Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-09-24

a-=-@~--ssaszzzus5 -sz-.s'1.lr~suun
ing voice more suaible. HescI y lpeed deep w.
70 the 7orloz Of business. m In dg.usirc k-vs
that The acquisition Of gain would relieve ma
from the consciousness of guilt and NE prcSsncs
Of nian shield Fne frum the vcneeance OF God.
Bot il would not be-. fhe impression made BY
the warning voice and the mrnacina eve becams
every day siroHgcr. uuiil al length uhM might
At first have been ogiy phantom coniufed ap Ly
guilt became 10 me q sad r,uluy. Nhenevert
vas alone, and most esy cisliy whenever the
moon shOne bright I heard Inal voice and saw
lhat bright. threul.ning AZ seeing eye bent upon
me. The long impuniiy bad enjoyed brought
with IL no sense Of security; for there was one
who saw me commit the crime, and that one was
omniPotCnI 70 bring about Its discovery st any
time. IL was only when such thoughts came
over mc that lelt what the world calls repen-
mnce, which is TOO olien nothing bit the fear Of
punishment ! was indeed a wretch, but a har-
dened one, and lsbored TO persuade myself thar
the influence, the spendor and the enjoyment or
wealth had made me really an object or envy,
because ! was euyied BY the world. But vain Is
oil such msetabe sophisiry. Nor power, nor
wealth, nor sensual enjoymenIs, nor The grniihca-
iion Of vanity and pride, nor the envy and admi-
ration Of the world, can sweeten a life Of guilty
fears. w8s besel BY ayengiug fends. The
Al-seeIng eve was fixed upon INC. When stand
ing before a mirror, | saw il gazing over my
shoulder; when looked into vacancy by day Of
by night il flashed before me; it peoplcd the
moonlight nights, and v ncn closed my eyes to
shut IL out, il seemed inciosed within my eye-lidst
brighter than before. When | laid my head
down on my pillow the FIST sautaton was ever,
The Aii-seeing eyeis uponIhec!'-and so it was,
soaring away sleep, g,auDg more fcrceiy in my
dreams, and Weakening me 70 new horrors.
"Apprehensye that might excite suspicion by
some Tine or oIhcrbcrayIng the state OF my mind
10 the presence Of the thrUEg with which "a.
sOcialed, | at length sought place Of retire.
meni With the purpose ol escaping as much as
Tossbe the 2ryiug eyes OF men. thought
!ound II 10 this remote region. But cou q not
escape from myself and solitude, though umight
screen me from observation, only brought with
il new accession Of reTnUrsp aud fear. Al
iengih You came and formed an acquaintance
with The only living witness OF my crime. The
very means had taken 10 avoid discovery have
brought my guilt 10 light"
"But could never have recognized you" in-
terrup.ed the traveller.
mo matter, | vas known 10 the AIl-seeng
eye, aud you have been made the Instrument Of
discovery"
The traveller thought for a moment and then
added, but will not belray you. Years have
passed away, and though You have escaped the
justice OF man, you have been punished by The
vengeance Of Heaven. Live 10 repent, and if
you cannot atone for your crime 70 the dead,
make use Of your bouudIess wealth 10 relieve the
sutIcrings Of the living"
at is all in vain. The period is past. My
javs are numbered and the vengeance Of Heaven
denies me even the opportunity for atonement."
~ lou are mistaken, sir. lou can al least be-
queayh the means Of aIleYIatlng human suffer.
ing"
"Whatl" exclaimed the wrelchodman, "What.
when ! can no longer enjoy The fruits OF my
crime, shall attempt TO briOe the luslice of Hea-
ven by bcstowIng them on oIhcrs' Mol am
doomed. Nothing can save me. Repentance
comes too late. A few hours or days of snivel-
ling fears, mis-called by that name, cannot make
atoncmeut. desired your presence as the only
mortal witness Of my crime, for the sole purpose
Of relieving myself. if possible. at least from
that burden which sal experience has taught me
the consciousness OF n secret crime entails on the
perpeuaior. | could bear it no longer; il wa,
the vuture Of the soul gorglng on my blood and
banqueting on my yitais. Besides, if | do noI
mistake, the sole alonemenI gel lch me is that of
making public the relation of my crime und It's
consequences. have written il doWn at lengh
and here il is"-drawing a paper from under his
piow-"l wish you to make II known to the
world, in order that may become an example
aud q warning. have not mentioned my name,
and leave that to your discretion, though whelh-
er it be known or not is 10 me "A matter o! lndi-
ference; my fear and apprehension Of this world
are lost in the contemplation OF that which is TO
come. Ny tale has moral deeply iutere ii g 10
mankind. Those who have admired my splen-
dors, enyied my wealth and deemed me happy in
their enjoyment, calling in question at the same
time the equal justice Of Providence in distribu-
ting the means of worldly enjoyment may learn
by me, that all these are only drops of poison in
the cup Of life when coupled with guilt and rc'
morse. So now, farewell. Do not come again,
/ for the sgh of one who knows my crime is as
painful 10 Inc as that of him who committed it
must be 10 you. Go, and profl bymy example" +"
/ The traveller took his leave, and the owner Of
the splendid mansion on the hill departed inalew
days to make his appearance before the last tr-
bunal, in state OF wild deirium, exclaiming,
with his last breath, The AIl-secing eye is upon
mel"