Year: 1869

L do not know that there was any par
ticular reason why should feel such an all
absorbing interest in the trial of Matthew
Doane for the murder of Dennis Kirby
but the whole affair possessed for itself all
the fascination of play.


| was plain country doctor at that
time, with no pretenson to learning; and
yet I believe that in the run of year |
saved as many lives as any other physician
in Lennox.


| had known Matthew Doane off and
on for about three years. He resides lit
tie out of Lennox, large country town on
the Pierceville road


Matthew was fine promising young
man and would one day own name in the
world, | felt sure, though now he was but
struggling copperplate designer But
all his works bore strong evidence of true
artistic taste, and if he had studied and
applied himself, have no doubt that he
would have rivaled the best of our native
painters. He was frank and genial in
his disposition-inclined to be social
and was favorite in all society 1 had
a speaking acquaintance with him, but
it could hardly be called friendship.


Matthew had fallen in love most unwise-
ly on first coming to Lennox, with Miss
Elizabeth Atherton, the only daughter of
Major Atherton, who was richer and proud
er than any man | knew


Isay unwisely-I mean that the world
thought so; Miss Athcrton and Matthew
did not


She returned his love, and would have
married him any day, if he would have
consented to the arrangement But he
was proud as the Major himself, and re-
fused to bind Elizabeth while his own
fortunes were uncertain. He must work
little while longer, and be patient mean
while he said and there was nothing for
Miss Atherton to do but acquiesce, or cast
him off.


She loved him; so she agreed to his
view of the case, and was to wait his time.


Dennis Kirby, the man who was muir
dered, was wealthy and vulgar. He also
was a suitor of Miss Atherton, and 97some
i'll advised people thought she favored him,
in spite of the generally received report
that she was engaged to Matthew.


Leonard Cushman had recently come to
Lennox and set up as a gentleman Of leis-
ure. He was rather handsome young
man, the ladies said, but could never un-
derstand what they saw in him to warrant
such an opinion. Cushman got introduced
at Major Atherton's, and frequently met
there with Mr.. Atherton to regard her ac-
cepted lover with anything like friendship.
And it is quite unnecessary to add that
Matthew returned their sentiments with
interest


Such was the position of affairs one dark
night in October, ten or fifteen years ago
no matter as to the exact year-but |
do not mind telling you that it was the
Goth day of the month.


l had been " down town" that evening
to visit patient, and was returning home.
ward somewhere in the neighborhood of
ten o clock, when Matthew Doane over
took me and walked on with me as far as
my office. 1t was so dark that | offered
him my hospitality for the night, but he
thanked me and said he had business to
attend to early next morning


i stood moment and looked after him,
thinking did not envy him his lonesome
walk to Pierceville, and then | went into
my cosy little sitting-room and thought no
more of him.


The next morning the first news which
greeted me was that Dennis Kirby had
been murdered the previous night, out on
the Pierceville road, and that Matthew
Doane had been arrested on suspicion of
being the murderer. OF course | was
amazed, and by no means disposed to be-
lieve this thing of Doane But when
heard the facts in the case, must confess
that my belief was shaken


1t seemed that he had been arrested on
the strength of the testimony given by
Leonard Cushman before the magistrate
OF the district. Cushman testifed-with
great appearance of reluctance he
had been returning from Pierceville about
eleven o'clock on the night of the twentieth.
just before he reached White House Cor
ner, where there was toll-gate and where
a lamp was kept burning, he heard foot
steps and saw Matthew Doane pass RAPIDLY
in front of the light and disappear in some
shrubbery by the roadside Directly. a
second man came along, and Cushman was
able to see that it was Kirby. He heard
the two men talking together in low tones,
and then Doane's voice grew louder and
angry. He heard the words distinctly:


She shall never be yours Though
her father were ten times on your side, YOU
shall never call her yours p


81 defy you to prevent returned
Kirby, tauntingly.


You base born son of drunken faith
er, how dare you stand in my path ?"


Doane made no reply, but the witness
distinctly saw the gleam of the knife
which he lifted high in the air he heard
distinctly the low, gurgling cry of the vic
tim, and then all was STILL


He had been SO paralyzed with horror,