The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-09-14
Copyright. 1906. by q. p. Putnam's Soma An
rights reserved-l

product of vice I'm another. | say this
not as n plea for myself, but merely as
an assertion of the truth But let me
continue. AS L have said have al
ways loved Lillian Vale, despite my
recognition Of the fact that she never
could be mine. But soon n man named,
or, rather. calling himself. Morton
came upon the scene. He was wealthy
as well rs handsome. just the sort of
man to turn n young girls head. He
won her heart. At first. when I saw
him making love to her, | would have
strangieG him uu; for the constant
effort which l always made to over
come my homicidal tendencies. Later.
when l discovered that>Lilion had
ticafneetdi to lleeSe--t4hc t4hc man, would not
have harmed him for all the world.
And so he found the opportunity to
win from her all that girl should hold
most sacred. l went away for n time,
hoping that absence would give me
strength to bear my loss. without yield
Ing to the criminal prociivitics which
merely smoldered within my bosom.
When returned. found Lillian had
become mother. Again it was with
the greatest difficulty that refrained
from murder, but the motive for such
m act was merely jealousy. 1t was
the fear Of becoming the father Of n
child Of hers. Of seeing in the beloved
darling Of my wife n reproduction Of
my own degenerate self, which had
lost me my Lillian. And now to see her
fondling the offspring Of another was
hard indeed to bear But did not then
know Of the degradation into which he
had plunged her. I thought they were
indeed welded, rs they pretended to
be. If had known the truth, | would
have killed him."
Poor fellow! How you have suf-
fered"
e 'The weeks and the months rolled
Dy. slippery Sam, one OF my trusted
friends, from time to time occupied a
room In the same house in which Lii
Ian lived. He did this at my request
to bring me reliable news of all that
occurred. had n sort Of prcscntment
that some day she would need my aid.
The time came at length. One night
was with Slippery Sam In his room
when heard noise below listened
and felt sure that some one was mov-
ing about In Lilian's room. went
back and brought out q candle. BY its
dim light saw n man hurrying down
stairs. carrying n bundle. | hastily
followed. He walked swiftly through
the dark streets, but l kept him in
view. Finally he reached an old grave
yard and with difficulty climbed over
the fence. Then | discovered his pur-
pose. He had stolen Lilian's child.
saw him strip off the single garment
In which 1t was clad, and / saw him
deposit the infant I'm the high grass.
Il was leaning against the wall un-
der the protecting shadow of a door
way next to the rail fence, when he
lenped back into the street and hurried
up town. l imagined that this was the
husband. who thus took the first step
toward abandoning poor Lillian. was
convulsed with rage and sneaked along
behind him, hesitating whether or not
to strike him dead. AS these thoughts
were surgIng In my brain the man
ahead Of me stepped into the light Of
m electric lamp at Chatham square,
and an instant later saw his face and
recognized it-I say recognized it, for
knew him. 1t was Matthew Mora, the
elder"
$50 the old raan had stolen the sons
child In repayment of the blow which
he had received"
Perhaps. l knew nothing Of that
Mt the time. I was overcome by the
intensity of the emotions that surged
up about my heart. My brain seemed
on fire. My eyes became blind, so that
the old man disappeared from my
view. Everything was red before me,
blood color. Blood seemed to flow
about me. The streets were covered
with It. and 1t ran about in a rapid
food Now 1t rose to my knees; now
1t reached to my waist. to my shoul-
sense Of strangulation. gasped,
reeied, and then In an Instant all be-
came clear again. My senses returned,
and l ran forward to seize the fiend
who was little ahead of me. He was
rushing up the steps of the elevated
railroad. l ran after him, mounting
three steps at a time, but I reached
the platform only In time to see him
enter train and to have the gate
slammed In my face as the guard pull
cd the signal cord. Well, l was pow
"rlcss for the moment, but the craving
for blood WAS In my heart and would
not be npppaseu. ne first reckless
impulse of. madness. however, had
passed and now gave place to cunning.
went back to the house where Nor
ton lived, and l searched his closet for
q suit Of clothing which would serve
rs a disguise. I found what you all
now know as the plaid suit. My OBJ
! ject In wearing that was to create the
suspicion Of Morton's guilt, for ! had
!, determined 70 kill old Mora. and the
deed was already accomplished In my
II Io oh 10, lox