The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-06-09

~ wife Ioved and trusted me iw-
,licitely. and loved her with de- ,
fotion you would not deem possible
u man who had trampled another
woman's loving and trusting heart 50
cruelty beneath his feet.
-Four years after we came to Tai
lahassee, your mother came there
not knowing that that city was my
home. / met her accidentally and |
talked with her. She did not expose |
me, angel that she was. 1 learned |
from her that she had placed you in i
convent in st. Augustine. and Of |
.fered her money for your support.
She refused it with righteous indig |
lahassee and 1 made visit to the
convent shortly afterwards and tried
to induce the Mother Superior to take
sum of money for your support.
She refused, saying that Sue had
promised your mother not to accept
help for you from anybody except
herself. 1 told the Mother Superior
that 1 had been dear friend of your
fathers and that I was under an OBJ
legation to him to help you if you
needed help, and obtained promise
from her that if you ever needed
friend or financial aid to advise me-
After your mothers death Mother
Laurence advised me of your penni-
less condition, and you already know
how I befriended you and after your
education was finished brought you
to my own home as gOverness to my
daughter Imogen. The first suspicion
that my wife had that 1 was playing
a double part was the discovery she
made of letter written by yourself
in which you returned me the money
I had sent you as your first years
salary as governess in my family.
But by garbling the facts 1 partly
allayed suspicious, but not fully. On
the night of your accident when we
thought you were dying my wife dis
covered me on my knees beside your
bed. do not know what 1 said, but
what she did hear convinced her that
we had been deceiving her, and that
I was as vile as man could be.
begged her to hear my explanation,
but she refused me with scorn, and
unforgiving terms. Again l implor-
ed her to listen to me but she turned
away in naughty contempt and Sc
creted herself from me. Driven to
desperation by wounded pride, char
grin and shame, left the house inn
mediately, and three hours later she
took our daughter and two servants
and fled from the house. l have
never seen my wife or daughter
since that night or had any commu-
nication with them. I know their
place of residence, however, which is
near ST. Lousis, Mo-, and l hear of
them frequently, although they are
not aware of the fact, through Mrs.
Murriatte's attorneys, whose address
is No. II Locust street, St.Louis, Mo.
II have been living in the wilds of
New Mexico ever since l left ITALIA
hassee; have stunned society and lived
the life of recluse, with only the
upbraiding of my remorseful con-
science for company The agonies
that l have suffered can never be
described by either tongue or pen.
My health is wrecked and / know 1
only have d few more days to live.
What my punishment in the world to
come will be, God only knows. But
whatever it is, it cannot exceed the
anguish 1 have suffered since my ex-
lie.
81 have wearied heaven with pray
ers for forgiveness and although l
do not deserve it, yet God is merci-
full. / have left a long letter to my
wife and one to my daughter, Imogen,
which my lawyers at Las Vegas viii
forward to them after my death. My
money and property which have ac-
cumulated myself, independent of my
wife's fortune 1 have left by will to
you, my poor wronged and misjudged
child. The whole will aggregate $780,
TO REMOVE
EDErVI &c NNn DJMDI &c