Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-02-25

high for the old gentleman TO follow
BessIe's father was really as reason.
able as we considered him unreason
able. He merely wished TO know who
was Since had lived In South
America from the time was two until
twenty-five years OF age ! must send
there for my credentials. involving
delay of month or more. What cruel
ty TO force pair OF lovers to wait all
that time In a state Of suspense.
Sweetheart" said 10 her one day.
suppose the reply should come that
am an escaped defaulter. jailblrd. muir.
derer"
IL would not believe the story
"But your father would" | added
sentcntiously.
One day. after having painted alone
In the wood. on leaving II saw some
thing half covered with shriveled
branches and dead leaves. exam.
ined II and found the dead body Of II
man. Horrined lest | might be i'm
plicated In a murder. | threw back
what | had removed and was about
10 hurry away when ! saw two men
coming for me. within Ave minutes
I was on my way to the nearest pc.
lice station.
My antecedents we're now not so
much needed to enable me to possess
my love as to preserve my neck. The
status had changed a second time.
The case was not now one Of father.
4 girl and an unknown man. but n
father n girl and an unknown man ac-
cused OF murder. I sent at once a
note to Bessie. informing her OF my
trouble. encouraging her to keep up a
rood heart and assuring her OF my In
nocencc Receiving no reply. con.
cluded that her father would not per-
NIT her to send reply.
Brooding In my cell. could not but
revert to the good old primeval times
have cited before when sutton
might kill as many OF his fellow he.
ings as he pleased without being OBJ
jected to on that score for son-in-
law had killed no one. | was mere.
ly suspected Of killing a man. And
II Bessle's father did not kill men 10
killed the next grade of animal below
men-or other men did the work for
him. which Is just as criminal-and
devoured the 6esh. II seemed TO me
that the only logical beings are the
beasts and the birds. They kill and
eat each other without inquirlng
whether or no they are eating the
same species. while maxwell. this is
what man does
He kills and eats every animal be.
low himself. To kill even one of his
own kind he considers the greatest OF
crimes unless he kills them In battle.
where the more men he kills the big.
ger man he is. which is exactly what
made the chiefs among his savage an.
cestors.
was so impressed with this reason
ing that asked my jailcr for writing
materials and wrote II down. or. rather.
elaborated the bare skeleton had
thought out. When It was finished |
asked to have II delivered TO Bessie's
father.
In due time reply came as follows:
/ have always desired my daughter to
marry a man distinguished for some
thing. Artists and poets are usually dis
tinguished for their ideaiity. You. being
one OF the kind. share that distinction
You may further lay claim TO being tho
most impractcable numskull that. to
my knowledge. the world has yet pro-
| duced. You have Interested me In your
self and your case. l have retained tho
best criminal lawyer l can find TO take
charge OF your case. and X your inno-
cence Is proved ! shall deem my daugh-
ter honored In wedding such an eminent
fool
This reply stung me TO tho quick.
regarded 1t as tantamount TO a re-
fnsal Of his daughters hand even IL
my innocence were proved. As to the
lawyer he spoke of hiring for me.
wrote him Immediately that I had en-
gagged the most eminent counsel in the
land and would hays no need Of the
one he had retained.
What was my surprise. when | was
folding and addressing this second let
ter, 10 receive q visit from Bessie.
She threw herself into riy arms
Historically. couldn't tell whether It
was JOY or grief that moved her.
When she became calmer l spoke Of
her fathers communication.
Father has turned right around"
she said Hes your friend forever"
Really"
Yes. really. He considers you In
nocent OF this crime with which you
are charged He says that no man
who could have written that letter
could have committed murder and IL
he did he would convince the judge
that there was no ease against him.
since there Is no logical difference be-
tween killing a man and a steer"
II am glad" ! said, embracing her.
that in thousands OF years one couple
i -. Al. l.o