II I I l + . . . . . . . _ .r - - . _ . . . - . . . . . . + sr. . . , , . 1)itl ) , 171 rt I ) . . uJ OuG Uu 4 G 'i VO ti GQ , i V . . v ® 1'i b . S ° d ' j 'Di , I ' r Aye „ - d / 'i / CHAPTER NVII. ( CoNT1NCED ) . "Let me do it , and save you the trouble ! " . ' "No , no , no ! I cannot ; I must still live on , and keep the dreadful secret. 0 , would that I had died before l yielded - ed to that horrible temptation ! " "You made your own bed ! " he said , coarsely. "It don't become you to complain - plain If it doesn't lie easy. " "No. I have no one to blame. I risked everything upon a single die , and lost all ! " "And that was rather a lucky day for me that curiosity to seethe bride led me to climb the locust tree just under this window , and I saw- " "Hush ! " she cried , fearfully. "The walls have ears sometimes" ti The backs of the couple were turned to Helen ; she slipped noiselessly from her concealment , and locked the room door , and put the key in her pocket. Then she glided to the window , and placed her back against it , thus confronting - fronting the man and woman. "You just remarked that walls have ears , " she said , quietly. "I agree with you. These have a pair of them. " "Who are you ? " cried the man , springing to his feet , and looking at her. "The devil ! " "No , thank you. My name is Helen Fulton. No relation to your friend. " He strode toward the window. "Let me pass here right quickly , or take the consequences' " he said , with brutal determination. She drew herself up proudly , and her voice was cuttingly firm as his own. "You do not pass here until you come to my terms. " "Well , I like your pluck ! If I was = in want of a wife , I'd honor you with my proposals. What are your terms ? " "You must tell me all you know about the murder of Marina Trenholme ! " "Which I will not do ! " i "Very well. Then you can stay here until morning , and I will summon some of the family to make you come to terms. I would speak to them to-night , but I never like to disturb people after they are a-bed. It is apt to make them ill-tempered. " "Confound you ! Will you stand aside ! " "Not If I know it. " l with an oath he sprung upon her. Quick as thought she lifted her right - hand , in which she held the loaded pistol. - "An inch nearer , " she said , coolly , "and I will blow your brains out ! I am sorry to be impolite to a gentleman , but you force me to it ! " The ruffian recoiled. He saw the steady determination in her eye , and knew that he might expect no mercy. Imogene had sunk to the floor on the first appearance of Helen ; and crouched there , staring at vacancy , her rich dress sweeping over the bloody stain on the carpet. She seemed incapable of speech or motion. "One or the other of you murdered Marina Trenholme , " said Helen , speaking - ing in a low , clear voice , "and 1 will know which. The innocent shall not suffer for the guilty , if it is in my power i to prevent it I want to save Lynde Graham. I am disposed to be gracious with you both. I want your written confession-both of you-in regard to I this thing. That is all I ask. It is now the fifteenth of June-ten days to the execution. I will give you eight days in which to escape. Give me what I ask for , and I promise you faithfully I will nbt show the paper to any living being until just in time to save him s from the gallows. " "I will be caught in no such trap , " hissed the man. "Get out of my way , -you little she devil. I'll show you how to use a pistol ! " And he seized the weapon by the muzzle , with the inten- tion' of wrenching it from her grasp. But he had not reckoned on thestrength in that right arm , and in the struggle it was discharged , and the ball passed into his breast just above the heart. "I'm done for ! " he cried with an oath , . and. fell to the floor. Imogene sprang up , and darted . ( toward the window , but Helen was on t ' - the alert , and divined her intention in- ; stantly. She caught her firmly by the arm and held her fast. The noise of the pistol had alarmed i the ivhole household , and they came i ru"shing to the spot ' "Open the door ! " thundered Ralph . Tienholmefrom without. l j "You must burst it in , " said Helen. _ ; iie put his shoulder against it , and broke the , lock instantly. The whole party'rushed into the room. St Cyril's } qulck eye fell first on the wounded man. N. "John Rudolph ! " he exclaimed. "The abductor of my sister ! " Imogene turned toward the intruders , , I her face absolutely livid , her eyes wild ' as those of a maniac. Ralph put a - strong arm around het' ' shoulders and K t . 