The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1897-11-13

|
| the world. Oh, that | could have lived
| five years longer! l could have seen them
| both in the way of making their living"
Surely you must have friends who will
do something" l said.
Il have not q friend in the world; but
there is one man who may, if you will
! help me, do something for my children. |
| want you to see this man and tell him |
am dead. | want you to ask him if he will
| pay for the children's living and educa
| ton. He will not do it for love OF me;
he is not a friend. l want you to say:
| She left sealed packet with me; unless
you lodge the proper amount Of money
! with two honest persons as trustees, | am
| instructed to break the seals and send the
| packet to the person to whom it Is ad-
| dressed 1t will not be much trouble, Mr..
Norris. lie will be sure to pay the money.
| then you can give him the packet; Will
| you do this for dying woman
| l was pausing to consider what course
! to adopt. | had only to promise to COM
| ply with her request, and | felt certain
that her confession would be placed in my
hands. Once in my possession | could use
it as l pleased. But l felt thar, come
what might, l could not deceive this dy
ing wretch.
81 will not do it, l said.
! She moaned, and her fingers picked con-
vulsively at the bedclothes.
OH she said, and would have cried,
| had strength enough been hers, for my
children's sake, do this thing for M. 1t
is very little TO ask
| The critical moment had come. | lean
| ed over her and looked into her wild. be-
| secching eyes.
| Mrs Merton l said, "can you. sin
| full, dying woman, call this a little thing?
| You would make me the instrument 40
wiring money you want from Captain
| Gresham, and, that money once given, are
content to die. knowing that Tie vile con
! spiracy you and he concocted twenty
| years ago will never be revealed Mary
! Williams, now that YOU lie on your death
| bed, do the one good action of your life
and clear the innocent"
| | thought sheer fright would have cut
short the little life left her. Her large
eyes dilated with horror and fear. Ia
| spite of her weakness. she half rails ii
| herself III the bed and stared at me
| What have you To do with Richard
| Chesham and his crimes now" | con
| tinued. How will YOU face the next world
with this last act on your soul? As you
! hope for mercy, show mercy"
who are you:' she gasped. How DO
you know my name! You are Lady Est
meres son. she said, suddenly.
| y am not
She closed her eyes and lay mutteriug
| The only words | could catch from her
parched, drawn lips were, My children
starving, penniless"
| Mrs Merton-Mary Williams" sg:d,
listen to me. | am rich. pledge my
word as a man, my honor rs a gentleman,
] that if, of your own free Will and accord
! you place that confession iii my hands |
will do all, even more. for your children
! than you wished to ask of Chcsham."
She opened her eyes and looked at me
as though she would search my heart.
Let me hear that again" she Wills
pered.
| | repeated my words.
You swear it, she said.
! Il swear i'll will see them launched il
! life
Once more she closed her eyes and the
few moments which passed before she
made any further sign seemed ages to me-
Take a chair" she whispered, land
! look on the top of the wardrobe. Give
! me box you'll find there
The box was locked, and, as Mrs Mcr-
ton said nothing about the key. | wrench
ed the cover off. There lay the packet
sealed and without address | took ii
out, and, in default Of any commands to
| the contrary. opened it. There was an
| inner cover directed, not to Sir Laurence
| Estmere, or to Lady Estmcrc, but to Lord
| Kothwell. Mary Williams was clever
woman, and knew who would be certain
/ to see that the confession did its work
| | tore the cover open as well. 1t WAS no
| time to stand upon ceremony. Several
| sheets covered with writing were inside.
rs it all here" | said
| She was cying Inc eagerly. "All-cv-
erything." she whispered
| | placed the precious document in NV
! breast and left the room. | felt could
not not be too cautious. 50 many interests
turned on that paper. Unless the most
indisputable evidence of its authority was
forthcoming, a suspicious man, as | felt
sure Sir Laurence Estmere must be,
would reject it as Il fabrication 70 him
it would be Il warrant Of condemnation.
| went tC the clergyman Of the parish
for North Road had n church Of its own.
! l had scrapcd up a kind of acquaintance
with him. | told him the facts of the
case, that n dying sinner wished 10 make
what atonement she could. and ! asked
/ him if he would accompany me To her
! bedside, and also if he would bring an
other man of standing with him. He was
interested and anxious TO help me.
My neighb0r is a magistrate he said
/ He will be the proper person, ii we can
find him at home"
The worthy magistrate was at home.
pottering about his greenhouse. Such a
request as mine must have been an event
in his quiet life, and he gladly acccded to
it. In Il very short time we were stand
ing by the dying woman's bed. The mag
istratc took the paper. which | had just
read aloud. from my hand and leaned over
Mrs. Merton.
You have heard the contents of this
paper" he said, in a solemn, judicial voice.
and declare that to the best of your be-
lief they are the truth"
They are the truth" repeated the dy-
ing woman.
The magistrate asked for pen ana ink,
and the clergyman and himself signed The
document
You have nothing you wish to ada"
/ I asked, bending over Mrs. Merton
Nothing for them to hear. Come
closer"
Her voice was growing fainter and
fainter. l placed my ear nearly touching
her lips.
You may add why did it." she wills
pered. "A -iddy. vain girl. ! loved Sir
Laurence. l offered him my love. He
would not condcscond IL understand me.
| was too far beneath him for him I" tel
his wife 10 get rid of me. Then | hated
him-and he paid for it
The clergyman having signed the pa
per. fell on his knees at the bedside and
began 10 pray Tor departing sinner.
TO be continuedl
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