i -Mr
Mil fill
VOL III.
LINCOLNTON, N. C., FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1889.
NO. 1
UY JOIIN E. BAEKETT.
tOPTRianTF.O 15o8. BY COLLIER'S "OKCI
WKXK." "ALL RIGHTS RESERVED." PUB
LISHED II T ETECUI. ARRANGEMENT
WITH THE PROPRIETOK OF
"OXCEA WEEK."
"For Heaven' sake, kill ine and t$nd
toy torture. Let aoino ono of you men
knock lue In tho head, and put an end to
thU vilMiry."
Minors looked on in pity and In wonder
at the prostrate, atruggHng man, wbo
t i:d for death In any form, so that
hla sulleritiga of mind and body might
he at an end ; but DwCtive Sawyer whis
pered to Ned Newcornb that 110 time was
to he lost in carrying him out of the
mine. Accordingly the necessary ap
pliances wt ro procured, and Eckert was
reuiuved to the mouth of the slope aa
fpedily as tne eireuuiiuiueed would
permit. lie was then placed in an amliu
lruue and conveyed to the Grimsby
hospital, where it was decided at a con
sultation of phyaieiaus that the oniy
chance of saving hi lite lay in the ampu
tation of both his legs, which were bad
ly shattered In several places.
Detective Sawyer ascertained this
fact, and begged that he might -1)6 per-
mitted a few minutes' conversation with
"Gekcrt before the operation took place.
The doctors were reluctant at first to
grant thi3 privilege, but Sawyer soon
convinced them that it was highly im
portant in the interest of justice. Eckert
was rational then, but it was difficult to
say whether he would ever recover eon
scictupuess after being placed under tho
inlluen' e of anaesthetics; and knowing
. how much there was at stake, tho de-
Cective decided on making the best of
his present opportunity.
CHATTER XXII.
TOM ECKiytT'3 CONFESSION.
ETECTIVE Sawy
selected one of the
physicians and Ned
NVweoinb to be pre
sent at the interview
with Tom Eckert,
for the purpose of
corroborating the
ante-mortem state-
ment. When thej
were seated beside the couch of the
wounded man, Sawyer said:
"Mr. Eckert, you seem to be in terri
ble pain. The doctors think the chances
are against your recovery. Is there any
statement of any kind that you desire tc
make with a view to easing your mini
before you die r "
Eckert'a eyes were opened wide, auc
looking fiercely at the detective, he said:
"I'll make no statement to you; but I
have a statement to make, and I want o
lawyer to take it duwn."
Tho detective was clfogrined. He fear
ed that any moment might be Eekert's
last, and he dreaded the delay of bring
ing a lawyer to his bedside at that un
seasonable hour.
Still, there was nothing to be done but
comply with the wounded man wish,
and bo Sawyer hastened off in search ol
an attorney, to take down in legal font
the dying statement of Tom Eckert.
The detective kuew that if Eckert woolc"
"talk he could tell a startling story. If ht
-should die, without confessing what he
knew, it would greatly discount Sawyer'
shrewd work in Grimsby.
It was this that made Sawyer, wearj
as he was, so eaei to scan all the signi
a he hurried along the street that lec
from the Grimsby Hospital to the Coun
House, and it was this also that bromrb.1
fr-tm to a sudden halt as he read the name
"dar Strong, lttrncy-at-law and Ko
tejT Public. "
Just tho man i exclaimed the Jubi
iajftt detective, when he saw the sign.
But a difficulty presented itself at one
In the fact that, owing to tho lateness of
tho hour, the young attorney had long
since gone home, and could not of course
bo seen at his office. The same was true
of all the lawyers in Grimsby, and so,
altera little reflection. Sawyer decided
that it would be best to call Edgar Strong
wbo would take a personal interest In
the case, and wtou' home was but a
fthort distance away.
It did not take long to arouse Edgar
Strong and to enlist Lis services and sym
pathies. "I halt svupected Eckert from the
itart," he said.
In a few quick, nervous sentences the
detective told him the stirring story of
thy pursuit into the mine, the disaster,
and the weird discovery which followed,
and which brought to light tho missing
caih-box, bearing the name of Philip
Ckraon, and in which were contained
many precious papers.