'held her quiet. There was something infinitely terrible in the face of this nan. Helen lifted up the face of Ru- dolph. ' j - - l.- - w. - . "Speak quickly , " she said. "Yon will gain nothing now by concealment. " "Am I dying ? " he asked , anxiously. "I think so. Speak on. But first let me ask , Mr. Trenholme , Is there a magistrate present ? " "I am one , " said Ralph's friend , Mr. Brunell , who was stopping there for the night. "Very well then. Give this gentleman the oath. I can testify that he has no conscientious scruples to prevent him from swearing. " It was done , and Rudolph proceeded to speak : "It is hardly fair to force things out of a fellow in this way , but I suppose there's no help for it. There's too many against me ! This girl is the very devil herself. " "I have once before informed you , sir , that I am Miss Fulton , and in no way a relative of the ierscn you men- tion. " "O , have it your own way ! but I'm sure I don't understand how you came to guess at what has puzzled so many older beads. I've been a hard case. I don't deny it. It was all owing to the way I had to struggla up. Everybody was willing to give me a kick because I happened to be the child of poverty and of disgrace. I stole the child of Mrs. St. Cyril , partly from motives of revenge , and partly because I hoped to get money from its father by it. I'm not going to give a history of my doings , so don't get impatient. It seems a little - tle necessary that I should speak of that child , seeing as it was she that was murdered. The ship that we came to this country in was wrecked , and people - ple hereabouts thought that the little girl was the sole survivor. I know better - ter , because I myself escaped. It did not suit my purpose , however , to let the fact be known. ' I had my own plans , which I shall not now divulge. The time for me to work is past , and I will not tell ydu what I meant to do if my life had been lengthened. I found that the child had a good home , and for the present , then , I was satisfied. After awhile I returned to Europe , and saw Mrs. St. Cyril. But she had no money , with which to purchase my secret. I then sought the father of the child , but he refused' to listen to me a moment. He had no children , he said , bitterly. I came back to America. Part of the time I was in New York , but I never lost sight of Marina-for so they called the girl I had stolen from her parents. At last I heard she was going to be mar- ried. I thought I should like to see how she looked in her bridal clothes. It was a little weakness of mine which you must pardon , seeing that I once loved her mother. "I came here , and knowing no other way , I climbed the locust tree just outside - side this window , and from its thick- leaved shelter , I commanded a complete view of this apartment. Just after the bridesmaids left the bride , the door of her chamber opened , and Imogene Ireton entered. I knew this woman by sight. She came up noiselessly behind Marina , and as she turned. l saw something - thing glitter in her hand. She stood still a moment as if to gather strength , and then she struck down quickly and silently ? I heard a low cry , and then all was quiet ! " Ralph's grasp had tightened around his wife , until her face had grown purple - ple from the iron pressure. He was crushing her to death , but he would not have known it , if she had breathed her last sigh. St. Cyril touched his arm. "Mr Trenholme , look at your wife. You are suffocating her ! " He looked down upon her distorted features , removed his arm , and took her hand in his. "Imogene Ireton came directly to the window , " proceeded Rudolph , "and looked down. She had the dripping knife still in her hand. She cast about her a half fearful glance , but discovering - ing no one , she stepped out upon the grape vine that half covered that side of the house. And just as she did so Lynde Graham came along on his way to the main entrance. He was dressed for the wedding and had his gloves in his hand. He looked up at her , and an amazed expression crossed his face. " 'Miss Ireton , how came you there ? ' he asked , hastening toward her. " 'Help , me down , quick ! ' she said , imperiously. "He lifted her down in his arms. I knew then that he loved her by the way he performed the act. I could have sworn it. " 'What freak is this ? ' he asked. 