The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-10-13

up house. and then proceeded TO trcsk the
terrible tidings nj L,burnum Villa. ae-
him rs lar as tho gato only, for
the purpose of delivering the message Jod
had charged me with. to his mother. She
had become so extremely deaf. that cJun
hardly make her understand that Joel was
unexpectedly detained from home that
night. /" Oh, ah ~ sac at last mwtcred-
" understand but you hayo nothing fUr
me 7" And the bleary eyes Of the old wo.
man rested eagerly Oh my hands, Us IL she
thought had money for her. {" Nothing"
| bawled, and came away. My father did
not return home ill near two O'Clock, ane
had as | anticipated, Iassed through very
scene. 81 have also had,
Charles. he added, .'a rather long CONVEX.
sation with Churston, and 1t Is certain that
the death OF the boy has broken Oh the ex.
pected marriage. Mr. Churst0n frankly
told me. that upon mature reflection he had
made up his mnd-yery suddenly, II 10
clear-that the union conld hardly iail to DO
an unhappy one, and that he intends leaving
for London tomorrow. There Is suincthips
very odd in all this" .......
- There il indeed and Joel shall, rs 1
faithfully promised him, DO informed OF
that fact us soon as it is light. This terri
ble business is not yet lathomed, depend up
on it."
My father agreed and went TO bod not
however ~ Seep--at least did not, and BY
six o'clock, Joel Barton received my mes
sage. The reply was an earnest request :"
see me aud my father Immediately. Wo
were with him in less than quarter OF IN
hour. and fairly knocked bIckynrds by
blunt declaration or coniessiop,f the instant
We entered the place, that hf, Joel Barton.
had drowned, murdered little Theodore Den
vir, at the in,tigaticn Of Mr.. Churston! an
have only had small part Of tho promised
reward" added the wretched felon, " which
| showed Master HolfUrd the other day, and
now he thinks to throw me over, but he
shan't. You don't believe me, PERHAPS
Well. all can say, only just examine his
papers before he gets away, nnd IL you don't
lind on, trhy he tempted me TO commit tho
dreadful deed, say that bear false wit
ness ~
We could scarcely believe our cars. bus
rs Joel sullenly persisted in his statement,
it was my fathers duty under che c'rcum-
stances, to act with decision, and of Nc
presently set towards Liburnum Villa, Joel
carefully guarded by two cons'ables. We
were but just in time, as u fly WAS at the
door, and Mr.. Churston just about to step
into il. He started and changed color at
seeing US, but in reply to my fathers re.
quest to speak to him privately, answerce
boldly enough that he could not i"se tie
time, rs he feared missing tho coach VI
ready.
"You must spare the time, MIR; Churs-
ton," was tho stern rejoinder. " You ars
my prisoner"
"prisoner! God Of Heaven! And upos
what charge"
"As an accessory, before tho fact, to The
murJev OF Theodoro Dso~r! All. ! see
that it is an ineligible accusation. Here,
steady yourself by my arm, and let us 50
into the house." =,
We all followed, and rs soon ms Mr.
Churston's effects rad been brought into tho
room, nv father fastened tho door on the
inside. Joel then repeated his previous
Question, but avoided. noticed. during the
recital, to look Mr.. Churston in the lace
As he went on that gentleman seemed t.
recover his usual composurc, and when Jod
ceased speaking. burst out into furious
yitupcration OF the accusing witness, whom
he very literally qualified as lying felon, =
slandering lunaiic, &c, aud at last wound
up fierce and indignant TRADE, by asking
my father what possible mo'ise he cou';i have
had in comprising the death OF The child
"That ] 10 not know; but tho p'is-
oner Joel Barton, AYERS that the exam
ination of your papers will unfold it.n
The teviying confidence Of MIR. Chnrston
Ned at once on hearing this. and he was
again deadly pale and trembling in all his
limbs.
who will dare" he gaspcd." to mcddle
with my letters or papers"
"The nearest magistrate will bc assured;
and we had better seek him Mt once. Come,
further parlcy would be useless
"One moment, MIR. llol!ord-onc mo-
ment!" exclaimed Churston, upon whose
white forehead largo beads OF agony were
standing. .f. -.
Let me reflect am rs innocent OF this
horrible charge syourscli, still, there arc
circumstances-the are papers. which I'M
explained, might suggest-yes Twill DO
frank with you. und stale unreseryed'y tho
exact position in which am placed"
| uAs you please only remember that
what yol say may be used ugains, you here
altcr."
" OF course-of course. Well, then, since
the truth must come out, am the uncle oi
Mrs. Denvir's husband. No wonder you
excaim, but hear me out His mans was
Churston, not Dcnyir. lie died about six
weeks sgo only, Of n fall from his horse, but.
he lived long enough 70 repent OF h's con-
duct towards his rustic vile, and his lats VIII
dcvises his property, about Gs0O per annum
TO her, till his son by her obtain his majori-
", when It will pass n him, charged with .
lie annuity of G2O0 " his mother. This
testament was blow to me, am not rich
very far from Il, indeed, though contrive
to keep up appearances by an arrange
mcnt with ID. Peacocke, the solicitor OF Fur
niyal's Inn, who drew the will, TO tho elect
that would seek out the widow aud Guild,
obtained an opportunity OF soliciting tue
marriage before the change in her circun-
stances could be known. The death OF tho
cbild-of which. by my hopes OF salvation.
am entirely innocent--cntirely changes my
position, rs in that case the property was
devised TO me, charged with tho widows
annuity only. This is all the crime Of ~h'eh
have been guilty" .-..,u,x L
A knock at the door interrupted MN.
wa, the unhappy mother. who came 10 ask
lifany tidings bad been heard Of her child.
She had not Of course. the slightest idea tha
he had been murdered. Upon my father
answering to the question in tho negative.
abe sank inio chair, hid the pale beauty Of
her face in her hands, and sat there sobbins
coa,ulsiveIy. aod deadly inattenlive to whu.
else was said.
I" Even if sou had told the irrth. and q
the truth. Dir. Churston," said my fathe.,
IN low voice "the matter must be judi.
:. II llama hanii nl