"All this we found in the possession of
Tom Eckert, ' said tho detective, "after
he had been rescued more dead than
allre from under the avalanche cf an
thracite '.by which he had been over
whelmed.' "I see it alll" said Edgar "Strong in
amazement, " and you think Eckert can,
If he will, tell us tho entire story of
Philip Carson's murder. It looks that
way."
"And the eooner we get his story the
better, " added the detective.
"What a relief it will be to Zelda If
this man can effectually dispel the cloud
that hovers over her cousin, " said Strong;
" and for her sake I hope this Eckert will
retain his reason until ho has told us all
he knows about the murder and rob.
bejj. "
When they reached the hospital thev
were dbmayd to ascertain that Tom
Eckert was too feeble to make a coufes
iou, or undergo a surgical operation.
Detective Sawyer was particularly an
noyed by th i infounatiou. He feared
the wounded man might hot; rally suf
eelently to be able to make any state-im-nt,
and so he culh-d aside the physi
cian it charge to inform him piivat-ly
that Eckert was the custodian of a great
secret, which he had promised to tell be
fore be died.
But- you don't want to hasten the
man's death by ur ging him to tell this ter
rible Btory, " said the doctor.
" Other iives will bo imperiled if this
man's black secret dies with him," con
tended the detective. "I believe, doc
tor, that he can tell us who killed Philip
Carson. "
Tho doctor was interested at once.
"It is an impoitant case," he said,
"and we might be able to do something
to stimulate thta man into a temporary
condition of mental activity, sufficient to
enable him to relate the ctrcunutanced;
but he ought not to be prompted. "
" I am opposed to anything of that
kind myself," said the detective. "I
would only ask him if he has any state
ment to make before he dies. He has al
ready intimated that hft has, uud we
want to take it, because we feel that it
concerns some precious lives and the
honor of a family. "
"I will see what can be done, " said the
doctor, leaving the little reception-room,
in which this conversation had taken
place, and going to the couch on which
Tom Eckert lay.
The wounded man opened his eyes
wide on seeing the physician approach,
and cried out:
" Doctor, where is the man that's going
to take my statement ? I feel that I can
not live much longer. This pain is kill
ing me, and I must relieve my mind of
the great burden that oppresses me, be
fore I die. "
"Do you feel able to make such a state
ment ? " asked the doctor. j
"Yes, "was the reply; "but I cannot
stand this pain much longer. Unless the
lawyer comes soon to take down my
statement, I will not be able to make it. "
"Very well, "said the doctor. "Pre
pare yourself. The lawyer arid his as
sistant are close by, and will be here at
once." Saying this, he gave Eckert a
mild stimulant, which quickened his fac
ulties, and he immediately afterward
introduced Attorney Edgar Strong and
the detective.
The eyes of the wounded man were
shaded from the light, so that he paid but
little heed to those who were about to
take his statement. Nor did he care
much. In that solemn moment he felt
that life was about to slip away from
him, and that the one duty he owed to
society, against which he had sinned,
was to confess the great crime that had
hurled him to the brink of the black
abyss, on the verge of which he felt he
was now standing.
Edgar Strong had taken his place at a
little table a short distance from the bed
side of the wounded man. whose state
ment lie was about to take, when Tom
Eckert in a feeble voice told the follow
ing story:
' I believe I am going to die, and I am
anxious that no one else shall suffer for
my crime. I killed Philip Carson be
cause I wanted money. I did not intend
to kill him, but when I visited his study,
where I knew the cash-box was, contain
ing the money for the monthly pay, I
found him there, and I did not want to
back out. I knew that he saw my face
reflected in the mirror near his desk, as I
stealthily entered his room, and, seeing
the terror that seized him in that mo
ment, I felt there was no future for me
in his employ: and desperation then took
possession of me, and urged me on to se
cure possession of the money, which I
felt would make me a rich man. Even
then it was not my intention lo kill him.
but merely to get the money and escape.
In trying to do this, a scuffle took place
and I struck him. I eannot now describe
the blows, but I was much stronger than
he, and I know he lay where he fell, and
made no sound. The silence of the rooro
awed me. I felt that I was alone with
the dead.