'Why do you choose- that means df egress from the chamber of the bride ? ' "She looked at him-and such a look. He fairly recoiled before it. ; he lifted up her hand , there was upon it a single dash of crimson. " 'Lynde Graham ; she said , distinctly - ly , 'there will be no bride , and if' you love me prove that love by keeping my secret ! ' "She fled away , and he looked after her like one in a maze. It was five minutes before he seemed to recover his faculties. And then his face was pitiful to behold. Such agony I have never seen expressed by any human countenance ! Hardened as I was , I pitied him. "Well , you know pretty well all the rest. _ Suspicion fell upon. Lynde Graham - ham ; he was arrested and convicted , and because he loved this woman , he would be v ; idling to die in her stead. He refused to speak the words that ' t i W would establish his innocence , because by so doing he 'would condemn her to the gallows. "You may well believe that I was prepared - pared to take advantage of what I knew. I guessed at first that she had murdered Marina because she wanted to be mistress of Trenholme House , and it was not long before X sought her out , and revealed to her my terrible secret. For a moment I thought she would have killed me. I think she wotlld , if she had had the means at hand. After her passion had a little subsided , I made terms with her. Money was what I wanted , and she gladly consented to pay me for keeping dumb. This began before she married Mr. Trenholme. Afterward - terward it continued just the same. You all wondered at her frequent jcurneys from home ; she only went to pay me my allowance at times when I was unable - able , through illness , to come for it. You , Mr. Trenholme , thought me , 'our , wife's paramour ! halt ! she would sooner - er have killed herself than submitted to the caresses of one like me. If she was a murderess , she was true to you. I remember once I made her kiss me , and slie touched me with just the loathing - ing that she would have touched a toad ! But what did I care ? I warted money , not love. It was a dangerous secret to keep , but I have been well paid for it. Thank the powers above and below ! I ani out of the reach of the law ! I defy you all ! " He lifted his hand in wild defiance , and fell back a corpse ! Helen rose from her kneeling posture and faced Imogene , her face pale as that of the dead man before her. "You have heard the confession of that dead villain , " she said , slowly. "Now , we will listen to yours. " Imogene shrank from the steady gaze of those clear eyes , shrank back pitifully - fully , crying out : " 0 spare me ! spare me ! Do with me as you will , but do not force me to a confession ! " Ralph drew her sternly forward , and I took in his own the hands with which 1 she strove to conceal her face. "You shall not be spared ! " he said , hoarsely. "You did not spare her ! But we will not condemn you without a hearing. Clear yourself , if Yell can. " "I cannot ! 0 , you know I cannot ! I ( lid murder her ! But it was because I loved you ! I could not live to see you the husband of another ! With her dangerous face under the sod , I thought my beauty might win you ! God will bear me witness that it was pure love alone that influenced me. I never once thought of the power that would be mine as your wife. Wealth and station - tion were nothing to me ! It was your love I wanted ! 0 Ralph , only that ! " " 0 God ! " cried Ralph , striking his forehead , "to think that I took to my bosom as my wife the murderess of my poor Marina ! It is too much ! It maddens - dens me ! And but far you , Miss Fulton - ton , I might have lived or to the end in ignorance , and Lynde Graham would have died an innocent man ! " "I did not seek this , " Helen said , in a subdued voice. "Heaven knows I did not ! But I was obliged to come here , I could not keep away. It was what some call fate , I suppose. After I came here some things were forced upon my knowledge that I did not care to know. But having once become convinced that Lynde Graham was wrongfully accused , I set to work with my whole soul to bring the real culprit to light. "I think Mrs. Trenholme has a habit of walking in her sleep. The ghost of this chamber is none other than her- self. I have watched here