The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-01

ar tll b WUUDOI lHID, III
both down where they stood, and he hadn't
the courage or the generosity OF man to
brave it out for her he vowed to love and
protect; he turned away and said he knew
nothing about her.
"Captain Richard had been saying that
il was q shame to take the old womans
life, for he had no belief in witchcraft; but
when he heard what the girl asserted, as
it seemed, for the purpose OF gaining her
end, he thought she must belong to bad
sect, for he could not imagine that VAIN
fete could so lie to his own soul as his
bother had done that day.
"Aice was driven forth harshly; but
when she got into the courtyard she fell
on her knees and invoked maledictlon
on the house in which she had been treat
ed so cfqelly; and as both brother and
sister had broken faith with her, she pray
ed that the future sons and daughters of
the Wainfete's might so act asso prove
bitterness and curse to one another Tor
generations yet to come. until their pude
was humbled and their hardness of heart
turned away.
Edith had been feverish, and she be.
came worse. To her restless inquiries
Helen had always answered that every
thing was going on right. She took care to
keep her in entire ignorance until two days
after the execution of Dame Leigh, and
then she informed her that her brother hav-
| ing denied the girls statement, the matter
4 had been thoroughly sifted and her false.
hood proved, and Dame Leigh has been
executed?' 2 said Edith, her parched lips
quivering. Helen acknowledged: Then
may Heaven forgive all those who had a
hand in this dark work ! exclaimed Edith,
solemnly. Disgrace before the world you
all feared ;zbut you had not the fear OF Him
before your eyes when you suffered this
liniquity to be! thank God that my time
among you will not be long. am proud
as YOU are; but my pride will not allow
me to live scorning ny own flesh J
u THAT same night Edith Wainfete died,
raving. They all stood round her bed in
lher Gelirium, and Richard marked well
what words she said. He looked at his
/ brother and convicted him where he stood,
shivering like poltroon, but he said not
word 10 him. .f,3 5..c
u "On the day of the funeral there was a
u large assembiage of friends and relations
b in the great hall of the north front. There
, was a delay of quarter Of an hour, be-
cause Captain Richard was missing. Al
, length he strobe in, with his heavy SWORD
? girt to his mourning dress. and accompan
led by the same young clergyman who had
r married Edwin to Alice Leigh. tie hac
not gone abroad as intended, and on tina
Il dav he had arrived 10 visit his friend. AL
I lice had mentioned his name 10 Edith, ant
Edith in her raving had repeatedit Rich
: ard himself scarcely needed his testimony
e to convince him Of the truth.
d sssI fake. you all to witness said Cap
; tain Richard, striding into the middle o
i the room and pointing to his brother, VIII
: turned pale and tried TO shrink away, 'tha
N neither l, nor, so far as l know, any o
!. mine, have had hand in the wickednes
i. Of this man, whom l'proclaim to be dis
o grace 10 all Of his blood, and an alien Il
h me henceforth and forever, and also
y shame to the name Of manhood; in tokel
q of all which here brand him as a bastard
d " poltroon and liar. Ifany wantto TAX
e his part am ready to make good what
have said.'
J. :" AS hlcnaru spoke uo StIuCh MS pioli
s. er heavy blow with the fiat Of his swore
ID laid it on the table and strobe out, leavin
ID the mourners to follow him.
,e "You may imagine what consternatio
ID there was. Most Of those present did NJ
understand what was meant, but they q
" rose and followed Richard. The Color
As ell himself, if he was not conscience-stricl
to en-, was too great an admirer OF his eide
ne son to Withstand him in favor of one who's
hit baseness he now understood. knowing
#. could not be hid long.
r. "The mourners observed that EdW
to Wainflete was not among them. and ths
gh turned to the Grange to learn that he hi
lr- committed suicide.
,s- "Captain Richard had lost his favori
e. sister; and when Helen came to unde
I'D stand how he had exposed his brother b
he fore all their kindred and friends she W
ge exasperated against him and refused to
ire reconciled; so that when the Colonel die
ar and he came to live here, she left the plae
ed and they were altogether estranged. T
II curse pronounced by Alice seemed to
to- at work already, and it has worked e'
}. since."