"Presently I heard footsteps in the
corridor, and I retreated to a remote
corner of the room. I heard the doo
opened, and somebody entered the o"uw
The cash-box my prize which still lay
n the dead man's desk, was rattled
ibout, as I thought, although X could not
know, as I had turned out the gas in the
neantime, and the place was in dark
less. But soon the intruder was gone,
Lndthen I groped my way to the dead
nan's desk, and was overjoyed to find
:he box still there. I seized it and es
caped through the window, while I heard
i great hubbub in the corridor, and cries
f 'Clarence, Clarence,' which I knew
were Intended sor Clarence Carson, the
lead man's nephew, who, I felt, would
&e suspected of the crime. I rejoiced to
;hink he would be suspected at the time,
Decausrt I knew it would avert suspicion
from me. Then I hurried off, with the
;ash-box hidden under my great coat. I
icnew not what disposition to make of it.
wandered aimlessly about the streets,
mowing that as soon as the killing of
Philip Carson was discovered, it would
lead to a searoh for the cash-box.
" While in this state of mind, I met
Clarence Carson on the street, and we
ihook hands. It was at a street-lamp,
md each noticed that the hands of the
rthcr were bloody. The blood was on
my hands, however, as the result of the
Jtruggle with Philip Carson.
"While wandering aimlessly about the
itreet, I suddenly ran against the en
trance to the Grimsby Slope. Then it
recurred to me for the first time that the
mine would be the best place to hide the
sash-box in, and so I procured a mine
tamp and sauntered down the slope. At
a short distance from the foot I discover
ed some miners' tools, and, with them, I
made a place in a coal-pillar for the cash
box, HereJJxidJatertakima glance
st its contents, which were very disap
pointing to me, for tho reason that they
did not consist of sufficient cash. I found
however, at the bottom of the box v
erai United States bond, which partly
compen-ated for my other disappoint
ment. "I expected to make Zelda Carson my
wife by holding over her head the threat
that her coudn Clarence was the mur
derer, and that I could prove it; but this
wan a mo:t cruel uggetion, which I
leeply tegiet. It wad I alone who took
the life of Philip Carson. Lastly, my
name is not Tom Eckert, but Willrul
Morpeth. Many years ago I left a wife
and child in England, and I wish I could
ee them. But it is getting daik. and my
eyes are dim."
His voice grew thick and husky, and
bis words weie unintelligible. He tried
to say more, but he could not, and the
dt-tective was not anxious to take down
anything he might say after his reason
had left him.
Every one present felt that, to far as
he had gone, his story was true, and Saw
yer was particularly delighted with th
statement, which he regarded in the light
of a special tribute to his acumen as a
detective. But he made up his mind, ev
en then, that Sam Sharp, the newsboy,
should have proper credit for his part of
the work, and particularly for his cour
ageous conduct during the stormy exper
ience in the mine, when the thunders of
the exploding tire -damp were shaking
the foundations of Grimsby and filling
the hearts of the people with fear.
When the dawn of morning was gilding
the spires of Grimsby, the spirit of Tom
Eckert, or, as he had confessed himself,
Wilfrid Morpeth, had left the mangled
body that had sacrificed itself for greed
and ambition; and the afternodh new
papers of the same day contained his
Btartling confession, together with the
statements of Detective Sawyer and Sam
Bharp, telling of the way they tracked
him into the mine, and saw him crushed
by the black storm of crashing anthra
cite at the very moment, when he doubt
less felt secure in possession of his prize.
. Eekert's perfidy made jtdeep impres
sion on Zelda Carson, who, much as she
disliked the man, was not altogether pre
pared to belie VD him so utterly base ai
he confessed himself to be.' She was in
consolable over the loss of her father,
but even in that hour of sorrow, when
she felt there was not a single gleam of
silver behind her cloud of grief, she de
rived some satisfaction from knowing
that Clarence, with all his faults, was not
the guilty man that Eckert tried to make
all the world believe.
Edgar Strong, whose true friendship
she relied on most ; in her sorrow, was
first to tell her of Eekert's thrilling death
and the strange confession which he
made in his last moments.
The newa did not impress her then with
that full realization of ita importance
which she felt in after days; and long af
ter her father's funeral, when she sat
alone' in her room brooding over the
past, she pictured to herself the young
attorney, as he appeared before her that
cheerless morning, and in faltering ac
cents read the story of Tom Eckert'a
crime, as the culprit himself had confess
ad it at the Grimsby Hospital.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CI.ABENCE CABSOX CLAIMS EDITH Ad HIS WOTL
ATE ply s a fantastio
shuttle. When Ned
Newcornb was risk
ing his life in the
Grimsbv mine, .for
kVp the purpose of sav-
ert, he little knew
that he was build
ing a barrier be
tween his own life
and that of the
one woman he
loved.