for the phantom - tom , and satisfied myself. The last time I tore a piece of silk from her sleeve , and if you will take the trouble to make the examination , y011 will find that this fragment , " drawing it from her pocket , "will fit exactly a rent in the sleeve of the black silk the lady is in the habit of wearing. TO BE CONTI1UED. ) A SLEEPING POWER. Is It Telepathy , Instinct or what- Ought to Be Cultivated. Within us is a power sleeping. Once in awhile some sensitive soul has felt it stir , but there was no known law that governed it , no logic with which to convince - vince others of its being ; so it was buried deep in the inner consciousness , where hide ideas that dare not seek light because they are in advance of their age , says the New Science Review. Lcng ago , at the house of a friend , I saw a photograph of a man's head. As I picked it up there came over me a sense of having known the original ; it was the face of a "friend. " When my hostess entered I asked about the photograph - tograph and she told me who it was. The name meant nothing to me but the face meant all things that 'I knew. Several times in the next week I looked at the photograph , always with the same sense of "having known. " Then eight years elapsed . , during which no memory of that face came over me. One day at the theater there flashed over me that same curious sense of "having known. " Instinctively I turned and caught full the glance of the original of the photograph. What he was doing there I have never found out. Several miles away from me lived a friend. Days would elapse without out meeting but if I sat down and wrote her a note she would come , always crossing the note. I became so certain about it after awhile that I would write the note and tear it up. The thought would stir in her the desire to see me. There was no use in mailing it. The sight of a certain handwriting would always make my heart sink ; it was something that I could not reason myself out of , yet the letters were pleasing and the words fair. One dark day I found out that my instinct was right-I trust it now. A Family , Afltietion. ; Tesley Ayres , of Green Bay , Wis. , 1 during the last four years , has lost three sons by drowning. The third son , a lad of eight years , was drowned about a fortnight age , while fishing. lie had Heard ller Say So. That it is only a step from the sublime - lime to the ridiculous iswell illustrated by the following amusing incident that I happened a few Sabbaths ago in a well- known church , and caused no little merriment among the teachers. The superintendent was telling the wee small folks of the custom in certain countries of chaining the prisoners' hands and feet together. "And , " site asked , "don't you suppose that if some one came and released them they would be happy and grateful ? " It was unanimously agreed that they tv'nld. "And , " continued the superintendent - ent , coming to her point , "Jesus was sent to the world to release people from theirsins. Are any of you here bound with the chains of sin ? " "No , " piped the 4-year-old of the minister , " 1'tn not , but my grandmother is.-Louis- ville Post. State of Ohio , City of Toledo , Lucas County-ss. Frank J. Cheney males oath that-he Is the senior partner of the firm of F. J. Cheney & Co. , doing business in the City of Toledo , County and State afore- sald , and that said firm will pay the sum of One Hundred Dollars for each and every case of Catr.rrh that cannot be cured by the use of Hall's Catarrh Cure. FRANK J. CHENEY. Sworn to before me and su'scrlbed in my presence this 6th day of December , A. D. 1886. A. j1r. GLEASON , ( Seal. ) Notary Public. Hall's Catarrh Cure Is taken Internal- l : and acts directly on the blood and mucous surfaces of tht system. Send for testimonials , free. F. J. CHENEY & CO. , Toledo , 0. Sold by druggists ; 75c. Hall's Family Pills , 25e. Supreme Court Wit. The grave and reverend justices of the supreme court sometimes-oftener , indeed , than might be suspected-de- scend from the dignity that marks their otlieial and public life , and do notseorn to indulge in little pleasantries and frivolities that ordinary mortals enjoy. . The other day Mr. Justice Gray was in a reminiscent mood and began the narration - ration of an incident with the sentence , "When I was a little boy. " Mr. Justice - tice Shiras broke in with the incredulous - lous remark , 'You don't mean to say you were ever a little boy-Washing- ton Star. I helievo Piso's Cure is the only medicine that will cure consumption. Anua N. Ross , Williamsport , Pa. , Nov. L , J3. Nye's Favorite Story. Bill tiye's pet story was the one as to how he was charged S i for a sandwich in a kiliage in New Jersey. He told the man wlio sold it that it was a high price for a sandwich , and said that he had frequently gotten a ten-course dinner with four kinds of wine for just mak- a speech , and finally asked the man why he charged $4 for a ham sandwich. "Well , I'll tell you , " said the sandwich - wich man , "the fact is , by gad , I need the money.