Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-12-23
C0NFLlCT0FE EVIDENCE
By RoDRIGUEs OTTOLENGUI.


have heard all about that affair. He
told it to me before we were married.
iHlre Mr.. Barnes uttered particularly
loud grlnt of satisfaction so you
have come to claim him, now that he is
somebody of consequence. Quite ro-
mantle, I declare, but it won't do, you
know. He never will acknowledge you.
You forget yourself, madam, said
Lyyour own words you have admit.
tod my sisters claim as this man 8 wife
and therefore must see that you arc not
Lis life at all.
oh, indeedl How pleasant Of you
to come and tell me! But tell you it
viii not do. He will not be bound by
such a marriage as your sister tricked
MIN into when he was prisoner.
Il thought it best to take my sister
sway, but she would not stir.
will not 60, said she, until I
have seen himp
Obi Very we'll, if you insist
Though it is useless, assure you. The
woman turned and left the room. A mo-
mcrt later Marvel entered.
Well, madam he began, address
1g my sister, what can do for your
Walter
Excuse me, but you may spare
zy0rself. I have heard from my wife the
cnJrct of your call, and, besides, re-
ceived your letter and SO am aware OF
AL the circumstances. regret the
anole affair, l assure you, and since
here IN a child, which You say Is mine,
.Yhv of course anything that 1 can do in
racuniary way to relieve your wants
rould be most willing {
You villain' began, and was
1o,.t to grasp him by the throat to
iangle him, when my sister caught me
: he arm and, with more calmness
lan could have expected, said:
No, not that way! He must suffer
shall. must be avenged, but death
90 tame for my wishes' With these
Jrds she fastened from the room.
IDLY knowing what to do, I followed
entered the carriage which awaited
and were borne to our hotel, Matilda
ping silent during the trip. AS soon.
yever, as we were in our parlor, she
d:
John, go at once for lawyer" I
mediately OWNED her intention and
mt out, only too glad that at last this
I'd was to have his deserts.
1t will suffice here to state that we
Oily had Marvel arrested and tried,
however lax the Parisians may be
morals, bigamy is crime there, as
where, and with but little trouble
secured his conviction. His appoint
1t to his foreign mission had has
ed his going abroad, but the news
per had made a mistake in saying
1t he would take wife with him.
had been engaged to marry this wo-
N, but she and her parents had been
,nding some months in Paris, and
ir wedding had taken place there
va short time prior to our arrival
is the crime had been committed on
nch soil and was punishable there.
sister maintained her strength and
cared at the trial to testify against
rvel, a circumstance which greatly
sted in securing his conviction, but
lediately after she became quite i'll
died before I returned to America.
ID ends the sad history of my sister
her wrongs Now about myself.
AT the trial, when Marvel was SEN
led to the full penalty of the law, he
ted up and uttered the most horrible
Actives against my sister. Then,
ling to me, he said:
AS for you, who have bounded me
II, warn you that when / get out
his trouble, wherever you may hide
y, will find you, and I will kill
SO help me God' 1t was terrible
lear him, and as he spoke l knew
if ever he should have the chance
7ould execute his threat.
1t was the certainty of this which
gated me in my subsequent course.
)ncluded that when we should meet
of us must die, and felt that COM
justice made it but right that he
I'D be the one. Not satisfied with
eniDg the death of my father and
sister, he must also threaten my
So made my plans. If he should
with murderous intent, would
:eady, and if he did not no harm
d accrue.
foresaw that some shrewd detect.
would discover that this man had
ed the ocean to commit a crime,
l determined to let it appear that
lad succeeded. would kill him,
him in my clothing and let it
/ that I was tho murdered man.
as must further be able to account
ny own presence plotted to reap
as my own son. To this end Wis.,
all academy on Washington Heights
spoke of placing my son there,
Ugh l afterward informed the school
Ter that had sent him elsewhere.
ever, interested myself in his insti.
u and offered to make some needed
irs. Then l spent some time at the
OIL and while there wrote to par
out Of town, inclosing self address
envelopes for their replies. These
in due time returned to me prop
postmarked, and it was an easy
ter for me to write fictitious letters,
Tough to my son, and place them in
covers. These, when the time
Id come, would be proof enough Of
IDENTIFY, and as I knew that years
Id pass before I could use them l
luded that no one would doubt that
were genuine.
Next / allowed my beard to grow
8 full length, that being the style
hich Marvel always wore his. l
that his would be shaved as long
nl remained in prison, but thought
he would allow his beard to grow
81 as soon IA he should regain his
'. as it hid scar from wound