The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-02-14
Ar THE ELEVENTH HOUR
By R. \. Nathan.

strain was o7er for the time. From ey-
cry part Of the house rose snbdncd
murmurs. Suddenly the sounds OF a
falling body came from above
In the foyer, stretched upon n couch
| which had been hastily procured. lay a
| man painting for breath. human
wreck. a common thief caught in the
net, his life's blood tracing odd ara
besaucs on the tessellated floor. dying
Of hcmorrhage, the result Of futile
| scutilc.
The head usher silently returned
with a physician, and central dctcc-
| tive was already NJ hand. an ambu-
lance alarm having been turned in.
Suddenly the criminal looked up and
struggled for breath. a stlmulant re-
yived him, and he made an effort TO
artlculate and finally murmurcd
honrsely:
doctor. for heavens sake keep the
breath in my body awhile longer l
have something to clear myself of be-
fore co.
After brief pause lie continued:
i've been coward. n damnablc
coward! oh. mercIful heaven, let me
| purge myself"
As the physician tenderly raised the
dying mans head there was seen
through the torn neckband OF his shirt
the CLINT of an ornament. II Keepsake of
some sort,
Il was welded but two years when
wllen-l forged my employers hume
the old. cid story, weak fool easily
led. was cntcnccd-and- served
twenty years. My poor--young- wife
1-neyer saw again
His voice fell to mere husky whls
per-
she died of grtcf-shamc. Nlybaby
afterward learned was raised In an
asylum my only glimpse Of heaven
In their pictured laces-a tiny minia-
ture--which claspcd about my babes
neck It's duplicate wear
His hand fastened itself convuisively
ut his throat:
But the child, Oh, Just heaven. She
Is woman now, and have wrecked
her happiness"
His eyes closed as he fell back, ex
hausted.
The little group stood silent. Faint
echoes OF applause noatcd in. The de-
tective glanced at the physician in
quiringly. The latter shook his head,
murmuring, "Hls span is nearly end
ed
A short pause ensucd during which
the physician employed every means
available to infusc u little vitality into
the already doomed man. Al length
his labor was rewarded. and the crimi-
nal resumed his narrative:
II saw her-kissc'l her. oh. heaven,
how like her mother, | had but just
been rcleased-a stranger i'll my own
country, M Ishmaelitc-cvery door
turned against nie-criminal stamped
on every feature-hungry and weary.
skulked into the slrubbery OF a villa
witnessed the tender parting of a
husband and wife heard him give
explicit directions as to the fastening
of doors loitercd about till dusk.
1t was easy to effect an entrance noise
lessly. crept to her ROOM where
surmlscd valuables We're kept. The
lamp burned low. Ey its-its dim
light could sec on m easel opposite
me life size crayon. the counterpart
of my miniature"
The physician started. and duh
flush burned on his face. He appeared
about to collapse. Not noticing the
others emotion, the dying man con
tinucd:
Like madman | sprang 10 her
side. She lay ina heavy sleep. Al
her throat caught the CLEAN Of gold
the rich framin. OLA miniature.
He sank back exhausted The ply
stefan did not stir,
Like ono in a trance, lie saw the de-
tcctive wipe the blood stained lips;
heard him muttcr nj the delay of the
ambulance: saw with fascinated gazc
the dying man revived fictitious
Strength pulsaiirg through that vast
"a body: heard MS In II dream the mar
rativc resumed:
"wildIv ! caught her in my arms
my babe. my HaSqlal INA stranlng her
Ia my thrubhiug brrast--onc last ca
rcSs. Then then He'd. She must
never know her fatl!nr And then
holrsc cry. y pair Of powerful hands
ihrottlctl me. See | bear tllrr cruel
imprint yet While - voire Kissed;
Wretch. IIoud! Iou thought me
AWAY safeT lhrnturning 70 the poor
stunned croatuue rnsIn= a. lie heavy
easel. al which succlutcltcd ~ her be'
wll.irrincnt. b. cried 'fuu whom
have loved nay, Idoizad.' With a