-Detroit Free Press. Iowa farms forsaloon crop payments , ] 0 per cent cash , talance t4 crop yearly , until paid for. J , MIJLHALL , Waukegan , 111. Some People Live Just for Meanness. "I have half a notion to end my existence - istence , ' ' said the dejected youth. "I have nothing on earth to live for. " "Better wait a while , " said the Cum- minsville sage. "After you get a few years older you won't want anything to live for. Just living will be considerable - erable satisfaction.-Cincinnati En- quirer. Co&s Cough Balsam Is the oldest and best. It will break up a Cold quick. er than anything else. It Is always reliable. 1 ry i. A Double Punishment. A man was in the dock charged with theft. He pleaded "Guilty , " but the jury's verdict was "Not Guilty. " The judge was not at all satisfied with the result of the trial and remarked to the prisoner , "You do not leave this court without a stain upon your character , for by your own confession you are a thief , and by the verdict of the jury you are a liar.-Pick Me Up. IOWA PATENT OFFICE REPORT. DES MOINES , March 25.-Patents have been allowed , but not yet issued , as follows : To M. Macy , of Adel , Iowa , for a gauge for flouring mill rollers. The device is very simple , strong and durable and well adapted to show whether or not the rollers are trammed or parallel while in motion. Rollers are often parallel when stationary and yet out of tram when rotating , and the device for detecting such defect is very important in milling. To C. F. Murray , of Des Moines , a practical railroad man , for a block signal system that will operate automatically to protect a train in front and rear' when going in either direction. It is designed to be used at stations and on dangerous curves , etc. . and is positively- actuated by the passing trains. Six : United States patents were issued to Iowa inventors on the 17th. Printed copies of the drawings and specifications of any one patent sent to any address for 25 cents. Valuable information for inventors about securing - ing , valuing and selling patents sent free. free.Tno&s Tno&s G. AND J. RALPH Owwio , Solicitors of Patents. Ano'her Penalty of Greatness. The gifted but impecunious literary genius wrote an impassioned letter tea a personal friend , asking him in the name of sweet charity to lend him $10 to keep him from starving. "I may not get the $10 , " he soliloquized - quized bitterly as he sealed it. "but some day a mercenary grandchild of his will get $100 for this letter.-Chi- cage Tribune. Half Fare Excursions via the Wabacll , lie short line to St. Louis , and quick route East or South , April 7th , 21st and Nay 5th. Excursions to all points South at one-fare for the round trip with $2.00 added. JUNE 16th , National Republican Convention at St. Louis. JULY ° d , National Educational Association at Buffalo. JULY 9th , Christian Endeavor Convention at Washington. JULY 22nd , National People and Silver Convention at St. Louis. For rates , time tah'es ' and further information - mation , call at the Wabash ticket office , 415 Farnam St. , Paxton Hotel block , or write GEo. N. CLAYTON. N. W. Pass. Agt , Omaha , Neb. A photograph of Mont Blanc has teen tdken at a distance of fifty-six miles. S Some Georgia 1'ltllosophy. The man that sings the loudest in church throws his head so far back that lie can't see the collection basket when it conies along. Some folks are so fond of trouble they.can't enjoy honey for thinking of what might have happened if the bee had stung 'em. 'l'he road to heaven is so narrow that some people have about decided there is not room for two at a time. 11'hen you hear a man saying that this is a world , ten to one he's broken his leg trying to fly when he should have been walking.