Year: 1865




is no other way for it. A man driven on by
such passion as Mary inspired, is not master
OF himself, though close upon the hOrrd deed
may follow black remorSe But I'll to bed,
ana blde the morrow events and then, if
see no other way I'll do it.


What was it that he was to do? | could on
y speculate. That it was connected with the
trial | could not doubt 1t seemed plain that
he was in some way connected with the mur-
der. Perhaps he might be the real murderer
and, driven by guilty conscience, was await
ing the result Of the trial before making full
confession of the crime


The next day attended the Court as before
My strange friend was there, and seemed scarce
ly less interested than the prisoner at the bar
| watched him attentivcly


Later in the afternoon, as | was riding
through the outskirts of the town, passed
him pacing slowly with his hands behind him.
and so lost in thought that he did not even
look up as | went by. He returned to the ho-
tel, and ate his supper in silence.


When | retired for the night | left him in
the cotlce-rOom, with an elbow on each arm of
! his chair, gazing silently at the fire.
had been III bed about half an hour, when
he came up stairs with two candles which he
! placed upon his table. lie then went to his
vallsc and took out several quires Of fool>cap,
and, lastly drew from his pocket II small black
bottle, and placed it by his side, as he sat down
and began to write.


! was too much interested in this movement
to think Of going to sleep, so | lay still, and
kept my attention fixed upon him.


At first his pen moved deliberately over the
paper then as his hands passed over page af-
ter page, It's ScratchlngS became louder and
more nervous. There was evidently burning
! thought that must find expression in word> =
The veins upon his forehead were swollen as if
ready to burst, and his whole expression was
that OF intense excitement He seemed to
have forgotten that there was any one else iii
the room, for could hear him muttcrng hi
thoughts aloud as he pcnncd them. Now and
then he would pause, draw a long breath, and
then dash on again. At last he threw down
his pen, and struck his hand against his fore
head, with the exclamation:


: did it And now she is gone, why do |
tarry here to see that poor wretch suffer in my
stead? Twas as | said-She did not marry
ham! There comfort in that thought low,
ed her well-so well that did slay her
Could have seen her as his wife and not gone
mad He cruel tates ye were too many for
me III the unequal strife, when twas woman
heart became the price of wealth but my good
steel did find its way where gold is pOwcrlcss.
L Il wed her yet; for here is that shall give me
quick conveyance to the shore where she has
gone before.


He seized the little black bottle, took deep
draught, and then resumed the writing


see it all now, thought l, 1t is as
suspected This is the murdercr-the lover
who did the deed He is committing suicide,
and writing out his confession!'


was not inclined to disturb a man under
such circumstances; so | lay still and awaited
the result. His pen dashed on more furiously
than ever Occasionally his hand would 90 to
the bottle, whose contents were evidently work
ing upon his brain. One of his candles had
gone out, and the other was burned low in the
socket. lie threw down his pen, and applied
his bottle once more to his lips, and swallowed
the last drop which it contained; and then in
sepulchral tone he gave expression to these
words as he stood before the expiring cmbcrS ::


That is all. When they do look on this,
then they will know why twas they thought
me strange. There's my confession, writ for
those who think it was little thing that she
rejected me. They shall know that what
swore | had the courage to perform. Il to
my couch, and let the morrow tela tale of hor-
rOr which shall make their drowSy souls believe
there is love far stronger than grim death.
Farewell, earth, where gold doth rob me Of my
love and hail, thou strange unknown who
! doth wait my coming


The candle burned blue as the excited man
uttered these last words, with the gestures and
tones of one talking with the spirit of the muir
| l.
was gone; and then | heard the man throw
himself heavily upon the bed.


My first impulse was to give the alarm; but
o second thought told me that it he was the
murderer, and had written out his confession,
and was now taking himself off by dose of
poison, could do no good by bringing him
back to life again only to be strung up by y
rope and die like dog. | did not see why |
should try to keep poor wretch in this world
] h. hn1 hnonnnn hot ha hasl
better leave. He might make his exit under
worse circumstances; and as he had done me
no wrong, | could not out of charity interfere.
|, With a good quiet conscience | dropped
aslcep, and did not awake till after daylight
the next morning


, l looked toward my neighbor's bed. There
he lay upon the outside of the bed, with his
back toward me, and none of his clothes reno
we'd. The candlestckS, the black bottle, and
the papers, were on the table near him. | rose
and dressed myself, and glanced at the papers.
They contained murderer confession, evi-
IDENTIFY. The bottle was labelled "Poison ~
and was ornamented with an engraved death S
head and cross-bones. 1t had also strong
smell of brandy.


I bent over the motionless figure on the bed
He was sleeping. The whole thing was SD mys-
terious that | said nothing about it, bur after
eating my breakfast and settling my bill, left
for home, wondering whether l should see in
the papers the next morning, "The Murder
er's Confession" | looked for it, but as it did
not appear, began to suspect that something
had been the matter with my brain during my
stay at Guilford.
Several weeks afterward went to the thea
tire to hear sensation play which was that
night to be brought out | took my seat and
watched the development of the plot. lt was
one Of the "love and murder stamp. !could
not help thinking how similar we're the clTGum- W;9
stances to those ofthe trial at Guilford. When
!" the last net the murderers confession was
reached r, ' it seemed but repetition qt, the
so"nn so"u ~ tLe double -bcdded room which have
1 sGcmu !" dn"cr;bSd L There was the actor strik-
p ;n% his 6shd H against his forehead, and finally
with wit it otutstrSceI arms and eyes ga7ing E into


utqry these words S wGSn %"d mad ra Ssen
SOL 80 Garth where gold doth rob of my love;