Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-08-13

made preleuce one day that be had been sum
moucd on an offer Of business 10 the country, and
stealing from her hasiened 10 c, where by
accident he met Mr.. Wilson Just as he reached
the village. But eguardan was piless. Siung
by his injustice the young man with an anguish
ed heart, left him atIhe eniranceof q wood which
sklued the town, aud, almost mad with his gloo-
my prospects, set cut that very night for the city,
10 his asIunlshmeni, in few days, the officers
Of justice arrested him for the murder Of his
wronger. Mr.. Wilson had not been seen since
their interview, dead body, supposed to be his,
had been found in the wood, and every circum-
stance pointed suspicion at my friend. ltwas in
the first moment Of surprise and horror thai he
Penned the incoherent epistle which his sweet
wife had brought 10 me.
We were now at the magistrates office. Al.
ter much pompous and we'll ieigncd concern for
my client, the justice proceeded 10 hear The eyl.
dence against the prisoner. 1t was terribly
strong. The interview, the alteration. the place
where Mr. Wilson was last seen, as well as the
finding of the body and the singular concurrng
departure Of Duyal, were all inconiestbly pro-
we'd. The prisoner, however, admitted al once
everything up TO their parting at the wood
There was irankness about him which predls-
posed all in his favor but few who were strangers
TO his character could resist the chain Of pre-
sumptiye testimony added against him. | saw
that one by one the countenances Of the specta-
tors grew more expressive Of his guilt, and my
hear died within me as beheld il. cross-ex.
amlned every witness searchingly and siltingly;
but in vain. All | could elicit favorable to my
client was a want Of certainty in one or two wit
nessess as 10 the identity Of the BODY, and the
seemingly yaueless information that Mr.. Wilson
had left home on horseback, to proceed some
miles down the bay, and that on that very dav,
several hours later, the British forces under COch-
rane, had landed and burned the village. The
magistrate commended my zeal, but smiled when
DIV eli upon the possibility Of Mr. Wilson being
still alive and prisoner with the enemy. saw
that all was over. Duyal was fully committed.
When broke the news 10 his poor wife and
she fell senscess to the floor, ! thought that her
eyes were never again 10 open upon the woes of
life. But II was not thus 10 be. She recovered,
and many day Of suspense and agony crepl by,
while her cheek paIed and her eye grew dim, for
her heart was slowly breaking.
Time passed on. never Tor moment doubt
ed my friends innocence, but there was a mvs.
terry connected with the transaction in vain en-
deavored 10 unravel. The story of DuvaI be.
lieyed implicitly, but how could it be substantial
ted! called in the aid Of the most eminent
criminal lawyer at that time at the bar, and we
abored, though in vain, ill the day of the trial
TO account for the disappearance of Mr.. Wilson.
My colleague was bafiled for once. know not,
but it seemed to me at times, as if even he doubt
ed the innocence Of Duval. The horizon grew
darker as days rolled by. Yet, never for mo.
ment, from the first hour | met him, did my cli-
ent lose the calm, selEcolectedness of his man
ner. He felt that man had left him, that his
name was everywhere loaded with suspicion and
shame, and that unluslIy and wantonIy he was
outawed from the human race; yet with the
proud lotliness of his character, wrapping him
self up in the consciousness Of innocence, he sat
down prepared for either fortune. His fate was
before him, dark and gnominous, perhaps, but to
be borne without repinlng. AT times, however,
when gazing on the pale face of his wife, he would
turn his head to hide momentary tear. He
met obIoquy and danger with delying scorn, but
his stern soul melted before a womans uncom-
planning tears. Yet, though he strove to hide it,
theus tied TO the rock, the undying yumre was
preying on his vilaIs.
remember one nghtin particular. His love-
ly wife was absent alter much solicitation for an
hours ride with one Of my female friends. The
chamber was Of stone, gloomy, damp, uncom-
Portable, and lighted by narrow grated window,
through which the rays of the seung sun calmly
stole, falling on the cold pavement, and playing
uneasily on the wall as if they felt dungeon
was no spot for them. Duval had been pacing
up and down the room with rapid strides, con-
versing upon the progress Of our enquiries, and
ever and anon pausing moment to cast glance
over the prospect of hiII and wood, and stream,
that flooded in summer sunset, opened away
through the narrow easement. As the cool
breeze wantoned over his brow, pIayiully lifting
the dark curIs from his forehead, il seemed as if
by some mysterious association the memory of
other and brighter days came stealing over his
soul. For some moments he paused by the win
dow silentand absorbed. The hourandthe MEM
ores of childhood soGened him, and for the first
time the whole current Of his feelings found vent.
"Well, it is a mockery, this iuslice," he ex.
claimed bitterly, CATER all. chain of iorui-
tous circumstances will happen, and where are
we! Little did think when first entered life,
buoyant with hope and burning for distinction,
that my sun should set in a ielon's death.
know what you would say" continued he, with
startling energy, as venrured to express hope
scarcely felt, "but cannot, if would deceive
myself as 10 the issue Of the trial. have no ev-
idence-I can get none-even your efforts have
failed am hunted down by powerful and vim
diclive family-the net of relentless fate is a.
round me, and all can do will be to submit calm
Iy TO the destiny cannot avert. But | could
bear it all were it not for Mary. 1t will break
her heart Poor, poor thing" he continued,
soGened almost to tears, "she Iittlethought when
she promised to be mine, that | should die a
murderer's death. But let il come-what boots
it how many hearts are crushed!"