Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1899-03-31

~
"1hank God goa haze come back to naei':
Twas so weak l could not move q
limb. l heard a low voice-a voice
knew 60 we'll. I opened my eyes,
but the light Of the darkened room was
too strong for them, and quickly closed
them again. But had seen, and lay
there in semistupds, dimly wondering if
it were not all dream. There by the
bedside was Mabel, my darling, and at
the foot was George, her brother. Had
it all been dream, terrible night
mare? Had there been a murder? Had
George really been mprisoned-suspect
ed of the crime? Had Mabel ever been
decoyed? Had there been a burglary?
Yes, that last was true at any rate, for
there was in bed, weak as kitten,
with head throbbing with painful in =,
tensity. / could not even speak. lay
there wondering how much had really
happened and how much was simply the
distorted imagination of sick brain.
At last l summoned up my strength
and murmured one word
! In AL instant my dearest was bending
over me. l opened my eyes and they
rested on the sweetest, the gladdest and
the happiest face in England.
'Thank God, darling," she whisper
ed-"thank God you have come back to
me!' And she bent over me and kissed
| me.
Don't speak, Dearest she said as
the words strove to come. 1.-The doctor
orders it. Try to sleep, and remember
that Mabel says all is well.''
Ny recovery was only a question of
time, with my dear one for my nurse
and with nothing but good news to
learn rapidly gained ground
Bit by bit all was told me- How Fitz-
gerald had informed against Gates, had
asserted his identity with Dacre and
Durant, and had charged him with the
murder How Fitzgerald at his instiga-
ton had decoyed Mabel, aud how she
had eventually escaped, after meeting
with Dick Lambert in her prison, and
finally how Keighley Gates had been
run to earth, and was now awaiting his
trial.
1t was a tangled web OF villainy they
| told me, but it threw in bright relief
! the joyous facts that Mabel was safe and
that George was again free man,
proved guilt]ess Of the terrible charge
that had been made against him.
Happiness reigned again in that
house, which had but lately been the
abode Of terrible agony and distress.
Only one thought Swallowed our Joy
the thought of the poor girl whose one
false step in life had brought upon her
such awful retribution.
The trial of Keighley Gates, on &C.
count OF all the circumstances attend
ing the crime, aroused an enormous
amount Of public excitement, and the
evidence Of Fitzgerald was eagerly
awaited. He stated that on the evening
in question he had met Gates by ap-
pointment, and after they had finished
their business be had the curiosity to
follow him. He said he saw him wait
ing in South Audley street, saw the
woman and George Fenton walk up to-
gether and finally part, saw Gates stop
the woman and saw her fall to the
ground with the dagger in her breast.
Jealousy was presumably the motive of
the crime. Gates knew Of Georges at
tentions to his wife and Of their meet.
ings. That he loved the woman cannot
be doubted. It is probable he did not
believe she did what she could to dis
courage her admirer. 1t was evident be
bad planned the murder beforehand,
for he had gone to Georges rooms and
stolen the Venetian glass dagger SO that
suspicion should fall upon it's owner,
and fortune had favored his plans Had
not Fitzgerald informed, George Fenton
would have been hanged on what seem
ed absolutely convincing ci1cumstantial
evidence.
George gave his evidence that on the
night in question he had parted from
the woman after high words. He had
again implored her to marry him, and
she had refused, again entreating him
to leave her forever. He had reproached
her for her heartlessness, and his heated
words had been heard by passersby, Civ
ing terrible Interpretation to the trag
edy that followed.
| Other evidence as to Mr.. Keighley
Gates was forthcoming. Among the
great scoundrels Of modern times this
| c0nsnmmata villain il runrthv IT a hioh
place.
It seems he had made small fortune
In the African diamond fields and had
returned to England to add to it By less
oreditable exertions.
Under the name of Arthur Durant he
had taken shooting box in the country