaged her affections. 1t
was with some difficulty that got the
ing on, for his finger was much larger
han mine" again Mr.. Barnes utter.
ID an ejaculation and thought to him.