Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1851-02-13
EDGEFIELD, S. c., FEBRUARY 13, 1851.
he summoned up his worst resolution.

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The cashier saw the polished barrel Of
the pistol steadily held within an inch OF
his forehead. The veins swelled out upon
his temples like knotted whip-cord, head
ed with the cold sweat of his agony, but
he grasped the key tighter than ever.
The keys" gasped Fame, in a voice
hoarse and broken with the devilish rage
Of the murderer
"Never never but with life !"
Fame advanced the pistol until it press.
ed against the bare forehead of his victim.
He drew the trigger-a dull report re-
sounded through the apartment. and no.
thing but the corpse Of Henry Macready
remained sitting in his Office chair.
On that same evening, as it was grow.
ing dark, the wife of MIacready was sit
ting in her drawing-room playing with
her infant, when dinner was announced.
On descending to the dining room, and
not finding her husband in his usual place,
she desired the servant to tap at the Office
door, which was his usual signal. The
servant did so, and receiving no answer,
brought back word that his master was
from home, and Margaret at once conclu-
ded that he had gone out to dine with 4
friend. When her solitary meal was over
she returned to the drawing-room, to
amuse herself until her husband should re-
turn. An hour had passed thus, when a
person, who said he had message from
Mr. Macready, called. This person said
that MIR. Macready was dining with a
family of his acquaintance at the south
side of the city, and had sent him to con-
duct Mrs. NJ. and the child to the place.
Margaret at once arose, and after some
slight alteration in her dress, went out
with the messenger, accompanied by a
female servant and her infant, leaving the
house in charge of the man servant, not
without some reluctance, as he had been
but q short time in the service of the bank
The party had been walking more than
half an hour through crowded streets,
when all at once the messenger disappear
ed. Having waited a considerable time for
his return, Margaret concluded that he
had accidentally missed them, and not
knowing the exact locality of the house
to which she was going she bent her steps
homewards. Tired and disappointed, the
little party arrived at their own door soon
selves by means of latch key.
On entering the sitting-room, Mrs. M.
rang for the man servant, but 10 one an.
swered. Putting her infant to sleep in
the cradle, and desiring the maid to 60 to
bed, she determined to sit up for her
husband. Eleven o'clock struck-twelve
-one, and neither master nor servant re-
turned. Poor Margaret could no longer
bear up against the weariness and want
of sleep which weighed her eyelids down,
and retiring to her chamber, she sought
her couch and soon was fast asleep
Troubled dreams, however, disturbed her
repose, and she awoke, just as the clock
was striking four. The night light had
Just gone out, but clear frosty moon was
shining through the windows at the front
of the house. Throwing cloak over
her night dress, she descended to the
drawing.room. All was cold and silent
there. She grew terrified with the loneli-
ness of her condition, and strange and
fearful pictures of danger anl calamity
swan before her mental vision. In this
state, she went down to the Office. She
felt something compelling her to try the
handle of the door. The room was pitch
dark. Dragging herself to one of the
shutters, she opened it, and a beam of
moonshine, Glove the darkness of the
apartment. Margaret, to her surprise,
now discovered the figure of her husband,
whom she imagined to be asleep. With
cry Of delight, she ran forward and lay.
ing her arm upon the shoulder of the
corpse, exclaimed
Wake, Henry and come to bead
you are frozen with the cold!'
She wondered at the deepness of his
slumber, as she heard no sound of breath.
ing, and ielt no motion. Passing her
hands over the body she felt the cords, ard
touched the icy hand which had been
partly freed from the ligatures. Her flesh
crept with horror.
"You are not dead, Henry! O |! speak,
speak to me, dearest-wake wake p
The moonlight had now moved over
the figure of the murdered clerk, and the
ghastly and dis6gured features of Henry
Macrcady, rendered whittier and more
ghastly as the light fell stronger on them,
met the eyes of Margaret. One long
gaze unraveled the Whole mystery, and
she turned from the sight raving maniac.
There was witness to this scene-the
man servant, who had been corrupted by
, Fame, and who shared the contents Of the
plundered Golfer. Years afterwards, he
confessed the part he had taken in the
murder of the Bankers Clerk, when upon
his death bed.
Fame escaped with his share of the
booty and was never heard of afterwards.
CAN you tell US when the cars leave
for Newark? As soon as the seats are all
taken," said Jem, that will make the
cargo"