The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-08-02

"l-killed him."
''Good God" cried Nicholas Harding.
Tom shut down the sash.
"Yes. killed him." cried Daintree,
recovering his spirits, '.and I'd do It |
again this minute. Why? You shall
hear-and then Claire shall hear-for I
mean to see her. 1t will take all Sgd
ney to keep us apart. That night she
refused me. God alone knows why.
She loves me now and will stick to me
in spite of you all. but she refused me
then. stayed for an hour where she
left me. Then / got out by the back
way and wandered through the fields
just as ! was-thinking of her At
last-I hardly knew where l was or
what l was doing-I heard voices. His
was one. Yours was the other. Erich
sen.-I didn't know it then-and you
were just leaving. | heard him say
he was thinking of being married. n
Joined him when you had gone and
asked who the happy lady might be.
What do you think he said? What do
you think? What do you thinkf'
''Claire;" said Nicholas Harding.
"Yes, Claire" screamed Daintree.
'That incarnate devil-and my angel,
He said he loved her-that smooth
Homeland she had limited she did
care for somebody. God knows what
more he said, You would consent.
He had you In his power. Either he
said that or I saw it. At any rate he
tainted me-maddened me-and when
I looked about for something to strike
him with there was the very thing at
my feet. killed him. I meant to
kill him. I have never for one mo-
ment regretted killing him. What do
you suppose was the first thing found
In his pocket? No. Harding. I'm not
thinking Of you. my honest friend. IL
was a letter that showed the kind OF
cur he had been. I let Claire see 1t.
I thought Of a way. showed her that
dead devil in his true colors. cured
her OF her folly. and I thanked God I'd
put him out OF her way and mine Re-
gret IT. Repent it? Never for an In
stantl Never to this hourr'
"You let an innocent man suffer for
your crime" said Nicholas Harding.
with a shiyer ~
"Did I? And do you suppose would
have let him hangf ! was under the
impression that saved his neck.
would have saved il with my own had
that been necessary. Only yesterday I
risked my life TO save his Who took
him away from the iron gang: had
to commit forgery and risk my liber.
D. to do Il. Who would have treated
him Ike brother from that day? II
was bis own doing. mark you. that
made him a mental! And he would
hang me, would he for Kidding the
earth OF the crying rascal who picked
his own pocket like a common thief?
He shakes his head. but ! know him
better. And that's his gratitude-after
all I've done! Something like yours.
you. Hardingl save your daughter
from a poisonous scoundrel. so I am
not to marry her for my pains. A just
pair-conyict bushrcnger and fraudu.
lent N. r.! A precious pair to Join
forces against an hoDesr man! Do
your worst ! shall marry her against
you both. I shall. ! shall. I shalt"
Tom knew this voice. He wondered
ae had not heard the madness In Il
from the first .
Never cried Harding. Il would
rather see her In her coffin"
"She loves me as love her"
"she does not love you at all"
At these words feeling Of pity crept
over Tom. They rang 80 true. and
they told 80 palpably upon that dis.
torted heart which could bear up bet.
ter against charge Of murder.
Does she not" cried Daintree. ave
shall seer' And be darted from them
with an altered face. was first out Of
the room. first up the stair and first
into the ladies' sitting room. but Toms
foot was In the door before he could
bang II behind him. and Tom and SIR.
Harding burst their way In together.
On the threshold they stopped with
one accord. Daintree had not turned
10 confront them. He had flung him.
self at the feet Of Claire. who was
seated on a sofa by her aunt's side.
They say you do not love me-" wills.
pered Daintree In q voice that broke
with very tenderness and yet retained
confident ring II love you better
than my own life and all the world.
Tell them nothing can part Us. nothing
they can say, nothing have done. Tell
them you love me a. I love you. Tell
them you would marry me II bad TO
20 % prison tomorrow"
The brown curls moved slowly from
side 20 side.
"whst! There lie truth, then, in what
they sayT'
"Forgive mel Forgive meF' were
Claires only words.
80 II In trueT'
His tone would have been a marvel
Of restraint IN any man. In this one II
was a miracle. still on his knees be
besought her ~ a last favor to tell
him whom she did love. Her eye few
70 Toms. The cunning Of the criminal
Iunatic shone through the tears In his.
$50 II Is Erichsen, not I3laydes." be
said. getting up and standing harm.
Ioaaft In sbafr ,,.fday Noxf fnatanf a..