The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-05-02
ILLINOIS, FRIDAY, MAY 2, l845.

Anne. will never marry one who has
and he whispered the words in her ear,
never swear it,
Candy and almost mourn(ully in its
stern sadness, her voice smole on his ear,
'Will you give me reparation, George
Brudenell! Task it for the last time
You have had my only answer. Anne
Morelle. shall never give you any 9th
err
Then you die There was sharp
click of pistol and the betrayer fell at
the feet Of the betrayed. The bulle, wen,
through his heart. Anne had well learn
ed her fearful lesson in the garden. She
lett the spot, and fastened Eomeward, but
not as she came. Her terrible revenge
had paralvzed all hatred, and she shud-
dered a, the crime, for such seemed that
which was a virtue IN her false code of
honor, but few short minutes before.
There was a reproach in the still, dewey
night.--The moonlight lay heavily upon
her soul.-There was an indeiinable
shrinking within.-A burden, her sad
dest hour had never, never known, was
suddenly weighing her to the dust. The
universe had become full of mysterious
eyes that saw her sin, and voices of keen
rebukc came in the light SILVER Of the
leaves trembling on their stems in the
gentest breath of night. Then she look
ed into her soul, and it was dark. HUI
man blood lay upon it, and shut out its
light. Every where her spirit turned,
in its realm, was gloom, save when a
stern, ALLSEElNG EYE looked upon
her, and, in its presence, those myriad
eyes became as nothing. But its Ian.
guage was-'7here is no peace 10 them
that keepeh not mig la'c.' She had for
mery prayed for death as release from
her sufferings, but even that hope had
ceased, for whittier could she flee! The
thick curtains Of the grave could not shu,
it out-the sunbeam could not outblaze il
the remotest spot in the Infinite was
searched by its calm, stern rebuke. Her
spirit was not sollened, ye, she would
have given life joy(ully. if by so doing,
it would have brough. back breath again
TO that loalhcd clay, lying SO stark and
cold in the moonlight.
In the morning there was dismay and
horror in the village. mysterious mur.
der had been committed, and who was
safe II was no robbcr, for the watch
and jewelry of the dead were untouched
but then Colonel Brudenell had made ma.
ny enemies, and who was the assassin
Justice was upon the scent and the mur.
derer must be discovered. SO believed
the community.
On that morning William Clayton wen
as usual to see Ann, but she had not arts
en-, and when she came her haggard ant
wild looks smote him with dreadful sus
picion.
lie gradually drew The secret from her
Anne knew his devoteIness too well tc
fear any exposure. and she was now reck
less of love or death. She was too Ut
tcrly wre,ched to dread any change, ant
she confessed all to him freely and fully
and felt tina, the burden had become some
what lightened by so doing.
But Clayton-a world of tempestuou.
thoughts were struggling for mastery il
his mind. Was this the result of all hi
faithful love, or his sangune dreams
lie had forgiven much, and been tru,
J through GOODNESS, neglect, misery ant
shame {; and now was he to love through
her crimes also! There is no grief, say,
that Of remOrsc, so heard to bear as tina
of a pure, lofty mind that feels itself wed
ded to one that answers not to lis own hgl
and generous immaginlngs. And how
: often is this weary lotappor,ioned to til,
human heart! Faith and hope in God
an unaskng submission to the will Of on
Supreme, Adjust, andAll-wisc, can alon
I lifl it from such despair, and enable it t,
bear the burden of continued life.
, William Clayton listened in speeches
horror. A cohl hand seemed pressing OF
his heart, curding the warm currents, ant
he gasped for breath. Anne looked a
, him with dismay, and the first gush of soi
tened feeling in her iron soul, the first tea
of true repentance, flowed from the sigh
Of his utter misery aud love.
She knelt by his side and begged o
, him to forgive her. Alas the blood
spotted criminal did not ye, dare to PRAY
g There was fearful cloud between he
Q soul and the All-purc, save where tina, re
C buking Eye still pierced. all intervening
. shadows, and her own hand had GALE
1 that cloud over the beautiful heaven tina
i. ever surrounds the innocent
{ Clayton took her cold hand convulsivc
1 " in one that was burning with his ow