Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-06-10
THE MURDERED COUSIN.
n Ghost Story.
[coNcLUDED.1

lnins as II an explanatory tone; but L wa:
too much shocked and coniounded 10 un
dels,and what il might be. He said some
thing about repGirs--window frames-cold
and safety" l did not wait however, TO ask
OF to receive explanations, but hastily left the
room. | went down stairs | thought heard
the voice of the FrenchWoman ia all the
shrill volublity of excuse, and others utter
ing suppressed but vehement mprecatons
or what seemed to be such,
joined my cousin Emily quite out 0i
breath. | need not say that my head was
too full Of other things TO think much OF
drawing for that day. | impaired TO her
frankly the cause OF my alarms. but, at the
same time, as gently as could; and with
teas she promiaed vigilance, devotion, and
love. | never had reason for a moment TO
l repent the unrescrved confidence which
then reposed in her. She was no less sur
! prised than | at the unexpected appearance
/ OF Edward, who departed for France neither
OF us had for a moment doubted, but which
was now proved by his actual presence TO be
nothing more than an imposter, feared, for
no good end. The situation in which had
found my uncle had very nearly removed all
my doubts as TO his designs, | magniied
suspicious into cenain,ies. and dreamed night
/ after night that should be murdered in my
bed. The nervousness produced by sleep
| less nights and days of anxious fears increased
the horrors OF my situation In such degree,
! that at lenghi wrote a letter TO Mr.. Jeiiries,
an old and faithful friend Of my fathers, and
| perfectly acquainted with all bis affairs. pray
! ing him, for Gods sake, relieve me from my
| present terrible situation. and communicating
without reserve the nature and grounds of
my suspicion. This leder kept scaled
and directed for two or three days always a
bout my person, for discovery would have
been ruinous. ia expectation OF an oppor,u
nifty which L.ight be safely trusted. of hav-
ing II placed in tile post-Oflice; as neither
Emily nor | were permitted TO pass beyond
The precincts of the demesne Itself, which
was surroended by high walls formed Of dry
stone, the difficulty of procuring such an
opportunity was greatly enhanced.
AT this time Emily had short conversa-
ton with her father. which she reported to
me instantly. After some different matter,
he had asked her whether she and | were
upon good terms, and whether was unre-
served in my disposition. She answered in
the affirmative; and he then inquired whcth-
er had been much surprised To find him in
my chamber on the other day. She answer
ed thatl had been DO th surprised and "a
muscd. "And what did she think of George
Wilson's appearance!" "Whol" she in
quiIed. "Oh! the architect" he said "whO
is to contract for the repairs Of the house: he
IS accounted handsome fellow" "She
could no. see his face" said Emily, "lnd she
was in such hurry TO escape tha, she
scarcely observed him. Sir Arthur appear
ed satisfied, and the conversation ended.
This slight conversation, repeated accu-
rately to me by Emily had the effect OF con-
firming, ifindeed anything was required to
do so, all that ! had before believed as 10
Edwards actual presence; and | naturally
become il possible. more anxious than ever
TO dispatch the letter to Mr.. Jcfleries. An
opportunity at length occurred. As Emily
and | were walking one day near the gate of
the denesne, lad from the village happened
TO be passing down the avenue from the
house: the spot was secluded, and as this
person was not connected by service with
those whose observation J.osdUS, ~s'u-
mit;ed che letter to his keeping, with strict
injuncions that he should pu, il, without de-
lay into the receiver oft the town post-office;
at the same time added a suitable gratuity.
and the man having made many proies,ations
of punctu7lty, was soon out of sight. lie
was hardly gone when began TO doubt
my discretion IN having trusted him; but |
had no better or safer means Of dispatching
the letter, and | was not warranted in sus
pecting him Of such wanton dishonesty as a
disposition 10 tampet with il; bot | could
not be quite satisfied Of its safety until had !
received an answer. which could not arrive
for few days. Before did, however, an
event occurred which a little surprised me. |
was sitting in my bedroom early in the |
day, reading by myself, when | head knock |
at the door
Come n," said |, and my uncle entered
the room. "Will you excuse mel" said he,
81 sought you in the parlor. and thence
have come here. desired to say a word to
you. trust that you have hitherto found |
my conduct TO you such as ,hat Of a guar
dian should be-" | dared not withhold my
assent. "And," he continued" tfust thai
YOU have not found mo harsh or unjust, and
that you have perceived, my dear niece, that
| have sought TO make this poor place as a
greeable To you as may bel" ! assented a
gain; and he put his hand in his pocket,
whence he drew folded paper, and dashing
IL upon the table with startling emphasis, no
said, "Did you wriiethat leuct" Tue sud
den and fearful alteration Of his voice. man
uer, and face, bnt more than all, the mex
pected production OF my letter to Mr.. JET
ferries. which at once recognised, so con-
founded me, that felt almost choking. !
could not utter word. "Dd you write
that letter." he repeated, with slow and in.
tense emphasis. "You did, liar and hypo-
crile. You dared to write that foul and
infamous libel; but it shall be your last
Men will universally believe you mad, il
choose to call for an inquiry. ! can make
you appear so. The suspicious expressed
in this letter arc the hallucinations and a
larns of mopng lunatIc. have defeated
your FIRST attempt, madam; and by the holy
God, il ever you make another, chains, dark
ness and the keepers whip shall be your por-
ton With these astounding words he left
the room, leaving me. almost iaiuiing.
was now almost reduced to despair; my
last cast had Jailed; have no course left but
that Of escaping secretly from the castle, aud