Bisbee daily review., 1906-02-22

of what he must tell his son before ss
 could give her his name
 "No, father. it is nor that, although am going to claim Ethel now. It means greater joy To you than that. Here 1t Is;
 read it, and never look sad again"
 Taking the papers from his sons hand,
 Afr. Strong read them through with no sign of the tumult of feeling that filled his heart until he had finished. when. standing erect
 with his head thrown back, he exclaimed: lifeless to the floor. The joy had come sud denly, and for the first time iu his life MT. Strong had tainted. But joy never kills. @ paSisd 'fi him ae so tie ho%e ot s iii: old friend. Ethel. who had caught glimpse of her lovers face through the window, knew that he had good news to tell yet could not see how is was possible so soon. She met them In the haii. her blue eyes looking question ingly into his brown ones so fui lof joyful anticipation. It was tantalizing.
 Take us to your father. my dear" said
 Mir. strong, laying his hand on the young girls head, and actually smiling, as she turned surprised face to his as if unable to undertand the change in him. What Is 1t. Wilburf' she whispered.
 Tt means every thing happy for us all. my darling. We have come to show your ,snsf EtssS me prcSis, ana di then; Eae 6af @ In the folds of the silken portiere which she drew aside and announced her father s guests.
 Handing the paper addressed to his father to General Kingston at once, Wilbur asked him to kindly read it aloud Won deringly the General took the document and began to read, as requested.
 ITO you, John Strong son of John Ed wald Strong. l make this confession which shall place under the stone now marking the spot where my grave is to be made. that 1t will be sent to him, for 1t clears his fathers name.
 "I have had no peace on earth, nor can hope for aoi giyeness, having sent your father to a shameful death, allowing him to be disg aeed and shot for a crime he neyer committed. I am the guilty one, donbly 80. for l watched his wife die of a broken heart because of this tragedy. She always suspected me. and when her little son was born wilied him. with her fortune to friend in Virginia. that he might never come in contact with me. l did not mean to do this awful thing, but did mean to punish him and her, for they took all that was beautiful in life from my heait when though we were not betrothed, yet it was well nndei stood that we would marry some uay, Tor he was with me constantly when not with his regiment, and felt sure that ne cared for me until my stepmother's beautiful daughter, Helen Lester, came ; then every thing changed. I think she be Witched him from the first, and l hated her so that when she came to me with her confidence telling me how they were to be married, vowed that I would have ie- venge, but gave no sign. few weeks after their marriage John surprised Helen by coming home on his way to a point bey ond where he was to deliver papefs of great importance to General Washington. could remain over night at his home. as he must be at the endeZvous at all early hour the next morning. This was the chance I needed to carry out my plans. I intended for failure of duty. He would be dis graeed forever, but that could not hurt me now.
 ''our old clock had been called an infaIli. 1. .f s.aNa Al. lated their own by it. No one but fathei ever touchd it, but he was with his regi. Inent and on this night crept softly down stairs when the others were sleeping soundly. John was t9 meet General Wash ington at the hour he had told General Wayne he would pass the given point. and the latter had impressed upon Lieu nram,t.,s Ienant strong thst ne must be there with which he was intrusted, because he was considered the most reliable officer in the company. turned the hands of the clock back one hour. Then there flashed through my mind still worse calamity. which through me might bcfall him Il took the key of the strong box. kept in al seer ct hiding place, and opened 1t to take from it the papers l had seen John place there. Carefully removing the seal, I took from the envelope the message, substitut. ing papers such as he used for personal seal as best l could. Early the next morn ing repeated the act of tm ming the ha ntis ulck. ana as IT was q dark day, no one thought 1t strange that it was yet early In their joy at the time neither John nor Helen thought of doubting the rrusIy ole timepiece. When the lieutenant reached the place where he was tO.t to go, and found that the General had beer there two hours before and, waiting a stort time. had gone on to his destination, h severe displeasule e. John could not understand 1t, as he had given himself more than sufficient time to reach the place. He stopped upou his re turn 10 tell his wife of his failure to de- liver the papers. Slipping Gpnoticed 10 the dining room, turned the hands of the claCk back again. and was aroused by n piercing scream from Helen. Going to the door l found that two officers had arrived and that John had been arrested as a de- serteI- My heart stood still and the papers in my coIsage burned my bosom like coals of fire. was a soldiers daugh- 1 Wayne ever showed to deserters. In vain I tried to summon courage to confess. Il could not tell the world that I had done this because my love had been sighted so l saw the only man I ever loved led away prisoner. who would be chaI ged with treason-theft and treason for which there would be but one punishment-death. l have known no peace since. Ny sin de- stroyed my soul. for I am dying without one spaik of hope that you and yours will ever forgive ANN CARSON THOMEs."
 When General Kingston had finished the letter that cleared the last obstacle from the path of happiness, he g1 g1asped the hand of his friend and turned to say Forgive me, Wilbur" but there was no Wilbur to be seen. He and Ethel had disappeared. oooopopopooooooooo oo Q 0 . Q co |