Time strengthened the strong man's af
fection for Edith Edwards, who, after
confessing that she loved him, had
told him thev never could be
married; and whatever lingering
trace of hope existed in her mind as
to their union, after many years, in case
of Clarence Carson's continued absence
from Grimsby under a cloud of terrible
suspicion, it was banished by the return
of that worthy in a few months following
his uncle's funeral.
Edith had gone back to the factory of
Gusset & Fell, where she worked harder
than ever now, to support the little
I family that depended upon her effort
I almost entirely for its existence. Her
mother practiced strict economy at
home, took in washing, and turned every
minut of time to the best posslbU
account, idle some of the children weni
to school, and two small boys worked it
the coal-breaker, picking slate for .-a vcrj
small wage.
There were no drones Lu the littl
family hive, and all were cheered fron,
time to time by the letters which thej
received from the Philadelphia Institu
tion for the Blind, telling them thai
there was hope of Noel Edwards recover
ing his sight.
When Clarence Carson returned tc
Grimsby, after the confession of Tom
Eckert had dispelled the shadow o:
doubt which hung over him, he promisee
his cousin Zelda in the most solemt
manner that he would turn over a ne'n
leaf, quit drinking and gambling, and b
a sober, upright man, worthy of his nam
and worthy of his family anditsgreai
wealth and social standing. His resolu
tion lasted but a few mouths, so far a
sobriety was concerned, and once in tht
vortex of drink, all his old vices crowded
around him once more. -
During his sobriety he had not annoy
ed Edith Edwards once, but the very
first afternoon that he yielded to the old
temptation he felt that he must see hei
again and claim her as his wife. Her
rare beauty, modesty, intelligence ana
maidenly sweetness had cast a speli
about him which he could not withstand
when his resolution was the playthin"
of the intoxicating cup, and so one day
the young inillionaii-e surprised the pro
per Mr. Guet by calling at tho office ol
the factory and aylug:
' I waul to see my wife."
"Your wife, Mr. Carson i" said Guseet
tu amazement; "why, she is uct here
that I know of. You must be niiUikeu.'
" But I tell you "me is," insisted Caru.
"and I must ace her. She la a ew.ug
girl, and goes' by the nam of Editi
Ed ai ds. I want to peuk to her at oiut
if you please," he added, with a ium-r
Mr. Guset was perplexed. He hau
been endeavoring for several days U
fturainou up sumcient courage ,o , a
Edith 1 1 be his own wife, aud-uow tc
have this wealthy young fellow oomt
forward and claim her in that uncere
monious fa-hiou, was almost tuo much
for endurance. Y'C i
"Surely you are jesting, Mr Carson.'
he ventured te say. ',
Surely I am not, ' was the reply. "Call
the lady, and we shall soon see."
Mr. Giwset complied with ome . hesita
tion, summoned the office boy,- and told
him to inform Mis Edwards that she was
wanted in the business office.
A lew minutes later Edith appeared.
Hr.r Leuutiiul face was glowinga very
picture of health, notwithstanding her
hard work; .but ihe color quickly left it
when her eyes rested on Clarence Car
son, who advanced with outstretched
Lands to meet her. .
" Edith, my wif ett " he said, yeu must
not work here any longer. I have come
tj take yon awuy, and you wilt not have
to toil heuceforth for any of the needs ot
court oru of life. Nay, do not shun me.
My name is now without a stain, and I
can justly claim you as my own."
"I thought you had outgrown that
hallucination, sir," said Edith, with a
great effert at compromise. "I am not
your wife, as you know, and Jean never
be."
"But you know you are, and why try
to evade me any longer. The finest home
in Grimsby shall be yours," pleaded
Clarence.
" Without love the finest home would
be a prison to me, even if I were really
your wife," said Edith. "I beg that you
will not pursue the subject any longer,
luiihat you will forget it forever, as I
L ad hoped you had done long since. And
now please let me pass on to my work."
She tried to leave tb office by the
door that led to the work-room, but
Clarence Carson stood in the way. His
face was flushed with drink and chagrin,
and his pride was stung to the quick ;to
think that this poor girl would deny him
in the presence of Mr. Gu?e.t... ; !
