Year: 1877

I cannot let them take you from me-my
love, my love"


"Go with me, Evelyn-to prisons That
cannot be! But I would try to comfort you
somewhat, if could, before l leave you.
How long can you give mef" he added, in a
louder tone, turning to the sheriff's officer,
who had withdrawn to distant part of the
room.


That functionary drew out big silver
watch from his fob, and consulted it with q
serious face.


II can give you, sir, just ten minutes more" ,"
be gravely replied. ut don't seem much, but
it's al can spare; my times precious, and
I've been here a matter of 3 quarter Of an
hour already. But being as you take it 80
easy, and don't offer no resistance, why for
your lady's sake I'm willing to show you all
the indulgence I can."


"That will be sufficient" said Julian. "Can
I be permitted to speak to-to this lady
alone?"


"Quite impossible, SIR" said the officer,
shaking his head. "I'm awful sorry, but it's
against the rules. I'll engage, however, not
to listen to your conversation. I have no
wish to play the spy, and so long as I'm in
the room, you can talk as private as you
please" -...-


So saying, he turned the key of the door,
placed it in his pocket, saying apologetically,
as he did 50, "just for forms SAKE you know,
then leaning out of the window, with bis
back to the group, commenced an earnest
conversation with his comrade in the veran-
dab, who had been whistling the tune of"Old
Folks at Home" with variations, all the time
that this had been going on inside.


"Evelyn," said poor Julian to bis dropping
bride, who, half paralyzed as she was by the
shock she had received, nevertheless had the
fortitude to brace herself to the utmost to
preserve her composure sufficiently to listen
to all he had to say, "Though I am indeed
guilty of the crime am accused Of, yet I do
not wish you to believe me greater wretch
than really am. When murdered that
unfortunate man, I was hardly conscious of
what was doing. I had been drinking until
I was wild, and was banded with party of
rufians, who had used every influence they
could exert, to incite me to desperate and law
less acts I am aware that this, in itself, was
objectionable, and perhaps, in the eye of the
law, will be merely an aggravation of my Of
fence !; but it exonerates me, at least, from the
deliberate and wilful intention of taking life.
No words can paint the horror I felt, when 1
found what had done. Gladly would l have
given my own life to restore that Of my vic.
tim. Evelyn, you would have pitied me, had
you known all the circumstances that drove
me TO such a situation. I had just fled from
my former home, where could no longer en-
dure the shame and misery which surrounded
me. had lost my good name, my brthright,
every hope of honor or happiness in life, all
through the conduct of one who should have
been my guide and stay, but who had given
me only too fatal an example of weakness and
vice. I was only boy had no one to ad.
wise me, or say friendly word. Employment
I could not find. was starving and desper-
ate, and linked myself with party of men
who held out to me helping hand, not know
ing, when did so, the actual purpose of their
organization. Once joined to them, could
not extricate myself from their tolls, though
constantly struggled to do 80. You see the
end did escape them at the peril of my
lifs-for they had sworn to kill any of their
number who should desert the rest. For q
time 1 was engaged in hiding, living l scarcely
know how-just managing to keep soul and
body together. Finally, heard of the dis
covery and breaking up of their band and
the capture of their most notorious members.
Then l breathed more freely, and ventured to
come once more into the light of day. got
some work, of desultory, uncertain kind ;
but enough to keep me respectfully and ena-
able me to hold my head up among the men
l met. I had formerly gambled, and success
fully-Mat was an art I had learned in my
boyhood's home-but I steadily forbore to
tempt my luck at cards or dice again. had
sworn that I would never more touch either,
or suffer a drop of spirituous liquor to pass
my lips, and kept my resolution. tried,
Oh so hard, to give up all evil thoughts and
ways, and atone for my past sins; but the
memory of that fatal night hung like night
mare over me, and the word murderer"
seemed written in letters of fire ever before
my eyes. I cannot paint to you the hours OF
torment have endured Well, years went
on, and somewhat softened down the recollec-
ton of the hideous past I roved here and
there, sometimes sketching or painting from
nature sometimes playing at concert or for
dance, and getting little money from these
efforts vagabond life, but honest-until at
last fate threw me in your way. Then for
got everything, but that I loved you; passion
ately, devotedly, from the moment when /
lifted you, in your belplessness and suffering,
in my arms. I knew then, Evelyn, that my
destiny was in your hands, for good or for
evil. Oh my love, forgive me, that l have
SO cruelty linked that destiny with yours
Far, far greater is that sin, than the one for
which am now called to account. Far less
heavily does the death of that murdered man
weigh upon my soul, than does the knowledge
that 1 have blighted your joyous life and
blackened your innocent name with the stain


i,
of mine p


"Hush v' said Evelyn, softly pressing her
hand against bis lips. "Thank God, am
able to help you bear this burden that has
f,lIo, nnon pou which until tedav T cnuld