Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-20

1
looked the same, save perhaps little gray
er, with gathering lichen, and here ant
there little plastering had dropped from
the crevices, telling that time still did it,
work, though never 50 slowly.
opened the rude gate and entered tn,
quiet church-yard, and instinctively ben,
my steps toward the grave Of Carrie Mitchell
l was looking on the ground as proceeded
leisurely along, and almost stumbled agains,
the marble slab ere beheld it. What wa,
my surprise, on suddenly raising my eyes,
to soc tall, manly form bending over the
tomb and picking out of the letters some
moss which had collected there his coun.
tenance was noble, his features regular and
handsome, and his dark locks, which were
slightly intermingled with gray, waved in
curls over his lofty brow. He was appa.
rently about forty years of age, and there
was on his face, as he gazed at me, an ex.
preston of sadness indescribable. Twas
about to retire in order to leave him undis
turbed, when he addressed me in kindly
tones, and desired me to remain. Placing
himself on the marble slab, he motioned me
to seat beside him, and said
"Do you Know aught of her who sleeps
beneath this tablet !"
replied negatively, and went on to in
form him that many conjectures were rife
in the neighborhood as to the circumstances
whichlinduced a stranger to seek this hum
bic spot for burial. He mused awhile and
said -
"SIr, if you deem it worth the time to
listen, will relate to you history that
will remove all mystery connected with this
tomb, and pcrhapSrelieve my own soul of
a burden. ! have kept silent for fifteen
years - broodng over my own misery,
without the desire to communicate the cause
of it to another: but now, as intend leav-
ing America forever, and as have met you
here at her grave, win tell you the tale,
even though you are stranger, and we may
never meet again.
Having expressed my tha ks for his
confidence, desired him to proceed, which
he did in the following words, as nearly as
| can remember, and there can be but little
variance, for transcribed them immcdi-
ately on returning home.
&c Seventeen years ago, at her fathers
home, happy, good and beautiful, met Car
ric Mitchell. She was-but why attempt to
delineate form and feature they defed de.
scription. Suffice it, she was beautiful be-
ypnd all others have ever beheld-and oh!
so gentle, so winning and so true! None
could behold without loving her. Her fa-
ther's servan,s blest her for her manv acts
of kindness toward them, and the very dog
she fonlied, enjoyed life more keeuly when
she smiled-and that smile when it broke
like sunshine over her features it seemed as
though 7" the baptism of beauty ? rested on
her brow, and left its seal and sign there
forever. But alas all that beauty has
mouldered 20 dust, and loathesome worms
have ravaged that roseate cheek. She is
dead, and -
Here his emotions entirely overpowered
him, and burying his head in his hands, he
remained silent for some moments; then,
begging me to excuse this exhibition of
weakness, procesded with his story.
"Carrie and I soon became intimate
friends visited her frequently and ever
with fresh interest and delight. 1t was i'm
possible to resist her winning manner and
the gentle goodness of her heart. loved
her; she loved me in return and we were
soon to be united-the day had been ap-
pointed, and lived in the sweet anticipa-
tion of calling Carrie mine By the holiest of
earthly ties. ea.d oE. .F
"Thus matters stood, when one evening
as l was returning from my accustomed Wis
it to her home, was startled by simulta-
neous shrek and the report Of pistol.
hastened on in the direction the sound had
indicated, and found man lying in the
path before me IN the agonies of death; be-
was speechless, and was bleeding profusely.
| hastily drew out my handkerchief and en-
deaved to staunch the blood which gushed
from wound in his br east, but almost in
stantly he expired on my arm. was con-
sidering what course to pursue, when a
hand was roughly laid on my shoulder and
deep voice exclaimed: tVillian have
caught you in the very act attempt not
to escape or will fell you to the earth p
bade him loose his hold aud assured him
had no desire to escape as had not COM
mittcd the crime. Knowing my own iano-
cence, | hesitated not to 60 with him, as he
requested, to the magistrate's. His name
was James Marvin; knewn him very we'll !.
he was laborer on Mr.. Mitchel's farm, and
had always borne good character and l
doubted not he was dol g only what he
deemed his duty in arrssting me.
sT had hearing before the magistrate and
was, after due consideration, fully commit.
ted for trial. knew my innocence, but
how was to make that innocence manifest
to others Even Mr.. Mitchell believed
me guilty, and forbade his daughter
to see or write to me. Circumstances were
strongly against me. was found with the
murdered man, my clothes soiled and bloody
my handkerchief saturated with gore, and in
my coat pocket were found pistol which
hal recently bcen discharged and seyera