The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-07-20

,smusl Meng Shot and Fatally
Wounded BY Mrs. Fern Arlington.
For Whom He Had Deserted His
Wife.
Norristown. Pa. July lS-Samuel
ueng. oontrac-r and builder. forgot
10 kiss Mrs. Fern Arlington. Ever
since he left his wife for the woman.
six years agO. he never neglected To
lmplant at least a formal peck on
the lips 90 Mrs. Arlington. But Tues
lay night he was In a fOrgetful mood
and when he met the woman at the
ioor of the historic old Ridgway man
sion on De kalb street. he merely
said. Hello" In a don't care manner
The omission OF the kiss and the
brooding which Mrs. Arlington did
about II will cost Meng his life. The
doctors at the Charity hospital where
the man lies with a bullet lodged in
his lungs. say that he cannot possibly
survive
Shot from behind even while he was
being caressed by Mrs. Arlington there
Is no chance for Meng He realized
II when he recovered consciousness for
brief period
What have they done with my chill.
dren," he asked the young intern who
had been hastily summoned by nurse.
They have been given into the keep
ing OF your mother" the doctor re-
piled
Please give them to Fern. They
love her so and she loves them" plead
ed Meng. Then he sunk again into a
coma
The tragedy happened In the big old
mansion where Meng had installed the
woman with whom he was infatuated.
Both are married. but neither went TO
the trouble Of getting a divorce when
they became enamored Of one another.
heng fed from his wife. taking his
two children. a boy and a girl. with
him. Mrs. Arlington. who had a hus-
band waiting for her in Indiana. never
returned to him. She loved Meng. and
he loved her. That was enough for
her
Not more than a week ago. a neigh
Dor. who thought that Meng and Mrs
Arlington were brother and sister;
that she was n widow and he
widowsr. for he had taught his chill
dren to call Mrs Arlington "auntie."
met the woman In grocery store
Your brother must be going to get
married again" she said 81 saw him
galivanting around with pretty
young girl. l guess we can expect n
wedding soon.
Mrs Arlington went from the grocery
store 10 a hardware shop. where she
purchased revolver When Menx
came home that night he kissed her rs
usual. Then she furiously taxed him
with inndelity. Meng denied 1t all and
was able to convince Mrs. Arlington
that the tale told by the neighbor was
nothing more than idle talk There
were more kisses and n reconciliation.
Then. Tuesday night Meng. in n
bad humor. forgot all about the kiss
which Mrs Arlington looked for. He
walked right by her and upstairs. He
washed up-end came down to the sup
per table. Never a word did he
say.
Il thought he had ceased 70 love me-"
Mrs. Arlington told a reporter in her
cell Il thought he was keeping his
kisses for another woman. couldn't
bear H. got up from the table and
got the pistol. walked up behind
him as he sat there eating He never
oven looked around at me. put the
revolver up against his back and fired.
He staggered 10 his feet.
why did you do this?" he gasped.
You know I love you so" Then
knew that he had been true. / threw
my arms about his neck and kissed
him again and again.
"'Oh. Sam. I'm sorry I shot YOU I
told him. laid him down and ran to
the nearest telephone and called the
ambulance. Let me go to him. He
won't die II tell him l want him to
live for my sake. Please take me TO
him"
Chief OF Police Rodenbaugh Quoted
the woman as best he could. He told
her that he would do all he could for
her and that her presence al Meng's
bedside would only excite the patient
and do him more harm than good.