Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-07-10

there, he wished to see him and talk
to him about it. Some of the houses,
the rector said, were so badly built,
SO badly ventilated, that they were
neither more nor less than traps for
fever and death.
do not think that I am an alarm
ist," he added; "but, Miss Forster, if
fever does break out there, it will be
fatal to many"
l advised him to see Sir Rudolph. So
it came about that the rector was in
vited to dinner-an event in the Ulla-
mere household.
1t was warm day. The air was
faint with the breath of roses, heavy
and still; there was no movement in
the sprays of the jasmine. That even
ing Lady Culmore looked most beauti-
full. She wore a dress of white lace
trimmed with green leaves and long
trailing grasses diamond star shone
in her fair hair, diamond cross lay
on her white breast. She had dressed,
as usual, to charm the eyes Of her hus-
band, and they never even rested on
her.
To please my lover, L wore pretty
primrose silk, cut square, with short
sleeves. I had beautiful white,
rounded arms, he said, and insisted on
my showing them; they were made to
be admired, and he would not have
them hidden.
That was the most cheerful dinner I
remember at Ullamere. The unnatu-
raj GOODNESS and silence Of husband
and wife were not noticed so much
when there was a visitor present. The
rector had plenty to say, Uric was in
better spirits than I had seen him for
some time.
SUDDENLY cannot remember how
it began-the conversation turned on
capital punishment, and the rector
quoted the welI-known words that ''the
worst use to which you can put a man
is to hang him" I noticed that at
first neither Sir Rudolph nor Lady CuI.
more Joined in the conversation. They
sat listening in silence, Sir Rudolph
looking paler than usual, Lady Gull
more with an unusual flush on her
beautiful face. The rector and Uric
argued the question hotly, Uric being
in favor of and the rector against the
punishment of death
81 have often thought" said the rec
tor, that those words, "a life for a
life are capable of many interpreta-
tons"
do you not believe" asked Uric,
that the man who deliberately takes
a human life should pay the penalty
of his crime with his OWN"
mo, I do not" replied the rector
"Men are such strange mixtures of
good and evil. l do not see the use of
| hanging a man. 1t does no good; it
cannot restore the dead to life
cit deters others from committing
| the same crime" declared Uric.
Il do not think so,' said the rector.
when a man in the heat of passion
kills another, he does not stop to
think about the last execution
Opinions differ" said Uric. where
life is taken in the mad heat OF pas
sion, it is perhaps hardly murder. 1t
is when life is taken after cool, calm
deliberation, after thought and refec-
| ton, that I call the deed murder"
The word fell painfully on our ears.
ut is horrible word--'murder,'
said. "The very sound of it is terri
ble'
L read strange story the other
day" said the rector, "one that struck
me very forcibly. A man murdered
his wife, how or why 1 forget; she had
given him some provocation perhaps
He ran away, when, of course, hue
and cry was sent out, and the police
were soon after him. He had hidden
himself in low part of the town, and
in the very house where he was con-
cealed a terrible fire occurred. A poor
woman was sleeping in one OF the up
per rooms, and her cries were heard.
This man who murdered his wife
risked, absolutely risked his life to
save the woman who was a stranger
to him. He rushed through the flames
and suffocating smoke; the hair was
burned from his head, his face and
hands suffered, but he saved her life.
While she was in the act of blessing
and thanking him for it, the police
captured him. You will hang me for
killing my wife he said to them. I
] killed her because she provoked me;
but | am sorry for it, Some one pres
ent quoted the words, "A life for a life
That is Scripture, said the man calm
w IT have literally fulfilled II
. killed my wife, but I have given life to
this woman, inasmuch as 1 have saved
her from death. Truly it is a life for
a life The story struck me as being
a strange one," added the rector.
Something induced me to look at
Lady Culmore's face. Her eyes were
fixed on the rector's face; she hung
upon each word that fell from his lips.
There was a strange light in her eyes
that [ had never seen there before.
Yes said Uric; but the man was
mistaken. The proper reading of the
words is that whatsoever takes a mans
life shall pay for it with his own"
IF one life pays for another" Lady
Culmore broke in, how can it matter
whose life it is?''
Every one looked up in wonder Her
clear, sweet tones vibrated through
the room, her beautiful face was
flushed. Sir Rudolph regarded her in
establishment. She went on:
IF any one takes a life and gives a
she asked; and 1 detected something