-Atlanta Constitution. An Idle Fcat'en rr. The bowels act the part of a scavenger , inasmuch - asmuch as they remove much of the dohrls , the waste otreto mutter of the systeal.I'llen they grow idk , neglectful of duty , it I' of the utmostlmportance that they sltouldho Impelled to activity. ii ostetter's Stomach Bitters elrerts tills desirable object without rip1it them like a drastic purgative. 'rho Jlitters Iti also etllcarlous for malaria , bll- ] lous , dysreptic and kidney troubles. Cetting netidy for the Show. Young Perkins had been paying court to the billposter's daughter for some time , but no engagement seemed to come of it. The father , becoming impatient - patient , said to Perkins fitally : "Young man , when does your show open ? " "I haven't any show , " replied I'er- kips. "I thought you had , for you and Sue have been billing for some time back. " Perkins took the hint , proposed , and was accepted , and the show commenced not long after.-Texas Siftings. H the Ilaby is Cutting Teetn. Be sure andnsothat old and welt trled remedy , Ms. wtxst.ow's Soorntsc Srncr fur CLildren Tcethln . No man ever thought a womuu was an amigo' , though many of them have lied about it. 'there Ir plearure rtnd i , , Ilt nndno small satistrctluu iu abutlug truublesomo and .aiulul illy by using T'alker's thrgcr'I'oulc. Jr you love anyone well enough to die for him , first gotyour life insured in his favor. It 1r re en.y to remove Corns with Hlndetcorns ttat Newander so many will ennuru ihem. Get llludereurns and see ] low ulcely It tykes them otT. Castiron pennies are in circulation in Birmingham. FITS-All Flt. stopped ( I.e. . by1)r. ialnr's Great rCet vRestorer. No Fttsatterthefrstdav'aurc. ltarvrlouncutt. . TreaticeuuS 'trdlboll I' frr , t , ' bend tobr.ilhe,931ArenSt.l'blla.l'a. Everyone makes the fatal blunder of tolling their secrets so those who tell their secrets. Billiard table , second-hand , for sale cheap. Apply to or address , H. C. AKIN , 511 S. lath St. , Omaha , Nob. 1 .4 lPheu Trarenllt. Whether on pleasure bent , or bushes , , take on every trip a bottle of Syrup of Figs , as It acts most pleasantly and effectually ott the kidnt'yv , IIvr , and bowels , preventing fevers , h. aduehes , and other forms of 'icknera. For sale I In 50 cent and $1 l ntties by all ieadtng I druggists. Mnnuf ieturad by the Call- fornia Fig Syrup Conlllany only. Every fnau hiss reason to b.i thaulful that the fool killer is dead. largo quantities of fish uro k elug shipped front Maine to Cuta , Poets Break Out. , . great many who are not poets , pay tribute to the season in the same way. The difference is that the poet breaks out in about the same spot annually , while more prosaic people break out in various parts of the body. It's natural. Spring is the breaking- out season. It is the time when impurities of the blood work to the surface. It is the time , therefore , to take the purest and most powerful blood purifier , ers arsaarfl a S25c00 Given to Ilarty win , rn,1s p s the 1. . first nu'uh r d , word. , u.lut oulp our llrnt t1UUe , with cniet for oao lot of ten pnekagrs , r our C'IIOICS FLOWEIt SF.EiY on rrvelpt urSe or are lute ( or 11.00 Thl. t a spretat induceuu et to pluru our 189t variofle.ln every home ut lees tthua oust. Send money order ut stamps. ( Preserve thiIN ni it will CIIICAfe ) ! AWtIt 8F.ka C0. , not appear agrhi. ) Is Ifooro. St. , tbkoo. . Eaatninatlou and Advien as to t'atentabllity of tnvfntiun. Scudfor' lnvrntnrs'OtddeOrhowtoJet aVstent" PdTEI _ O'rLAEELt. ? ldpmar4oaf , D. G ' 1Srlte fur wl aty.u want C E PP' L I CREEK to VFST)1tr4T TIIF MEGnEiL Co. , Mining IN. Fachungr , Denver , Colt , . 00ooccJocoo C Such ills as - STJACOBS WI c ' { , ; weals our and the like , .t'4Promptlyzoooct zoooct , I It's Purc , d Walter Baker Co's , t Cocoa is Pure-it , s a I a Cocoa no filling-no ' I i C erica S. WALTER BAKER : : CO. , Ltd. , Dorch ttr , 6aas. II' E + . ' , . 1 g.u Utte . . © ) f , -1 / u ' I s h /4-rri I ! l-S , - „ J # 1/I iS/IL / I J/44 , - ) p i . Q p No wonder r Dinnie s so tired , carrying . a1 ! day that great big piece of . Y ) PLUG ; YS No matter ow much you are Y , Q , k l © charged or a small piece o other , 1 , © ran s , e chew is no better an 5 , o , , "Battle or 10 cents you et almost twice as much as o _ © : other g grade goods. The 5 o-S © Cent piece is near as are as other Ip o' c@it pieces o equal quality. to I T IQ ( r i ' - / f