A SUICIDE'S CONFESSION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3010, 17 February 1881, Page 4

A SUICIDE'S CONFESSION.

Osman Manley and I had been college chums and were the closest of friends ; and now, that the wedding day was set between Irene Hayne and him, and I was summoned to act as " best man," though acceptance of the offico involved h journey of several hundred miles, " No" was an answer neither to be given nor taken.

That I might have a few days to spend with my friend before old ties were quite exchanged for new, I started a week earlier than was requisite to reach my destination by the time appointed. The Manleys occupied a retired country seat some miles from a rising Western town I knew but little of ths family, for Osman had rarely spoken of home matters. That his mother died before his recollection, and that his father was a gentleman of reserved habits, were about the only facts I had gathered in the course of our acquaintance.

From tho steamboat landing at wbicb I hnd been set ashore to Mr Manley's was about a dozen miles. Though the night was sotting in, the sky was clear and the moon shining ; and preferring to spend the evening with my old friend, I hirod a horse,

and taking instructions rig to the road, at once set out. As I josjrou along at a brisk trot, in pleasant anticipation of p. warm velfome and a good supper, novr lost in the ?h:idow of tlio overhanging trees, novr emerging into the silvery light which burst through every opening, rendering tho smallest opening visible, my thoughts were interrupted by the 'sound of hoofs rapid!/ approaching from behind. Almost on the instant a man galloped up, sjnd"r,eining in his horse with a suddenness that almost threw him on his haunches, cangbt\my bridle with his left hs.nd disright, drew a pistol and pointed it at my breast. We were in a clear space where everything could be distinctly seen. The stranger was tall and powerfully built. His hat was -douched over his forehead, and his features were further disguised by a mas!; of black crape. I was unarmed,and should have had no time to draw a weapon had I possessed one. " You must choose between your money and your life ! " said the man, in a low, distinct voice. The " click" which accompanied the words gave warning of the imminence of my peril. " Come, decide !—there is no time to dally," urged the robber, irapa-tie-'Hy. Quick as thought ray resolution vn« t-ikcn. With a suddenness that surprised my assailant T grasped the glittering barrel, and turned aside the nuizzle. Then began a desperate struggle for the pistol. My antagonist's hold upon it was firmer than mine, but I clenched it with a grip on whose tenacity I knew my life depended. Neither of us could dismount withotit yielding his hold ; and each restrained his horse with the unincumbered hand, fearing, if we were dragged asunder, that the weapon might be left with his adversary. At the height of the struggle two men rede up. " Help ! " I shouted—"my life is attempted by n. robber! " T.ly em/'ny's disguise, no doubt, convinced the new-comers of the true state of the case. At any rate, they promptly took my part, and the highwayman was soonovei- ,- mastered. With the latter as our prisoner, we all rode back to the town, and looking up a magistrate, delivered over our captive, who was quickly lodged in jail, we engaging to appear against him in the morning. I was still bent on seeing my friend that night, and as my two rescuers were bound in the same direction, I availed myself of their company, and a smart ride brought me, before it was yet bedtime, to Mr Manley's door. Osman received me with the utmost cordiality. It was our first meeting since graduation day, and the reader may imagine the number of questions and answers crowded into the first five minntes. " Had I known you were coming to-night, ! ' said Oeman, " I should have gone to meet you. The road hasn't been quite safe of late. Several|lauU-buyers have been robbed of considerable sums, and one has been murdered." Then I recounted my own adventure, and received my friend's sympathy and congratulations. The house was turned upside down to provide a repast on which a dozen guests might have foasted. Osman regretted that his father, who, he said, had been much from home of late, was not present to do the honors in person; but his own hospitality, I hastened to assure him, Jeft nothing wanting. At a late hour we retired, Osman promising to bear me company before the magistrate on the morrow. By times next morning we had breakfasted, and were on our way to town. As we approached the magistrate's office we found a large and excited crowd assembled. " I am glad to see you," said that official. "Your testimony may still be needful, though the case is now turned over to the coroner." To my look of inquiry he answered : " The prisoner hanged himself in his cell last night, and your evidence will go to clear up the motive. Step this way, please." Following with my friend, we were led into a room where a group of men wero sealed round a table on which lay a corpse. No sooner had Osman'a eyes fallen on the upturned livid features than with, a wild shriek he cried : " It is my father !" Then reeling back, he fell insensible to the floor. He was immediately taken up and carried to a suitable apartment and laid upon a couch, while medical aid was called. " I am sorry," said the magistrate, " that I did not know your young friend. I might have spared him this shock." " How so ?" I answered. " Read this. It was found in the prisoner's cell." I hurriedly glanced over the paper placed in my hand, which ran thus : "My true name I shall not disclose. The young man known as Osman Manley is not my son. I hated his father, Arthur Calvert I because he married the woman I loved. My revenge was to steal his infant child. Tho loss broke the mother's heart, and doomed the father to a life of misery in spite of his wealth. But deeply as I hated the parents, I could not carry my resentment to their harmless child. I even grew to love him at last ; and an unexpected inheritance having bettered mv condition, T reared and educated tlio boy a3 my own ; and when he had grown beyond the possibility of "eoognition, I came .lither that T might gloat over Arthur Oalvert's PufYorinjj, whilst, his son was passing daily before his eyes without his knowledge. Recent losses have driven me to ways of gaining money which I had long abandoned. But now that exposure is inevitable, I seek escape in death, making this confession, not that I repent me of any wrong to Arthur Calvert, but because I would relieve his son of the stigma of a tainted name. " With the paper in my hand, I hurried to my friend's side. He had but just returned to consciousness, and the look of anguish on his face was fairly pitiable. "Eead! read! for Heaven's sake!" I cried. At first his eyes fell languidly on the words; but the next moment they shone with a brilliant light, and running down the lines with lightning speed, at tho end they glistened with tears. j " Thank God !" he exclaimed, fervently. " After all I shall not be obliged to give my darling up!" Arthur Calvert's joy was unbounded. From tho first moment of being told that the handsome youth they showed him was tho loved one lost and mourned so long, his mind opened to the truth. One by one the treasured features wero recalled, and one after another link was added to the chain of proof, till nothing remained lacking. Sadly and gently we laid the wretched suieido in his grave ; for we could not but remember, in spite pf all his misdeeds, that ho had loved the stolen child, and had died performing an act of reparation.