Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-03-08

i nave cIteO OeIOre Wueu SuItOt
might kill az many Of his fellow be-
ings as he pleased without being OBJ
jected to on that score for son-in-
law. I had killed no one. was mere
~ suspected of killing man. And
II Bessie's father did not kill men he
killed the next grade of animal below
men-or other men did the work for
him. which Is just as criminal-and
devoured the flesh. 1t seemed to me
that the only logical beings are the
beasts and the birds. They kill and
eat each other without inquiring
whether or no they are eating the
same species. while maxwell, this is
what man does.
He kills aud 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.
I was SO impressed with this reason
ing that asked my jailer for writing
materials and wrote 1t down, or, rather,
elaborated the bare skeleton l had
thought out. When 1t was finished
asked to have it delivered to Bessie'sT
father.
In due time reply came as follows:
I have always desired my daughter to
marry a man distinguished for some
thing. Artists and poets are usually dis
tinguished for their ideality. You. being
one of the kind. share that distinction.
You may further lay claim to being the
most impracticable 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 II your inno-
cence is proved l shall deem my daugh-
ter honored in wedding such an eminent
fool.
This reply stung me to the quick.
I regarded 1t as tantamount to a re-
fusal of his daughters hand even II
my innocence were proved. AS to the
lawyer he spoke of hiring for me. I
wrote him Immediately that l had en-
gagged the most eminent counsel In the
land and would have no need of the
one he had retained.
What was my surprise, when l was
folding and addressing this second let
| ter, to receive visit from Bessie.
She threw herself into my arms
Historically. couldn't tell whether 1t
was Joy or grief that moved her.
1 When she became calmer I spoke OF
! her fathers communication.
Father has turned right around. y
she said. Hes your friend forever"
Really"
eyes. 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 II
he did he would convince the judge
that there was no case against him.
81 ice there is no logical difference be-
tween killing a man and a steer.
81 am glad" l said. embracing her,
"that In thousands of years one couple
may In some respects return to the
natural methods Of our progenitors.
Are you quite sure your father is sin.
cere in his change OF mind TOWARD
me?"
81 am. II he were not he would moi
have permitted me to come here to
visit you. He says you are the hrst
man he ever met who did not talk and
act artifcially. He's simply delighted
with YOU
l showed her the note had written
declining her fathers offer OF counsel
She burst out laughing. asked VIVA,
amused her.
"You haven't any money to pay
counsel" she said.
Upon my word! I never thought
Of that"
"You are ideal and impractical" she
said. That's the reason love you
And she embraced me.
Our eolloquy was broken in upon
by the sheriff. who came In to say
that the real murderer had been ar
rested and had confessed. l was free
to 60. At the same time he handed
me a letter postmarked Rio Janeiro.
"Ah," exclaimed. my creden
tails"
Slipping the letter in my pocket.
accompanied Bessie to her fathers
house He greeted me warmly, and
l handed him the credentials had
received at the Jail. Removing the en-
velope. he began to read, his eyes open
ing wider as he read.
"Are you fool or a knaveT he
asked. looking up at me.
Both" l replied.
"What is itT' asked Bessie.
"Why. daughter. this pastoral bust.
ness of yours has resulted in your
catching the only son and heir Of the
biggest coffee planter in Brazil.
knew when l received his note that
he was an original. but didn't know
/ he was rich. You tell me-" addressing
me. "that you are both fool and
knave viii you kindly inform me Of
i the retrospective reasoning by which
Tou have arrived at this resultT'
! well" l replied. mo one but fool
who has the career before him that
have would spend his time sitting on