Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-07-11

HE SAT STARING AT THE WORDS FOR
SEVERAL MINUTES.
I VIII go TO gee him, if you insist on it,
bslt know he will tell me | have
salsen enough OF his toncs."
"Well, that will do" said Goddard,
serfctantly. He thought of the crim-
JON pictures in the medical book he
bad consulted, and his heart sank.
After all, his newfound happiness was
only TO end in her death. and then
Goddari's meditations about Blanche
always stopped there. He had shut
men who are striving for better
things shut out the memory of past
evil deeds and associations.
That night when the house was still
and he found himself alone in his study
ne forced himself to the task Of CONF
municatinE with Jeanne. And as | can
IN no better way reveal the workings
Of his heart, I shall reproduce the let-
ter word for word.
In beginning It he wrote Dear
Jeanne" but there he stopped abrupt.
ly, and sat staring at the words for
several minutes, then he tore the sh eet
Into small bits and let them filter
through his fingers. His letter began
simply as follows:
well, have at last done your bidding
I was a mailman I confess that-the very
flames OF hell had scorched my brain
have committed an unspeakable crime
against the purest. loveliest creature that
God ever gave life to. You will be SUR
prised perhaps to ind that have changed
so quickly, ana really have changed COM
pIetely. The scales have fallen from my
sight I feel Hike a man who has been hyp-
Noticed and wakes TO find he has murdered
his best friend I despise myself as no
mortal ever cespised himself before. I
now know that my passion for you was
the blindest. most insane infatuation that
tver dragged the soul of a man from an
atmosphere Of hope down into the n1re Of
bellish dependency l now know that nv
love for nay ward was the only pure love
have ever experienced. Yes, | loved her
when I met you. and love her now with
all the tortured soul within me have
wronged her as no man ever wronged a
pure. unsuspecting woman, but as her life
will be OF such short duration, If l can
prevent it she shall never know OF the
stain have put upon her fair name. While
she lives l shall! lavish all the tenderness 3
may In that way atone little--a very lit le
for my crime against her She married
me to comfort me In my loneliness; mar
ried her at the bidding OF an intrigue r
of the most objectionable type would
Gonfess all at this moment but for the fea r
that the shock would Kill her How could
tell her that you are alive. and that / am
not her legal husband?
Il would not write to you now, but for
the fact that II IL due you 10 know the
stand ] have taken, and that we must no W
thoroughly understood each other in res
gard 60 Blanches fortune. As God is my
judge l do not want her money and as
God is my Judge you shall never lay your
covetous hands upon it. | shall at once
take precautions to see that, at her death
the money shah go 10 her blood relatives
As TO you. l shall never willingly see you
again, nor write you another line from
this day forth. see my duty and I shall
do It. Any letter you write me will be re.
turned to you unopened DO your worst
If you wish to publish TO the world tina,
you ana / have played on Its credulity, do
30. shall then confess TO the part / took
in your scheme. AS much as ] now hate
you. l would not lot you bear all the blame
am as guilty az You because ! am a man.
herewith enclose draft payable to Mrs
Nolan il Is all the money can send you
now. / am about to enter into a specula-
tion In railway stock and II IL turns oul
well shall send you more money You
are my wife and / shall provide for you
as wen az my own means will allow, but
Of Blauche's money you nor | shall evei
have one penny. ! shall try TO get means
out OF my own resources TO keep yol
quiet at least as LONG as Blanche lives. bu
you need not look to me for large remit
tsnces. ! am not exactly under you
thumb; your threats Of exposure will
not frighten me, | am desperate. wan
Blanche to know what am. cannot FAC,
her pure eyes and know that 1 am al
vile as the deepest dyed convict. Tn,
sooner you make the whole thing known
HE better l shall be pleased.
ROWLAND GODDARD"
Mrs Nolan was standing in the door o.
Me little gray brick cottage when the
postman handed this communicati or
to her. Recognizing the handwriting
She took it unopened to Mrs. Godda I'd
who was restlessly walking in tn,
little, high walled garden in the rea,
Of the house.
"Ah,' she exclaimed, "he has writ
tent"
eyes, it is from him." said the an
gular woman, approaching slowly.
Mrs. Goddard tore open the envelope
She had hardly read dozen lines be
fore she uttered little scream, ant
then, with quivering hands and ex
banding eyes, she continued to read
What is the matter?" asked Mrs
Nolan.
Matter enough" answered Mrs
Goddard, clenching her hands ant
grating her teeth together Matte
enough He has married the girl, blu
has already already fallen in Low
with her, and now he wants to throw
me over"
Didn't you expect that?" aske,
Mrs. Nolan, whose innate dislike 70
her mistress often fostered opposition
to her plans,
at was the last thing I did expect
the very last"
"Your egotism has undone you
Jeanne said Mrs. Nolan with IL
little cautious JUNCTION. II had n
sooner laid my eyes on that beautiful
young creature than | knew if h