Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-09-05
WHOLE NO. l49.

Miriam went to her house, and purchs-
sed "bolting" Of straw, and a large
bundle Of matches, all of which she de-
clared were for her mistress, tu, portions
of which, as il turned oct, had been
found in the burning room. ALI my
tao, failed in shaking her testimony: il
was evidently true; and she also proved
having herself delivered the straw, which
she took up stairs by Miriam's direc-
lions, and put under the bed in her room.
She asked for what purpose il was wan.
ted. and was told that Mrs. Sharpe was
about to make some new mattresses sun
beknown TO aer husband" and therefore
desired that j, should be hidden out OF
his way. The girl, she said, was cry.
ing, and upon being asked why she did
SO, said that her mistress had been very
cruel 10 her, and ,ha, she wished herself
dead, drowned, or aurn,, or poisoned, or
any thing. .
This closed the case for the prosecu-
,ion; and could see that. although the
jury had been dissatisfied with some of
the evidence, ye. this last testimony had
decided them against US. Their faces
wore the hard resolu,e expression OF
men who have made up their minds to
punishment. Oh. the agony Of tha,
poor girl as she saw j. too!
IL would not run The risk of calling
George Sharpe" whispered Mr.. Pagel;
1.-THE jury are dead agains. US, and the
Judge, too, | think; and if he does you
no good, as fear he will not, he'll ruin
the case wholly; you had better ,rus, to
yourself" But | dared not; one more
look at that beseeching face, and the I'm.
pulse to call Sharpe came so strongly up.
ON me that gave way to it. Very few,
but as prompt as could imagine, or VI
ter, were the words | addressed to the
jury. and then, urged, know no, how.
called George Sharpe. He was long
time coming, and when a, las, he made
his appearance, it was only by the help
of the crier. and in a most pi,iable Stale,
that he could enter The box: he looked
like some one who had been suddenly
stricken with death; he shook trigh,fuily,
his eyes glarec. his teeth cha,.ered. and
his mind seemed wandering.
"Your name is Steele, / think. George
SteeIe!" said, quietly.
He stared vacan,ly; then said, Yes,
George Steele; you're right, sir, George
Steele" " - ~.
"You are cousin, / think, of your
wife, and Of the late Mr.. William Steele.
the surgeon!''
Yes"
"Do you remember how long it was
after your trial at Liverpool that you
changed your name!" e.. .a
mo-" he answered, hopelessly.
"Had not Mr.. Steele another sister
besides your wife-one who displeased
him by marrying!"
"Yes; Miriam's mother" .e~
An exclamation from his wife. who
stood in box behind, startled him lit.
tie, but he shook his head dismally, and
said. rs if to himself, ats no good!'
"Whai vas her name-- Mrs Mrs.
-" and | tuned over my brief as if
to look for it. m..a..a ..rr
Mrs. Blackwood, she married young
Will Blackwood, the squire's son. as
had been conr,ing Martha afore Fanny
left school," as
The whole thing was now plain--leg.
ible to my mind as if | had it upon my
brief, but, as fact after fac, rapidly follow
ed, corroboraied and explained each other,
lbegan to fear that should lose the con-
neciion, and not shape my questions so
as to bring on. the truths for the jury.
"When was it that you first knew the
child leit at Mr.. S,eele's door to be his
sister, Mrs. Blackwood's childl"
"Not for good while; but Martha
knew il soon after"
"That relationship is the reason,
suppose. why she dislikes the girl so
much, her sister had csptiva,ed hersweet-
heart, eh! and of course she Gid not like
the child!
"Yes. rha, reason and another" he
answered gloomily.
.George!" exclaimed a voice, which
all recognized as that Of his wife. He
heard il as he had before, but took no
heed.
"Ay, that was the will, / supposed"
''lhe will!"
"Yes, that document which was con.
tanned in the letter which Mr.. Steele
gave to Miriam, you kIow!"
"A document; how came you 10 know
any thing about lha,!" he asked, as If
suddenly awakening from his dreamy
state to consciousness Of all that was
going on around him.
"Oh, know all about il! You drew
mp the frs, will, you remember, ten days
before Mr.. Sieele's death, but this deed,
which altered tha, disposal Of his prop
erty, and left il to his sister Fanny's
child, was executed the very day Of his
death, and was stolen from Miriam while
she slept"
Thought this probable, and acted as
il il were a certainty; but the man look
ed surprised and said:
"He did not leave it all to her."
"No! I've been misinformeG then!
How much did he leave!"
"George!' sand the same warning
voice.