" You shall not go," he s'iid. " until I
prove to this gentleman that my claim
is well founded," and as Clarence held
the door with one hand, he produced
from his breast pocket with the other the
marriage certificate, signed by Judge
Bansjin, which Edith hated so heartily to
ee, and which she hoped had been lost
long since.
' There, sir, read that," said Clarence,
placing the paper in Robert Gusset's
hands. "That is' the document that
proves us inau and wife, and to whose
authenticity Judge Hansom will swear,
as will also the two witnesses whose
names are attached."
Gusset was stunned as he read, the
paper, and handing it back to Carson, he
said:
" You astonish me; I know not what to
say. Of course, if Judge Bansom swears
to the marriage, that should settle it. "
"But I can swear that no such mar
riage ever took place, ' said Edithr fer
vently: '- and knowing that it did not,
why should I be persecuted in this way?
My life has been made miserable for
months by this mock marriage, and I
cau endure it no longer. Stand aside,
air, "she added, "and let me go tc raj
woik;" but Clarence did not heed hei
words.
You must, you shall be mine ! " he ex
claimed, clasping her in his arms, with
the intention of forcing her into his car
riage and driving to his home.
Edith resisted stoutly, and called fo?
help, but the vacillating Mr. Gusset had
been so perplexed by reading the mar
riage certificate, that he did not havt.
sufficient courage to interfere. Besides,
he feared the wealth and influence of
Carson, and this helped to make bim
coward.
Just as Clarence Carson was about tv
force Edith Edwards through the froi-t
door, hv- was toufronted by a well-know!
fuce, in which he saw a storm of anger.
It was the face of Ned Newcomb, whosa
strong right arm was raised to str&e the
j ouj;k millionaire a blow that he would
not soon forget, were it not for the intev-
! po.-aio:i of Kobert Gusset ana nis partner,
J I) rnaice pell, who fortunately arrived
j apo:i the scene at tht- same time,
j " Man, are you mad ? " cried Gusset,
aJdiess'ng Ned Newcornb, as he and lus
partner iwA the enraged mechanic from
ipnnging upoM th' hated assailant o.
wdlth.
"Not mad!" answered Ned. "But 1
yrmt to teach this reprobate a Icssoi
that he will never more f orget and thai
you should have taught him before i
came. This is not the first time ho hai
tried to make this poor girl's life unhap
py, and, rich as he is, he ought to bt
taught that he cannot insult poorgirL
with impunity. "
" Young man, you don't know what yot
are saying," said Gusset. "This younj
woman, whom we all deemed so demure,
is "Sir. Carson's wife. "
" His wife 1 " exciaimed Ned Newcornb
" It's a lie, and I dont believe it. "
He was in a great passion.
Then read that!" said Clarence.whc
by this time had released Edith, and wat
fairly sober from the excitement. As h
spoke he handed Ned Newcornb the mar
riage certificate. ...-
Ned glanced at the paper a moment
Ashe read its contents his brain grew
diziy. The thought of Edith his owi
beloved, cherished Edith, the idol of hit
heart, the Joy of his life being the wtf
of another, was mere than he could en
dure. In that moment he felt that hi
could not live without her, butwhy ha
he deceived him so cruelly ? Then cam
the lec-uil. He thought that ah couic
Dot do it that slid could not bo bo de
tvitful, co contemptible, as to marry u
such a way, and especially with uch t
man as Claieuce Caison, who had insult
ed her on the stieets, and whom he ha
knocked down In her defence.
"This certificate, id a forgery and f
fiauJ ! " he exclaimed, tearing the papei
in Precis and Hinging the fragment
about the cilice.
.Carbon wa wild with rage. He drew hi:
pistol and fired at Ned Newcornb, bui
fortunately Doi ranee Fell, who had beet
watching for some such climax, threw
u p his arm and feat l be bullet through tht
coding.
" I'll make you pay for thii, and befun
many hours," tided Clarence Carton
who pointed his finger at Ned Newooul
and left the office in a frenzy.
I am ready to meet you now," ans
weied.Ned. But Carson was not read
to settle the quarrel iu that way.
In less than an hour Ned Ncwtomt
was arrested c u a warrant issued at tht
instance of Clarence Carson, and charg
lug him with the wanton destruction o:
a valuab'e document . to wit, a certificatt
of man ia.' e, signed by Judge Bansom
and declaring said Carson and Edith Ed
wards to be man and wile.
