The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-30

as token full of silent significance, the
shawl which Alice had lef! in it.
Scoundrel we will settle this account
another time !" was all tina; Sir Wilmot
was able to utter, as he threw himself
from his horse, alarmed by what he had
heard of Alice, and FASTENED forward into
the church.
"With your gray hairs, Sir Wilmoi."
was the prompt reply, Il can have no
other account to settle than is now suili-
GENTLY discharged; hu, if you, sir." ia
George, " have anything farther with me,
either on your account or that of your ia
Their, | need not express the qualification
with which | shall be only anxious 10 af.
ford you every facility for such apurpose. I"
depend upon it, internal villain, that
every account with You shall be fully set
tied" the latter answered, as he hastily
followed The father, comparatively indir.
terent TO any other present object than the
care of his sister.
Edward Fletcher bowed a courteous
fare well to his other guests composing his
wedding train; and without bestowing on
them any explanation of all the strange
scenes they had Witnessed. quickly en,erd
the chalse, which, as before, drove rapidly
oft. Dark, stern, silent, with his eyes
fixed on vacancy, ard under terrible re-
action from the wild and fierce excitement
under which he had been acting, he sat in
one corner through the whole ride, con-
science-stricken with the sense Of his own
baseness, his arms folded over his breast,
and with neither word nor look for his
hapless BRIDE who. timid though aiTec-
| liouale little creature, covered, frightened,
and sick at heart, sat by his side. Ii was
not ill they arrived at his home that a
syllable was in,erchanged between them,
As he then turned, after himself allghling
to assist her from the chaise, she gave
slight scream, and shrinking back, exclai-
med, "Ah there's blood on you ON
your bosom !---on your hand ~
Edward Fletcher then himself for the
first time perceived red spots on the white
ness OF one ofhis gloves, and more Of the
same crimson horror On his bridal vest
and he then knew that Alice had burst a
bo0d-yesse at the moment when she fell
forward into his arms. Weneed not lin
ger longer with the wretched author of So
much wretchedness. Ii suffers 10 say,
that when he that night crossed the TIRES
hold of his nuplial chamber, he had rather
it had been the portal of hell.
The Baronet found Alice lying mani
mate on the ground, supported by her
maid, who, together with the clergyman
and one or two others who remained 10y
her, was endeayOring to revive her. The
whitencss of her dress was here and there
heckered with a light crimson stain, while
the blood continued 10 ooze slowly from
her mouth and n0strlls. hasten 10 con-
cIude so melancholy a recollection. With
great care and difficulty they were able to
reach the Hall that night with their bur
then of bligh,ed and heart-broken lowell.
ness borne on litter. The agonles Of
father and brother | need no. attempt to
depict.
Ga The following morning, though fee
bic and faint, she was considerably resto-
red; and, while conscious that she had
but few hours to live, was in full pos
session Of her faculties. Supported by
the pillows Of her bed, she wrote with a
trembling hand the following lines, which
she sealed, and begged that they might
be Immediately despatched:-
You have taken the life you once sa-
we'd. 1t is for your happiness it is wall
ingy given. | would see YOU, Edward,
once more before ! go. But if You would
receive my farewell blessing yet from my
own lips, hasten, or it will be in VAIN.
II not, take it by this, for yourself and
your fair bride, from ALICE.
Informing her father and brother Of
what she had done, she claimed for them
all personal lorhcarance and respectful
treatment for Edward when he should
come. lie came--already crushed in
spirit. and with the lortures Of the damned
at his heart.-Yet had he not repeated the
/ full frunon Of his vengeance, even beyond
the measure of his hope or his aim
Ills interview with her was long and
private. She spoke TO him as an angel
might speak to the human wre'chcdness
and gull. which lis own pure essence fled
from, back TO heaven, at the same time
that it wept over it, would comlor, aud
purify it. She at last touched a silver