Mexico Missouri message., 1906-05-24

-sve hert
but this II not at. Thornton Stack
house had not been honest in his dealings
with my father. The documents revealed
a course Of systematic treachery which II
carried out would have ruined my father
and enriched him. To be sure, all these
transactions were Of older date, ard since
his mock marriage with me there was no
evidence that he had continued them. In
other words, he had kindly consented TO
cease cheating Mr.. North in consideration
Of having married his daughter. Did these
circumstances pa.liate his Offense any in
my eyes? AS well ask a drowning person
II he is mindful Of the subtraction or addi-
ton OF a drop or TWO Of the element that
Is killing him.
There have been times In my life when
I have been frightened al the intensity OF
some sudden evil passion within me-scme-
thing that is so contrary 70 my teaching
and education, and arises 50 spontaneously,
that have been led to regard such things
as an Inheritance from my unknown par
euts. And this night as ! stood on the stairs
listening a passion Of hatred took pos
session Of me, which / can compare TO
nothing but a great sea OF molten metal
In a smelling furnace, white hot and hiss
ing like a serpent II II comes In contact
with any cooler surface.
MY father was scarcely less overcome
than 1 was. He was violent and wretched
BY turns. Mr.. StackhOuse had been
peculiar element In his life. The man had
had an influence over him such as no one
else had ever gained. Now, for the iirst
time he was shown the real character OF
the man he had trusted.
Even through all the turbulence Of my
own emotions I understood the intensity
OF my fathers feelings. He was a man Of
impulsive and quick temper. He never
preserved a hatred: but for that very rea-
son il lived all the fiercer at the moment
/ OF its birth. His own rage at this instant
was little short OF mine.
Villain! ScoundreI Harpy! heard
him mutter from tine to time, and then
be would burst out into violent impreca-
| tions that would have terrified me had /
been in a mood TO fear anything.
| when he had submitted his evidence,
| Mr.. Fetridge suggested the action which
/ he asked my father 10 take. He said that
he had done all that he had done for the
| family honor and for my honor. That IL 1t
| had not been for his opportune interYen-
| ton Marie Moissot would have made the
bigamy of Albert Runyon a public scandal.
| He reminded my father that was no more
/ the wife Of this scoundTel than as II that
sacrilege Of a ceremony had never been
/ performed. There were. therefore, no legal
ties to be severed Mr.. North must act in the
matter as IL he had become possessed OF
his information through any source but the
/ real one. Richard Fetridge'B part in the
/ AFFAIR was never to be known; not even to
| me. But / was 20 learn tho truth from my
1 fathers lips. So was Albert Runyon. My
father was to go to him; give him "a hours
| to leave the country after signing damag-
| ing document which Mr.. Fetridge had pre-
/ pared. In course of time It was suggested
| that I might quietly obtain a divorce on
| the ground of desertiOn. In case this pro-
| gramme was carried ont. Mr.. Fetridge pro-
posed to help my father out of his financial
difficulties. Otherwise he could withdraw
his SUPPORT
when the arrangements had been COM
pleted, Mr.. Fetridge went away with the
woman, and my father, who proposed to
sleep in the house that night and to meet
Mr.. Fetridge carly in the morning, after
seeing them to the door. returned to his
library.
Il aWoke gradually out of my long trance.
and went down TO the library door. did
not propose to conceal the fact Of my pres
ence from my father. The conference be-
tween us was not to be delayed. 1t must
| take place tonight.
He was so engrossed that he did not
hear my footsteps l was startled when !
saw what his occupation was. He was
loading his pistol. / was not in q condition
to measure accurately the flight OF time,
but 1 must have fingered on the staircase
some minutes after his return to the library,
for, as I afterwards discovered, he had
quite finished his task when interrupted
him. He had taken out his box of cart
ridges from a drawer OF his writing desk,
which still stood open.
" 'Father! / called to him. Father!
He uttered an exclamation of horror,
repulsed the pistol as IL endeavoring 10
conceal 1t, and turned toward me. He wEis-
pered my name. and took a step or two
hastily toward me.
"At the same time 1 uttered a cry OF
warning, for l saw the pistol topple over
by its own weight. Slowly at first and then
with a quick dash, it slid from a mass Of
papers upon which It had been placed,
dropped from the edge, turned completely
over, and was caught in the corner of the
open drawer. Ny cry was drowned by the
simultaneous report. Mr.. North threw up
his hands rushed forward with an awful
look in his face, and fell at my feet.
81 vaguely remember hearing him speak
my name and murmur something about
my husband. But this sudden, unexpected
climax to the unutterable horrors OF that
night gave a temporary relief to my
suffering could bear no more. have a
dim remembrance OF putting out my hands
10 save myself from falling.
II have no means Of knowing how long
/ lay upon the floor. When 1 awoke saw
my father lying motionless by the door,
with that horrible dripping scrawl which
l knew had been made by his own blood
upon the wall. / called to him, seized his
hand, but soon saw that he was quite
dead.
THE sight OF the blood did not terribly
me. am ashamed to confess it, and
cannot explain IT, but 1t filled me tempo
rarily with strange wild, savage exulta-
tiob. know now that must have been
crazy. Emotional insanity, the physicians
call Il. God knows how honored and loved
the man who had been a father to me
1 am told they suspected me OF having
killed him. Heaven knows / am wicked
enough; but not that erime-no, not that!
stIet me paRs over the next is minutes
They viii be a terror to me as long as
memory remains 20 me When became
calmer, ] tried to realize what had been
done. / had no doubt that my father had
Intended 20 write a message to me-to tell
me no doubt that this man was not my
husband. In his dying moments his un-
fulfilled purpose had haunted him.
II cannot tell the stihing sensations
which followed the sudden realization thai
~ 1870. ~. .-..lI .....L. d.. ....-