CHAPTER XXIV.
1HI SPEXX IS BBuEEN.
HE trial of Nec
Newcornb on the
charge of malicioi
mischief involved ix
the destruction of j
Clarence C a r s o n't
marriage certificate
took place immedi
ately after the ar
rest, before the al
derman who had issued the warrant, and
the little office was crowded.
Edith Edwards had never been attract
ed to such scenes, either by morbid curi
osity or as a litigant, but she was then
now both as a witness and one deeplj
interested in the outcome, for she fell
that Ned Newcornb had undertaken Utii
fight for her sake, and she was deeplj
anxious concerning the result.
Clarence Carson was represented bj
one of the leading lawyers in Grimsby
a gentleman with judicial aspirations
who scorned to appear before an alder
man, but who would gladly appear any
where that Mr. Carson required his ser
vices. Edgar Strone was Ned New
comb's lawyer, and as he "intimated nil
intention of fighting the case through oe
a preliminary hearing " fur all it. wni
worth," Mr. Carson's attorney impressed
his client with the importance of fortify
ing himself with all the witnesses obtain,
able.
Accordingly Judge Ransom, Dick Daw
son and Alice Dawson were summoned tc
appear, as the first-named had perform
ed the ceremony and the other two were
the witnesses to the marriage, of which
the certificate had been destroyed. Mr.
Carson's lawyer opened the case with a
great flourish, laying particular stress oo
the high family reputation of his client,
the legal and social standing of the prin
cipal witness in the case, Judge Kan
som, and the atrocity of the prisoner'
conduct in destroying a marriage certifi
cateone of the most solemn document
ever'devised by the brain of man.
There was much more in a similar
strain, after which Clarence Carson was
called to the witness stand. He testified
to the nature of the document that had
been destroyed and the manner of it
destruction, and said it was the certifi
cate of his marriage with Edith Edwards.
Judge Ransom was the next witness.
He swore that on a certain evening he
performed the marriage ceremony be
tween the plaintiff in the case and Edith
Edwards, and that he had made a written
certificate of the marriage.
" Your Honor, this is ail the witnesses
we propose to call. We feel that we
have made out a sufficient case to hold
this defendant for trial at court," said
Mr. Carson's attorney.
" But we shall insist on a hearing foi
our side, if it please the Court," 'aid Ed
gar Strong. "We feci that we are en
titled to a def ense."
What defense do vou propose tc
make against such testimony?" asked
the alderman.
"We propose to show to your Honoi
and to the public that the paper which
my client destroyed was worse than
worthless, because it was no marriage
certificate at all, but a cruel libel upon
the fair name and precious reputation ol
a young woman who is above suspicion
and beyond reproach. Instead of being
punished for what he did in destroying
that paper, which purported to be a sol
emn certificate of marriage, but which
was a brutal lie in black and white, my
client, honest Ned Newcornb, who knowi
no fear in a just cause, should receive a
testimonial from the community for hii
gallant conduct. He had raved this her
oic girl, who in going forth to search fbi
her blind father fell into th river, from
Mi icy grave. He had left her in a plaoc
9l shelter, while he went for a doctoi
and Atj-er nssit?tw-c. When he WMgCfce
was spirited! into a gambling room
frequented by tht- plaintiff and ethers,
and there the alleged marriage cere
tnony, certified to by Judge Ransom, w&i
performed. But the marriage was not
with Edith Edwards, as the bogus certlfl.
cate declared, but with somebody else,
aswe.shall show you before this trial
cjoses."
The first witness called for the defene
was Edith Edwards. The color mounted
to her temples and stood forth in strong
contrast to her jet black hair, as she
took her place at the witness table, and
there was not a man in the roqm that did
not feel the influence of her rare and
modest beauty. She swore that she bad
no recollection of her marriage to Clar
ence Carson, said she was solemnly and
nmly convinced that no such ceremony
ever took place, and that she did not and
never would consider herself Mr. Car
son' wile, hhe also stated briefly thai
Ned Newcornb wa saving her from in
sult when the so-called certificate wat
tru. Edith was not t rs -examined.
' We Mill now call, a our next witness,
Alice Dawson, oue of the wltuec U
this alleged uuuriMge.'' eaid Attorney Ed
gar Miuiig.
