The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-27

their intimacy ripened into love, and the,
were soon to be united in the hottest ant
dearest ties. But the visions of hop
were soon to pass from before them, n
the mirage of the desert, that mocks TIL
eye Of the thirsty traveller, and then leave
him death devoted wanderer on the ari,
waste.
A vague report was brough! TO the vii
lage, that the body of murdered maj
was found near Scotville. 1t was frs
mentioned by traveller, in compan,
where Hamilton was present; and he in
stantly exclaimed, "No doubt it wa
Saunders-how unfortunate that | lief
him ~ and then retired under great ex
element. His manner and expressions
awakened suspicion, which was unhappi
ly corobora,ed by variety of circumslan
ces, that were cautiously whispered by
those who dared not openly arraign per
son whose whole conduct through life had
been honest, frank. and manly. He had
ridden away with Saunders, who was
to have been in possession of large sum
of money. Since his return he had paid
off debts to a considerable amount. The
penknile of Saunders was recognised in
his hands-yet none were willing Oh
mere surmise to hazard n direct accusa.
ton.
The effect of the intelligence Oh Hamil-
ton was marked. The sudden death OF a
dear friend is hard to be supported-bu1
when one who is loved and esteemed is
cut off by the dastardly hand Of the assas-
sin, the pang of bereavement becomes
doubly great, and, in this instance, the
feelings of deep gratitude which Hamilton
felt towards his benelactor caused him to
mourn over the catastrophe with melan-
choly anguish. He would sit for hours
in state of abstraction, from which even
the smile of love could not awaken him.
The elections were at hand; and Ha-
milton was candidate for the Legislature.
In the progress of the canvass the foul
charge was openly made, and propagated
with the remorseless spirit of party ami
mostly. Yet he heard it not, until one
evening he sat with Amira in her fathers
house. They were conversing in low ac-
cents, when the sound Of an approaching
footstep interrupted them, and the father
of Almira entered the room. "Mr. Ha-
milton" said he, 81 consented to your
union with my daughter, believing your
character to be unstained-bui regret to
hear that charge has been made against
You, which, if true, must render you
amenable TO the laws of your country.
believe it TO be fabrication of your enc
mics; but, until it can be disproved and
your character as man of honor placed
above suspicion, you must be sensible
that the proposed union cannot take place,
and that your visits TO my house must be
discontinued.
"What does my father mean ;" inquir-
ed the young lady anxiously, as her indig.
nant parent retired.
II do not know" replied the lover, sit
is some elcctioneering story, 10 doubt,
which ] can easily explain. l only regret
that it should give him or you moments
uneasiness."
ut shall cause me none," replied the
confding girl 81 cannot believe anything
evil of YOU"
He retired-sought out the nature Of
the charge, and TO her inexpressible as
constituent and horror, learned tina. he
was accused of the murder and robbery Of
his friend In state little short of dis
traction, he retired to his room, recalled
with painful minuteness all the circum-
stances connected with the melancholy
catastrophe, and, for the first time, saw
the dangerous ground on which he stood.
But proud in conscious innocence, he felt
that to withdraw at that stage of the can
vass, might be construed into confession
of guilt. He remained candidate, and
was beaten. Now, for the first time, did
he feel the Indebtedness of condemned
and degraded man. The tribunal of pub
lie opinion had pronounced against him
the sentence of conviction ; and even his
friends, as the excitement Of the party
struggle subsidized, became cold in his de-
fence and wavcring in their belief of his
innocence. Conscious that the eye Of
suspicion was open, and satisfied that no
thing short of public investigation coulc
restore him TO honor, the unhappy young
man surrendered himself TO the civil au
thority, and demanded trial. All little
did he know the maligniiy of man, or tho
fatal energy of popular delusion He re