Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-07-04
r1rfv,r1r1rrvuwwv vwwwwwvwwUww
Observation-Disclosures OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

I had killed my uncle, and mad after
ward drawn the rope from his neck
and the ring from his finger. In this
way it was that those articles came
into my possession. Mechanically my
hand stole to the pocket In which they
were concealed. Mile. Rosalic smiled,
and in that smile saw that she knew
the meaning of the motion.
l could not speak; could not lift my
head.
"Well," said Mile. Rosalie, "have you
nothing to say?"
"What can say?" muttered.
How much higher than l was this
vase woman. Full of venom, malicious.
ness, and spite, as she was, her soul
was free from guiltiness.
"You are guilty." she said.
II must be guilty." said mechanic
ally. "What do you propose to do?'
81 PROPOSE" she replied, in voice of
much sweetness, "to save you.'
"To save me" l exclaimed. II am
not fit to live
perhaps not" she said, dryly; "but
you have wife and daughter. What
would your disgraceful death mean to
them?'
This reference to those dear innocent
ones whose honor was my honor,
whose shame was my shame, and who,
were brought to the bar of Justice,
would share my infamy, completely
unnamed me. A sob of agony es.
capped from my lips.
us it not worth while,' said Mile.
Rosalie, "to save yourself, so that they
may be saved?'
"Yes, yes" gasped, seizing her hand
and looking imploringly into her face.
"To save them from ignominy and
from lifelong sorrow. o God. Is it
possible that you will do this for me
and them?"
81 will. Hush. There is knock at
the door. Ask who's there
Her voice, as she spoke, did not rise
above a whisper, I strove to utter the
words she dictated, but my tongue
clave to the roof Of my mouth.
Richard! Richards"
1t was my wife calling softly to me
from without.
"Open the door," whispered Mile.
Rosale. II will hide behind there"
pointing to screen. "She will not see
me. Do not let her keep you long.
When she is gone will show you that
you have nothing to fear"
She glided with noiseless footsteps
behind the screen, and l moved to the
door. forgot for moment that it
was locked, and my wife called to me
that the key was turned. l unlocked
the door and admitted her; but l did
not allow her to step into the middle
of the room. She was in her night
dress, and / well remember that there
was piece of narrow red ribbon at
her neck, which looked to me like
blood. She told me that, waking and
finding me absent from the bedroom,
she grew anxious and came to seek me.
| responded with wandering words and
looks, and this appeared to render her
more anxious. She tenderly asked
whether ! was not well. Oh, yes,
answered, | was well, but | was en-.
gagged upon a most important task.
Why had she come to disturb me? l
must be alone-alone! And still she
fingered, and continued to speak in
sweet and loving tones; and clasped me
round the neck, and kissed me; but
l pushed her from me, and bade her go
to her room and sleep.
"You will come soon?" she asked, SO.
licitously.
81 do not know, I do not know" I
muttered. II have much to do. Good
God. Do you not see how you are
distressing me"
Shortly afterward she left me, but
not before she made Snother effort to
soothe me. She smoothed my forehead
with cambrc handkerchief and put
it into my hand, saying it was clean
and cool and would refresh me. AS
she crossed the threshold l quickly
locked the door upon her, and the
handkerchief fell from my hand. Mile.
Rosalie, gliding forward from her hid
ing place behind the screen picked 1t
up and toyed with it, and l made no at
tempt to take it from her. The vital
issue at stake completely cngrossed
me.
"We are free now from intrusion"
she said, "and our business will not
take long"
Business 1 muttered. "What busi-
nessY"
"The business of saving your life"
she replied 81 have terms to pro-
pose"
"Name them"
"First," she said, and now her voice
had assumed a new form of malignity,
"tell me what you think l was doing
while was hiding behind the screen"
"Doing? Nothing"
mot even listening?"
"Ah, yes; you could not help doing
that"
"Of course not 1t is not to be sup
posed that would play the part of
eavesdropper unless l was compelled
Such nm Infamous woman as | am!