Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-12-23

8COuAluUduCcd al tuO AoAUAb NAM >'~sS~
mined not to revisit Richmond. Oonse-
auently had all my southern property
converted into cash and forwarded to
me. I then looked about for suitable
place to live and selected Lee.
II did nothing more in furtherance OF
my plans except to speak to all OF my
new friends of the son who had left me
and had run away. I was quite young
at this time, but 10 in fact. although
was fully matured and looked much
older.
1.-THE years rolled by and nothing 90
Cured to disturb the serenity Of our
home in this little New England town
except that the Marvel family came here
to reside. This considered another "a
tality, and fer that reason did not move
away.
cat last came the birthday which
would make it necessary for rue to ex-
plain more to Virgie than / had ever
vet done. After dinner I was listening
to Squire Olney, but at the same time
was modify thinking over the past.
with its terrible memories, when young
Marvel asked to speak to me. was then
startled to hear him, another Walter
Marvel, declare that he had won the
heart of my little girl. Was it surpris-
ing that should act as did and deny
his suit, or that in my anger 1 should
blurt out part of the truth? The events
which followed are too we'll known to
need iteration here. So I will come at
once to the night of the murder.
II was sitting in the parlor, ponder
ing bitterly over my position. / had be-
gun to realize the fact that If l should
pursue the course which I had begun
and should prosecute Marvel it must be
at the cost to myself Of Virgie's love. /
was debating as TO the most sensible
course to adopt when, suddenly, l heard
a pistol shot and bullet broke through
the pane. jumped up, hurried to the
window and distinctly saw man crap
pling with my dog The snow had
leased 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 fred through my window,
in pursuance of the threat r1ade on the
day Of the party. had seen Virgie pass
through the parlor and leave her pistol
on the mantel; SO quickly possessing my
self Of 1t fired at the retreatlng figure.
AT the same moment second shot was
fred, this time at me, for it struck me
on the head, though it inflicted but
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 at
the time l did not see whence the latter
came and supposed that it was from the
mans weapon.
"A very few minutes after this !
heard the knocker at my front door.
Thinking that it might be young Mar
vel still DESTROYS Of injuring me, con.
oluded to 60 prepared and took 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 1t has her name on it. At the
same moment it flashed across my mind
that young Marvel's also bore his name
and that it was in my possession. | took
it from the drawer where ! kept it, and
went to the front door, where the man
outside was again knocking. opened it
and bearded man entered. When l
saw that it was not young Marvel, led
the way back to the parlor. Reaching
there, faced the man and inquired his
name.
"Walter Marvel, he replied, and
your day Of reckoning has arrived For
moment I was dazed, and did not
remember that there were two who bore
this name.
"'That is impossibler exclaimed.
I do not recognize you.
"You will in a 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 his.
II was certain that he was at that
moment getting out 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. / think that he
wished to know where his daughter WAS
before going to extremities. Be that as
1t may, thought that he was about to
raise his hand against nv life, and So
having pistol already in my hand, 1
shot him. and he died almost without a
struggle,