Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-30

articles by which I substituted in his
bedroom candlestand wax light of my
own making for the one which / there
found. The next morning he was dis
covered dead in his bed and the coro-
ners verdict was Death by the vista
ton of God"
Having inherited his estate, all went
well with me for years. The idea of
detection never once entered my brain
or the remains of the fatal candle ]
had myself carefully disposed. I had
left no shadow of a clue by which it
would be possible to convict or even
to suspect me of the crime.
IL Is conceivable how rich a sentiment
OF satisfaction arose in my room as !
reflected upon my absolute security
For very long period of time / was
accustomed to revel in this sentiment.
1t afforded me more real delight than
all the worldly advantages accruing
from my sin.
But there arrived at length an epoch
from which the p,easurable feeling
grew by scarcely perceptible gradations,
into haunting and harassing thought
1t haraSSed because it haunted. !
could scarcely get rid of it for an in
slant. 1t is quite common thing to be
thus annoyed with the ringing in our
ears, or rather in our memories, of the
burden of some ordinary song or some
unimpressive snatches from an opera
Nor will he be the less tormented if the
song in itself be good, or the opera air
meritorious. In this manner, at last
I would perpetually catch myself pom
dering upon my security and repeating
In low undertone the phrase, II am
safe"
One day, while sauntering along the
streets, I arrested myself in the act of
murmuring half aloud these customary
syllableS. In a fit of petulance I re-
modelled them thus: 81 am safe-I an,
Safe-yes, If I be not fool enough to
make an open confession"
No sooner had 1 spoken those words
than felt an icy chill creep to my
heart. l had some experience in these
hts OF perverSity Whose nature have
been at some trouble to explain) and ]
remembered we'll that in no instance
had successfully resisted their attacks:
and now my own casual self-suggestion
that might possibly be fool enough
to confess the murder of which 1 had
been guilty confronted me, as if the
very ghost of him whom had muir
dered beckoned me on to death.
At first made an effort to shake of
this nightmare of the soul. / walked
vigorously, faster, still faster, at length
ran. I felt a maddening desire to
Shrek aloud. Every succeeding wave Of
thought overwhelmed me with new ter
ror, for, alas, I well, too well, understood
that to think in my situation was to bt
lost. still quickened my pace.
bounded like mailman through the
crowded thoroughfares.
At length the populace took the
alarm and pursued me. felt then the
consummation of my fate. Could ]
have torn out my tongue would have
done it-but rough voice resounde:;
IN my ears-a rougher grasp seized me
by the shoulder.
turned-I gasped for breath. For q
moment experienced all the pangs Of
suffocation; became blind and deaf
and giddy, and then some invisible
fiend, thought, struck me with his
broad palm upon the back. The long
imprisoned secret burst forth from my
soul.
They say that I spoke with a dis.
tinct enunciation, but with marked EN-.
phasis and passionate hurry, as If ii
dread OF interruption before concluding
the brief but pregnant sentences tina
consigned me to the hangman and t.
hell.
Having related all that was necessary
Tor the fullest judicial conviction, I fel
PROSTATE in a sWoon.
But why shall I say more? Today
wear these chains and am here? To
morrow I shall be fetterless But
where?