Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-03-23

] hes' 'he ioSely DTtde, ant
the IN OF congratula,ing friends, s,
oit pictured in fancy, he realizes
iei'ers. a dungeon, and disgracefu
death The weil-known tread Of IN,
Jaiior interrupted the bitter train o.
thought. The door orcned, and as tn,
hight streamed from a lantern acros,
The cell. he saw female form .imidl,
approaching. In a moment Almirs
had sunk on her knees beside him. and
their hands were silently clasped to.
gether. There are occasions when
the heart sPurns all CONSTANT. and act.
up 10 ITS own dictates, careless of the
public opinion. or prescribed forms
when love becomes the absorbing aud
overruling passlon-and when that.
which, under other circumstances.
would be mere unlicensed impulse. be.
comes hsllowed, imperious duty
That noble hearted girl had believed
to the last, tha; her lover would be
honorably acquitied.-The intelligence
OF his condemnation. while il bliyhted
her hopes. and withcrrd her health.
never disturbed for one moment her
conviction Of his innocence. There /,
a union Of hearts which is indes,ructi
Bile, which marriage may sanction and
nourish, and hallow, but which sepa-
ration cannot destroy-a love tina. en-
dures while lite remains, OF until IL,
object shall prove iaithless or I'm wor-
thy. Such was the affection of Almi-
IA; and she held her promise to love
and honor him whose fidelity va, To
her unspo,ted, and whose character she
considered honorable, to be as sacred
as II they had been united in marriage.
When all others forsook, she resolved
never 10 forsake him. She had come
to visit him in his desola,ion, and TO
risk all, TO save one who vas dear and
innocent in her estimation, though
guilty in the eyes Of the world.
The iailor, a blunt. Though humane
man, briefly disclosed plan which he.
with Almlra. had devised for the escape
OF Hamilton. He had consented TO
allow the prisoner to escape. in female
dress. while She was TO remain in his
stead. so that the whole continuance
should seem 10 be her own. II am a
plain man, concluded the jailor, but
know what's right. II amt fair TO hang
no man on suspicion-and more than
that, l am not going TO stand in no
mans way-especially a friend v no
had done me favors. as you have
The tracks clear, Mr.. Hamilton, and
the quicker you put out. the better"
To his surprise the prisoner peremp-
torily refused the offer.
81 am innocent" said he; but I
would suffer a thousand deaths rather
than injure the fair fame OF this confid.
ing gill"
go Dudley; my dear Dudley, :"
she sobbed; "for my sake, for the sake
of your broken-hearted father and
sister"
DO not tempt me. my dear Almira,
| will not do that which will expose
you 10 disgrace"
"Oh, who would blame mei"
THE world-the uncharitable world
they who believe me a murderer. aud
have tortured the most innocent nc.
tons into proof Of deliberate villanv,
will not hesitate TO brand you as the
victim Of a cold-blooded fslon. And
why should I fly; TO live a wreiched
wanderer, with the brand Of Cain on
my forehead. and u character stamped
with infamy -
He would have said more-but the
form that during this brief dialogue,
had sunk into his arms. was living
lifeless on his bosom. He kissed her
cold lips, and passiona,cly repeated
her name--bu, she heard him noi-her
pure spirit had gently disengaged itself,
and was flown forever. Her heart
was broken. She had watched and
wept and prayed, In hopeless grief.
until the ply energies Of delicate
frame were exhausted; and the ex-
element nf the last scene had snapped
the atlenusted thread of life.
Hamilton did not survive her Ion
His health - as already shattered by
long confinement, and the cha hng Of I
proud spirit. Aluira had died Tor him
and his own mother-oh how eau.
iiously dad they whisper the sad truth
when be asked whv she who had low.
ed bin better than her own life. had
lorssken him in the hour Of affection
she, too. had sunk under the dreadful
blow. Ills father lived a withsred
melancholy man. crashed IN spirit, and
as his sisters hung like a guardian an
gel over hls death bed. end he cared
on her pale. emaciated sorrow sirick.
en- coUnteoauce. he saw thAt she, too.
would SION be Numbered among :hs
victims g this melancholy persecution
When 18th his last breath be suggest.
cd that they would soon meet, she re-
Piled ! trust that God all snare me
20 see your innocence established. and
then ] will die contenisd And he,
confidence was rewMded-ior God
does not disappoini those no pot ihei,
trust m hin.--Ahout wear afterwards
wretch Nho vas executed ct Nat.
chez, vho NAs ons Of tie three person.
mentioned IN the commencement ol
this narrative. confessed thA, he had
murdered Saunders, with pistol which
he hsd found A. the plsce whore the
ltWO friends had silent n knsw 4,