Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1838-03-10
SMILEY EDoHs LIBERTY, NII) SATURDAY, TO- 1885,

81 meant not so Ellen" he hastily re-
marked, 81 only intended-but no matter
have no reproaches to make, and if | had,
they would be but i'll suited to farewell
interview. have come to bid you adieu
and forever"
"Frank, surely you jest" returned she
-"what means this? you are angry, and
at me; we must not part thus"
81 am not angry Ellen"he replied-his
assumed firmness fast deserving him-"l
have no cause for anger, pt even the
slightest, and believe me, Ellvh, it would
be no light cause that could excite an an
CRY feeling in my breast towards you
but we must part to night most proba-
bly, forever-to-morrow, | depart for
Texas"
She spoke not, yet her looks we're more
eloquent than words could possibly have
been. He could not misunderstood tit
told him that the ties which the long and
sunny years of infancy had entwined a
round them, were yet answered, that with
her as with him the heart was unchanged.
His vows, his pride, his fears, all, all were
forgotten as he poured forth the wild tale
of his love. That night he returned home
the accepted sutton of Ellen Munrue!
Though her father might not entirely
have approved Of her choice, he loved her
too fondly TO thwart her inclinations in a
matter so momentous to her future happ-
ness, and his consent was freely given TO
their union. 1t was then late in the fall,
and day was fixed early in the ensuing
spring for their nuptialsl But his day
dreams of felicity were destined to be brief
one month from the period of the inter-
view related, saw him incarcerated in
dungeon, upon charge ofthat most helm
Gus and fearful crimes-wllful and delb-
crate murder! The evidence against him
was wholly circumstancial, but at the
same time so conclusive in its nature, as
almost to preclude the possibility OF his
innocence.
The circumstances were these: quar-
rel had taken place between himself and
Captain Henderson of the army, one ofthe
rejected suitors Of Ellen. The quarrel
had been doubtless sought by the soldier
in moment Of pique on first learning the
success of his rival. A challenge passed,
was accepted and day appointed for the
meeting. The evening preceding the aP-
pointed day, Henderson was found murder
ed by the road side; at short distance
from him was discovered concealed among
the leaves, a dirk known Dy u,.,~y tn he the
property of Raymond, and which had been
seen in his possession on the morning OF
the murder. Raymond was also seen
coming from the woods in which the bo-
DIV was found few hours before its dis
covery. On examination of the murdered
man, discovered the facts that he had
been attacked from behind, and showed
beyond doubt, Raymond's dirk was the
weapon with which they had been iniict-
ed. Another circumstance which had no
small weight with many, was the fact of
his making no preparations for the ap-
preaching duel by "practislng," as 1t is
technically termed by duelists. Opposed
TO this overwhelming mass OF clrcumslan-
oal evidence, he had nothing to offer, but
the clearest testimony of an unblemlshed
character from his earliest infancy up to
the moment of his incarceration. ..
There was but one opinion as to guilt,
all concurred in denouncing him cold
blooded and cowardly assassin. =. :,
"Whither are you going Ellen?" said
Judge Munroe to his daughter, as she pass
him in the hall in the afternoon of the day
succeeding the murder; wherefore have
you your bonnet and cloak? Surely you
are not going out through this rain?"
81 am going to see him father" she re-
Piled, in voice husky with emotion, but
breathing determination in every tone.
"My daughter, dearest child, you must
think of him no more," exclaimed the old
man bursting into tears and throwing his
arms around her neck-it was the first
time he had seen her since the fatal dis
covery.
"Father," exclaimed the daughter, in
the ffqA9&bgd, rsssOlut&sl tQRe hnnY RRAGfh
her arms folded on her breast, | can
not, dare not obey you; | must, must,
| will sec him.
"My child, my beloved one," exclaimed
the old man, franticly, "you know not
what you do--he is murderer; cold
blooded cowardly --.
"Father, father" screamed the maiden,
"pause, beseech you'll know all-eve-
ry thing, have heard his guilt proclaim
ed from hundred lips, and every anathe-
ma that the vile herd have heaped upon
his head, has but rendered him dearer to
this heart. Father, until now, never
knew how much loved HIM"
ssDo you then believe him innocentY"
asked the old man, in voice vainly strug-
Cling for calmness."
"Belleve it, father, know it."
''Yet Ellen, dearest Ellen" said the IA
Their, imploringly, "every body. else De-
lieves him guilty and -
"The greater reason why Shou'o nor
desert him." said Helen, rfouo'y' "No