The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-12-22

rSnt up in the narrow compass of hui
man breast, and yet not bursting its frail
prison. What can the torments that they
tell us OF, hereafter, be to thisi"
"And what reason can you have, dear
cousion, for talking thus. Kneel down by
me, for once, and pray; for surely, at such
time rs this, il at no other, you must
feel there is God"
"No; you pray, Annie Reed, il it will
comfort you; pray for us both. There,
now, lie down again, and hide your face.
l will stand by your side and listen to
you." ..... -.
She drew the slender figure gently back.
Then, with sudden movement, seizing a
large pillow, dashed it over Annie's face,
pressing thereon with all her strength
The long, half smothered, pteous cry that
followed, was almost unheard in the roar
ing Of the storm that now was at its
height. BY the vivid light that every in
slant played around, she saw the violent
efforts Of her victim, whose limbs were
moving up and down, convulsively, under
the white bed clothes. Then, throwing
the whole weight of her body across the
bed, she clutched and strained upon the
frame, to press moro heavily. Suddenly
all movement ceased, and the murderess
felt short and thrilling shudder under.
meath her. Still, her hold never relaxed;
untouched by pity or remorse exulting in
the thought that the cruel deed was nearly
done, so easily, and under circumstances
where no suspicion of the truth was like
~ to arise, dreading to look upon the dead
girl's face too soon, lest the mild eyes
should still be open, and beaming on her
with reproach and horror. But what was
It she felt then, so warm and sticky, trict-
ling down her arml She knew it to be
blood, even before the next flash showed
the crimson stain, spreading slowly over
the pillow. Again the electric fluid darted
from the clouds, but this time charged
with its special mission from on high. The
murdcress was struck! and springing up,
she fell back with one shrill, wild, piercing
shrek that reached tho ears of those be.
low, before it was drowned in the din Of
falling masonry, and the tremendous crash
that shook the house to its foundation,
until tho walls quivered, like tho timbers
OF ship beating on a rocky shore.
Day was just breaking; cold gray light
slowly gaining strength over the yellow
glare OF some unsnutfed candles, while the
occasional boom Of distant thunder told
that the storm was not yet exhausted.-
Extended on = low eoucl.,. and held bv
the terrified servants, was the wreck of
the once beautiful Catliarine Arnatti; at
short intervals her features became horri-
hly distorted by an cpilcptic spasm, that
seized one side Of her body, while the 9th
er halt appeared to be completely paraly-
zed; and the unmeaning glare Of the eve,
when the lid was raised, told that The or
gan Of vision was seriously injured, if not
entirely destroyed. Close by, the mother
bent sobbing over the helpless form of her
own child, blanched and inanimate, with
a streak Of blood Just oozing from her
pallid lips. Miss Reed, in her fearful strue-
gle, had ruptured blood vessel, and, faint
ing from the loss of blood, had lain for
some time to all appearance dead. Short
ly, however, slight fluttering over the re-
gion Of the heart, and quivcr of the
nostril, told that the principle Of life still
fingered in tho shattered tenement. With
the aid Of gentle stimulents, she recovered
sufficiently to recognize her mother; but
as her gaze wandered vacantly around,
It fell on the wretched and blasted crca.
ture, from whose grasp she had been so
wonderfully rescued. AS If some magne-
TIC power was in that glance, Catherine
rose up suddenly, despair and horror in
the CLASSY stare sue fixed on the corpse
like form before her, as, with another yell,
such as burst forth when first struck by
the hand Of God, she relapsed into one
Of the most dreadful and violent proxysms
have ever witnessed. Annie chung
tightly to her mother, crying, in faint,
imploring voice, "Oh, save me-save me
from her." ere, with heavy sigh, she
once more sank into insensibilty.
For long time Annie lay in the shadow
OF death. She lived, however, many
years, patient and suffering invalid
Edwin married his betrothed and brought
her home; to q home, darkened, indeed,
by crime, but gradually Frightening un-
der the genial influences Of domestic hap
piness.
Catharine Auatti was fearfully punish
cd for her great crime. The ligh. Of rea-
son never fully returned to her mind; the
lineaments Of her countenance were aw-
fully changed; the sight of one eye was
totally destroyed, and her whole appear
ance was frightful in the extreme. She
was placed in lunatic asylum, and al-
ways spoken Of as the "Blind Sister."--
Sometimes CLEAN Of reason would dart
acrosa her intellect, her wild screams of
bitter anguish would be heard ringing
through the drsary chambers, and then
she would relapse into sad reverie. It
was indeed sight 70 rend the sternest
heart How full Of proof that Crime is
always followed by Punishment and Bit
ter Remorse. On her death.bed, she was
fully in the possession Of her right mind,
and her last moments were agonized by
h.. A<.-slf. e