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


horrors. Al length FEEL must be brief-aG
length il became familiar, end finally nay con-
slant companion. The next step was inevitable.
] began TO con over, as a son Of abstraction, the
various means By which such dseds-if really
seriously medi,u'cd-mightbeac mplished with.
out danger Of discovery. The result Of this Sc
ries Of approaches toward actual crime was that
the difficulty became al length the only obstacle
10 iis commission.
"BuI the means for the commission Of crime
are sure 10 present themselves when the mind IS
properly prepared, and if we suffer ourselves 10
think evil 100 long we almost always end in doing
evil. One niehI-it was the night you passed III
The old fishing house-aiier the wrath Of Heaven
seemed to have lei loose in the skies. and nature
appeared falling into convulsons-you saw me
do the accursed deed which believed no mortal
eye but mine had looked upon. rural ball was
to take place al village some miles distant, al
which my servants requested they might be pre-
SENT Asuddenthought struck me. gave them
all permission without exception. and they were
allowed to stay I'LL morning. Leonard ard my
self would thus be leli alone lCgeIhcri would
forget 10 lock his door; he would wander forth as
usual down 10 the river, enter the boaI--an1 then
yes then might consummate my crime, and
not only entail on myself life Of misery in this
world, but OF perdtion in thaI,o come.
al have said that the perpetual contemplation
Of the crime had at length lainiliarized It 70 my
mind and divesled il Of great portion Of us
a,roci,y. Therefore proceeded with all the COO
WEAKNESS Of praised william. loossd piece
Of whipcord that was strapped round large box
Of old truupery ! had brought from the ciIy.
which had lam in the garreI unopened; and when
il became dark, and before the rising Of the moon,
went down To the boai.house, where fastened il
to heavy stone which placed in the stern Of
the boat. | then returned and when the usual
time came, conducted Leonard 10 his chamber
waited ill he had said his prayers, bade him good
night and locked him in as usual. After suffi-
cient time had elapsed 10 ensure his being asleep
proceeded cautiously around TO the rear Of the
house. where his room was situated, and softly
showed up a window which opened within about
three feet Of the ground, Out Of which felt as
sured he would make his escape.
THE hours passed from that time to The period
when the poor deluded victim would come to act
under the influence OF his infrmjty seemed as il
they would never end, and if at any moment
had fatered in my purpose this delay served to
increase my impotence. sat hid in the shrub
berry in the garden, whence had a view of the
window Of his room, watching like a midnight
beast Of prey for my victim, and my imPatlence
increased almost to agony when the storm you
may remember came on and for a time drove me
into the house. When il had cleared up, again
resumed my post and in iule while had the
salisfacIion-yes, the satisfaction! TO see the
poor boy come forth to meet his doom. | fol.
lowed him cautiously as he proceeded according
10 his usual habit down TO the riverside, and while
making his preparations looked cautiously around
in every direction. Up and down the river there
was not vessel 10 be seen. Not light glim-
mered along the shore or in the houses on the
side where ours was situated, and you may re-
member The opposite one was without one for
some miles. Leonard, having made his prepara.
tions, stepped into the boat and took his seat on
the bench while | quietly placed myself in the
stern, where had previously deposited the cord
with large stone al one end aud a slipping moose
at The other. lie rowed himself out into the
river round the high bluff, where the water was
several lalhoms deep. stepped cautiously to-
ward him, placed the slipping moose over his
ead-and--and--you know the rest--though at
that moment thought no. one saw me. Quick
quick-give me that glass am dying!" ex-
claimed The wreiched man, as he fell once more
back on his pillow. The traveller obeyed; he
drank and in few moments recovered sufficient
/ ly 10 pursue his story.
"As with guilty haste rowcd back tothe boat,
house, | gazed around, and seeing or hearing
nothing living, said to myself mo one has seen
no one can witness against me-" But you had
seen me, and there was another witness besides
for at that moment heard voice that seemed
10 come from the Heavens exclaim close 10 my
ear The AIl-seeng eyeis upon you'll looked
upward toward the moon, which was then shin
ing bright in the skies. and thought | saw tha
eve bent brightly and sternly on me. lshud
dered, and for moment or two the oars remain
ed moGonless in my hands; but the instinct O.
guilt at length reused me 10 eXeron. gained
The shore, lei the boat adrii threw the oars into
,he river, returned 10 the house and went TO bed
but not 10 sleep. heard only a repetition Of tht
accusing voice and saw nothing but that brigh
menacing eye.
"The morning at length came and the servants
returned by dawn of day, The sun rose, ant
the hour for arousng Leonard having arrived
(ne person WIN usually PeiIOihCu 'h"' O'liN'
came running TO me with staring eyes to say h
f was not there and the window standing wide
: open. acted my part to the life. | despatched
the servants in every direction and took an active
) agency in the search. But the boy could no! b'
, found, and the boat 100 was missing from he
| usual moorings. As the search was extended
it was found ashore some miles below. Th
oars too were picked up not far off, and tn
universal conclusion was that Leonard had salli
3 ed ou, in his sleep through the window-had ia
S ken to the boat as was his custom and by som
; accident fallen overheard. caused the strcte.
investigation to be made into all the circumstar
ces and every practicable mode, save one, to
used for the discovery of the body. which as yo
! may suppose was never found. Not shadoN
cf suspicion ever rested on me. J took posses
sion of the estate, and the long cherished wis