Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-09-22
of money, but the widow flung it In

Ills money perish With n1m. Sn0
cried. "The man who murdered my
poor husband shall never help care
for his wife and his unhappy children.
I'll die of hunger first!'
She did not go away at once, but
wsrked at plain sewing. Both the sick
children died and We're buried, and,
as the poor funeral passed the door Of
Mr.. SANKEY'S great house. the an
guished wife and mother looked up
and saw him standing in window,
and close beside him golden-haired
boy, three years old. his only son-for
Herbert Stanley had married late in
life. The poor woman cast fierce
glance at the child.
"One is taken, and another left.
Yes. yes; | see my way now!'
Two days after the funeral, she dis
appeared and was not seen again, and
passed out of the memory of the peo-
pie. But, three weeks later, an APP
palling calamity fell upon Herbert
Stanley. Little Edward. upon whom
so many hopes We're set, disappeared
from his nursery one night. The
nurse had been drugged and the child
taken away and upon the coverlet of
the little bed, pinned fast by long
bladed dagger, was paper upon
which was written these words:
Vendetta. I will return the child
in fifteen years. Wait for him.
The blow was fatal to the mother Of
Edward, and she died within the
month All that wealth could do was
done to find the child, but he seemed
to have disappeared as utterly as if
buried in the depths of the sea.
Herbert Stanley sold out his bust
ness. and spent three years in travel,
searching for the boy, aided by skilled
detectives; but his search was in vain.
Some thought that the boy had been
stolen for a ransom, and an immense
sum was offered through the medium
of the public press, but no response
was made.
Herbert Stanley returned to his law
office, which he had left to become a
manufacturer, and soon reached the
bench, and was known far and wide
as learned but austere judge, who
had no mercy upon crime.
At last, while holding court in a city
adjacent to the place where he had
lived and suffered, a case of peculiar
atrocity came up for Judgment. 1t
was a bank robbery, in the course Of
which a man had been shot. and one
of the robbers had been taken red
handed.
When brought up for trial, he was
seen to be young, fresh-colored,
handsome man. little over twenty
years of age, but with the impress of
crime marked upon every feature. He
made no defense; and after short
trial was convicted Of murder in the
second degree. The judge rose to pro-
nounce sentence, which would send
the young man to prison for life.
Thomas WEIGH" he began.
Hold on, old fellowv' said the pris-
oner. I'D like to have you start fair
and make no mistake. Thomas WEIGH
is not my name"
what is your true one?'
Edward Stanley; so the old woman
says. And see here, judge, before you
| go on I'd like to say Il Word-not be-
cause I'm going to craw-fish for l
amt that kind of little boy, but be-
cause 1 want things on the square;
! and in the first place / was stolen.
wht child, by a woman named
Zada Fenton. from Enfield village
Great heaven!' gasped the judge,
! sinking into a scat.
"She took me to a gypsy tribe, and
we went to Europe, and until | was
ten years old | was in England. I
was taught to steal as soon as | could
walk. The woman laid herself out to
teach me evil, and made me think
that every mans hand was against
me- I've robbed. and stolen. and lied,
and committed every crime under her
teaching: but l didn't know any bet
! ter Now go ahead with your sem
tence. I'm guilty; but, after ALL |
amt to blame"
"a Sentence-a sentence. screamed
a voice from the seats in front Of the
railing, and woman forced her way
in and stood before the judge. Look
at me, Judge Stanley. Fifteen years
ago you drove me from your uoor, anu
with such cruel words that my hus-
band went oHt and killed himself. My
children died and were buried, and /
swore the Vendetta against you. DO
you remember the promise | made you
to give the boy back in fifteen years!
l have kept my word, and here he Is
the child of my teachings. but the
child of your heart, Edward Stanley!
He pleads guilty; sentence him, l say.
| am Zada Fenton. the wife OF the
man you murdered!'
Judge Stanley clutched at the air
wildly, and fell down in fit. and
when they raised him he was dead.
( Another judge pronounced the SEN
tence which sent the unfortunate son
to prison for life, to which he went de-
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