Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21

SO that could enjoy myself fully, to all
OF which I. Of course, assented.
Ihat evening L took a well-known citizen
OF the town with me AMI started for the
post ONCE. IL was .he sheriff. Upon en-
terlng the post Office we were both heartily
welcomed by the postmaster, the sheriff
being personal friead of his. 1 fanc.ed L
detected a slight pallor spread over his
lace as We stepped into his private Office.
ana an expression Of surprise that I should
nave picked up an acquaintance so soon,
and he the sheriff. However he said MOTH
ing further than to ask us to be seated at
the same time pointing 10 the box OF cigars
and bottle of brandy on the table as al our
service. i glanced at the sheriff and lie
slightly nodded. Witnout waiting another
moment stepped up 10 our host and law
Ing my hand on his shoulder. said as firm
ly and steadily as ] could:
Mr. -. II Is my painful duty TO in
form you that you are under Arrest
The pallor which had spread over his
face when entered was blackness COM
pared to the awful. ghastly whiteness Of
his blanched cheeks. He staggered to the
tapie Tor support, ana then. IN voice 30
hollow and low 1 could scarcely hear IL,
asked:
What for?
For the theft Of that $1,000 bond =
Ny God! Has II been found OUT?
1t has, said /. We know all about ft
and am here to take you into custody
He sank into chair and buried his face
in his hands. while the sweat stood out i'm
Mr.. Sheriff. said 1 to that official L
will leave Mr.. s. In your charge until I re-
turn from my hotel. shall not be gone
lone.'
Going out hurried to the house of the
prisoner, and was met at the door by his
wife, a sweet-faoed woman. l ,old her
that had simply called to say that her
husband and L would be detained at the
office very late. and possibly until morning.
had a lot of reports, etc. to make
out She was naturally bit surprised but
knowing 1 was in town-her husband had
told her-she said pleasantly. Very well.
I'll not look for him then. until he comes
From what 1 could see. l don't think she
had the remotest idea of the dreadful blow
impending nor of the cause of IL. Like the
good woman she was, the moment l had
gone she went in and put up a lunch COM
prising every delicacy, and sent IL to the
Office with her compliments TO me and her
love to her husband. Alas, the las; tender
message her wretched husband was ever to
receive on earth.
Upon returning to the Office. found the
unhappy man somewhat recovered and liz
clined to talk. Believing that all was
known, he determined to confess every
thing, and as far as lay in his power. make
restitution to the wronged widow of the
dead officer. And here is an astonishing
phase OF the mans mind. which was made
clear by his confession-a clouding OF the
intellect and warping Of the judgment
when under great mental distress, that to
an ordinary mind Is simply amazing. All
he ad &c do at any tine during his pos
session of the bond was to inclose II in an
envelope, together with the original letter
az comps nying it, and pass IL over TO Its
rightful owner with her other mail mat
ter. ard'Bo one could have been the wiser.
But this, IT appears, never once occurred
to him. He-but here is his confession,
which explains itself:
For nine long years | have carried a hell
in my breast. Not a day hour has
passed but 1 have thought and hoped and
prayed that some way might open for me
h.a1fx he tn its hut
plan L could conceive or scheme L could
invent seemed to lead TO sure detection.
and like a coward l carried the awful
secret with me until it has brought me
to the verge of the grave. So long a time
having elapsed, / believed everything for
gotten and thought II i could only get
rid of the bond and obtain $3.50 on IL L
would make up the balance myself. Then
L would place the money in an envelope
and watch my opportunity to slip IL under
the widows door. throw 1t into her yard
or in some way get IL to her, and thus lift
the awful load off my heart and con-
science. But the fates We're against me.
L took the surest way for discovery, and,
in sense. 1 am glad of il, for now the
wrong will be righted. For myself 1 care
but little, but God in heaven pity my poor
wife! She knows and God knows that I
am not at heart a rogue. but I'm a moment
of weakness and under great temptation
L yielded to an act that has blasted my
happiness and wrecked my life. God for
give met
Then lifting his eyes to the ceiling, with
an imprisoned voice he exclaimed. And
If. Blessed Redcemer, Thou canst
blot out my sin and avert from the limo
cent head of my precious wife this great
sorrow and disgrace by my yielding up my
life, 1 pray Thee take it, but restore il TO
me stainless in the morning of the great
day, for Thy dear names saker His
head dropped upon his breast for mo-
ment, then suddenly Strengthening himself
out in his chair and clasp.ng his hands in
front OF him, his head fell backward and
the awful whiteness returned The sheriff
and / sprang to his side and lifted up his
head, but short, quick gasp and the va
cant stare of the eyes told us only too
surely that he had passed the portals of
the great unknown.
physician was speedily summoned and
his verdict was Heart failure The
sheriff and / agreed TO bury the secret In
our own breasts for his wifes sake and
the physicians verdict is all she or the
community ever knew. Upon my return
to Washington, the officials promptly for
warded the bond with accrued interest TO
the rightful owner, and the tragedy was
ended. In conclusion, i want to say that
while am not playing a star engagement
as a Christian, if / ever believed a mans
prayer was answered at the time and will
be fully answered at the last great day as
he asked, believe that mans prayer will
be-" N l. w