Alice, a rather dashing person of ma
ture Ix-BUty, came up smiling to the wit
new table .
" Were you oue of the witnesses to tt
marriage between Clarence Carson ano
Edith Edwar ds as stated in the tcrtihVatt
made by Judge Bausom i "
"No."
"Why?"
"Because no such marriage took place
Mr. Carson was anxious to marry Editfc
Edwards, and take her to Europe, bui
we all knew she would not couseut to the
ceremony, ""and so I was persuaded t
impersonate her. 1 was vailed during
the performance of the ceremony, sc
that Judge Rausom did not see my face
Mr. Carson supposed he was getting mar
tied to Edith Edwards, but it was m)
hand ho held during the ceremony, and
It was to me he made his wedding vow
In fact, am hit wile ! "
Tills startling announcement upset tht
gravity of the Court. Ned Newcomt
oould scarcely restrain himself for joy
Edith's delight was beyond expression
and Clarence Carson felt terribly hutnil
iated.
The brief statement of Alice Dawsou
could not be shaken by cross-examina
tion, and it was corroborated by the te
timony of Dick DawaCh, the gambler,
who was the other witness to the muti
lated marriage certificate of the now
crestfallen Clarence Carson.
The charge against Ned Newcornb Wat
promptly withdrawn, and for a few min
utes Ned was overwhelmed with con
gratulations. But he was eager to escape
from such a demonstration, and tc
see Edith at her home for a short
time.
Clarence Carson retired from the scen
very much disgusted. He wondered
why it was that Dick Dawson and Alice
appeared to testify against him with such
alacrity, but he ascertained their motivs
later on, when Alice claimed that sh
was his wife, and tried to levy blackmail
on him in a sum commensurate with hit
reat wealth a sum which, to his credit
be it said, he did not pay.
Ned Newcornb. accompanied Edith Ed
wards to her little home, and there, la
the little parlor, when the two were to
gether, he renewed the offer of his love,
which had been rejected before, for rea
sons which had since been made clear.
Brave-hearted Ned Newcomb's Jove wai
not rejected this time, and the happl
ness which he and Edith felt as they
emerged from the little parlor shone ia
their eyes and glorified their lives.
Their cup of joy, so full, was made tt
run over that afternoon by a letter from
Philadelphia, stating that Noel Edward!
had regained his sight once more, and
would be home in a few days. It was so
arranged that he should witness the mar
riage of Ned Newcornb and Edith, a sight
which made him happier than word!
can tell.
As time went by, thy city of Grimsby
outgrew and forgot the stormy scene
that are depicted here, and lie name it
now prominent as one of the great man
ufacturing centres of the United States.
The great mill has been rebuilt by a
wealthy company, and Ned Newcornb is
its efficient superintendent.
Attorney Edgar Strong proved bimseli
worthy the hand of Zelda Carson, and
they are happily married. Clarence is
running a cattle ranch in the West, and
is said to be a sober man, but his name is
now rarely mentioned in Grimsby. De
tective Sawyer and his protege, Sam
Sharp, the former newsboy, are doing a
successful business in New York, where
their courage and talents are appre
ciated. When Ned Newcornb returns home
from the mill, after his day's toil, he in
variably hears music in the parlor, as he
stands on the door-step, and a familiar,
well-beloved voice, in which joy and ten
derness keep company, rings out oc
casionally through the open window" in
the summer afternoons. Ned is grave
but happy, as he hears Edith sing these
words from Abt's well-remembered song:
" There is light upon Kf poih, there Is ucbico
In my heart,
Anfl tht lenf nod fruit of life shall not utterly
depart;
T restore to me tba freahoeat and the bloom fit
Ion IT KfOl
O T te&ra, bappy tears: I am thankful that ye
o."
TEX Xt
Contented Where He Wmm.
The other evening a steady, faithful old
Swede, who occupies a place in tho packing
room of Marsh t Field & Co.'s wholesale es
tablishment, w":erj he has been for years
past, dropped in during north side stroll at
a barracks or ths Salvation Army. Ho did
not quite understand the proceedings, but he
enjoyed singing, and he paid strict attention
to what was going op. During un interval in
the regular services he was apj reached ty a
vniformed officer of the urmy, who tapped
:ia on the shoulder, and ssi.d, f irr.illm-ij:
3fy Irlend, would you no lilc- to go to work
uor Jesus?" "Naw, I gae !irl," jinwered
the o'.d Swede, nn ho robU-i hia aiu ; '( hl
ftot chob i n Marshall FWr, an' I jpizp a vert
far him yet avile." Chicago Her id.
