The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-02-08
THE FOREST MURDER.
A TALE OF

The incidents which | am about to relate
are net drawn from imagination, but fact
They form an act Of the never ending drama
of human yillany.
This is a wild night" said Charles Gray to
his wife as they sat before the blazing fire Of
m Indian cabin-whilst the wind walled a
round the roof, and went sounding through
the forest.
"Wilder than | ever knew" observed the
wife. and Charles, how Thankful we should
be to our Maker that he has given us this
warm fire and close cabin to protect us from
the rude elements"
Thankful p and Charles Gray's brow as
sumcd a scowl, which of Itself spoke the de
mon in his heart. Thankful wifel You
mock me. What is this cabin to the luxUri-
Gus comforts of the town folks whom we used
to sec in New York, rolling through the streets
in their cushioned carriages, or reclining on
silk sofas. and laughing at the ragged beggars
that in plore their charity. Thankful !"
Mary did not reply. She feared him when
in these moods, and was too iudicious TO irri.
tate him even by words which she intended to
be soothing. For what are words, though
breathed from a seraph's lutte, or s~yIlabled by
angels lips, TO one whose whole soul had be-
come uDSOTDCu III tuc uiIGpullCu IOhc Vi
wealth.
Charles Gray was a native of New York,
and had been left a handsome fortune;-but
prompted by a%varice, and too impatient TO con-
tinue in the safe business in which he began,
Joined others of an equally rapacious DISPOSE
ton in a speculation, which at first proved
promising, but entirely failed, and left many
an ardent dreamer a ruined man. Charles in
49, q - IL --aI-.Iol - H. r.-
left without a house or friends, for friends are
often bound by golden chains alone.
He determined with his wife TO emigrate TO
Indiana, for whose broad streams, genial eli
mate and noble forests, so much was said.
With a bitter heart he bid farewell TO his
home, and with a small amount of money,
raised by the sale of his wife's jewels, sought
out the west. With this small amount Of cash
he purchased a few acres of ground, a few
miles from the spot on the Ohio river, where
the splendid and beautiful town of - is
now standing. For a short period he labored
assidiou.ly on his small farm, and cheered by
the smiles of a lovely and devoted wife, SEEM
ed to forget his misfortunes- A short time
before our narrative opened, Charles had visit
ed L. as a 'hand' on a fiat boat, the only
species of water craft then used to convey
goods and provisions down the River. While
he was there he met several of those who had
failed in the same speculation which ruined
himself. But while he remained poor, they
by some means had revived their fortunes,and
settled on the Ohio, where they were carrying
on a brisk business. Charles returned home
an altered man. For whole days he would sit
idle and DISCONTINUED. His sleep was distur
bed by dreams of gold: in vain did that beau
ufu', accomplishing wife endeavor TO drive
the mend from his bosom. 1t was like one SOL
nary Star trying to ~dissipate the darkness of a
storm tossed ocean.
Wilder yet roared the storm through the
crashing woods,and Charles was still broodine
over his imaginary wrongs, when a"hallo"was
heard outside OF the little enclosure which
surrounded the cabin.
Mary sprang to the door, and after scruten.