THE NEW DISCOVERT.
You hate heard your friends and reizh
bor talking about it You may yourself te
one ot the many who know from personal
experience j a st how good a tbinz it is. If
you hate ever tried it, you are one of its
staunch friend?, because the wonderfol
tbise about it is, that wbea once given a
trial, Dr King's New Discovery ever after
holds a place in the bouse. If you have
ever used it and should be afflict d with a
cough, cold or any Throat, Lung or Chet
trouble, secure a bottle at once and trite it
a fair trial. It is guaranteed verv time
or money reiuniea. xnai ootties xreea
Dr. J. M. Lawing's Drugstore.
(Jreece and Create.
It is perbapn an wall that chil
dren should cot iiud era land all the
complimentary things that may be
said nlout them. Little Grace wa
tcry pretty, but had not yet been
made 8lt conscious by finding it
out.
Not long ago an Indiscreet visitor,
seeing her -for the first Ume, re
marked with enthusiasm to the
child's mother. M What eyes! And
hat a profile pure Grecian V
Grace dashed scarlet, aud ran
from the room. Half an hour attea,
whvn th3 visitor had gone, her
mother found her hidden away hi a
dark closet.
Why, Grace, what are you here
fori" 6he aaked.
Ml didn't want to come out. till
that horrid Id rs. Sears bad gone,"
said the child,8howiog a defiant f ace
"Horrid ? Why, what did she do
to you !''
"She gaid I was all grease I I ran
right to the glass, and I was as
cleau as could Lh. And il she
thought so, she might have whis
pered it to me, and not said it oat !-'
DecUlve
It all impostors conld be dealt
with as suramari'y as was a reli
gious fanatic in the Pacific Islands,
new and mucbroon faiths wonld
meet speedily with the fate they
deserve. This man, a native min
ister, had declared that he was the
bearer of a message from heaven,
to the tiled that the end of$be
world was at hand. It was not long
before he had gathered a large cir
cleof disciple?, believing with all
their hearts in the approaching
catastrophe. Maafu, the viceroy of
the Windward Islands, had never
interfered in the religious leanings
of his people- Now, however, he
was roused j a belief, in the coming
end of the world meant a lack ot
interest in the planting of yam'.
the payiDg of taxes and other tem
poral concerns..
Maafu set sail tor the inland
which had embraced the new ie
igion. On his arrival the head men
of the village were summoned be
fore him. They came crouching
before their ruler, wbo sat on the
deck ot bis battered yacht, placidly
pplieing a rope..
"Fijiant,,? a'd Maafu, uwhy do
you not pay your taxes 1 '
The men replied that they bad
been told by an angel from heaven
that the end of the world was at
hand, and that they therefore
thought it advisable to spend their
time and strength in prayer. -
''Fetch this angel," commanded
Maafu.
lie was brought ou board, and
with him a woman carrying a baby.
The fanatic stood before Maatu,
who quietly weat on splicing a
rope.
"So yon are the man who tells
these people to neglect their
duties r
"I am an angel sent to warn
them.'
"An angel ! Ah 1 Who is that
woman ? '
"My wife, she is an angel, too."
"Ab, and is that child yours?" ,
"Yes."
"Yoa are an angel, and you have
a wife and child?"
"Yes.'"
Maafu rose and cried in a voioe
which awed those about him :
O Fijian s 1 bow can this thing
be. When it is written, "In heaven
there is neither marrying nor giv
ing in marriage? Tools P over
board to your canoes 1 Pay taxes,
and plant your yams, or it shall be
the worse for yon, men of Yitl.
And you, woman, go ashore and
take care of your baby; you will
not see yonr husband for seven
years. Set sail V7
80 Maatu carried off the angel,
and kept bim a prisoner for that
length of time ; the new religion'
died, and the people returned to
the ordinary duties ot life.
Patrick McAtamney, a switch
man in the employ of the Pennsyl
vania Railroad at Jersey city, N. J.,
saw a 10-vearold boy step id front
of an approac ing car that was
being backed up by an eneine on the
18th. H? sprang to save th boy
and did so, bnt lost his own life.