The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-20

know the wild unbour ded fervency of
my love; n love which, had it been pos
sible for you to have reciprocated, should
have made your happiness its highest
aim. But it was not TO be so. There
WAS something repulsive, something hate
ful to you in that very love. Yet know
ing all this, loved on like the foolish
insects that futter around the taper's flame,
dazzled, fascinated with its brlliancy, un
I'll they perish, 30 did l allow the con.
Stunning flame Of my fierce, ungovernabe
love to go on gathering new strength"
he paused a moment, and then con-
linued--
"You loved and was beloved by Wal
ter Lindsay; ay, | marked it all, each
glance, each softly spoken word, and each
was dagger in my heart. He was my
superior in every respect save wealth.
was not insensihIe of his niany fine quail
tications, and neither did wonder Al your
preference for him.
But it placed demon in my breast.
| learned TO hate him with the most dead
lv hatred, and vowed that it should not
''e he who should stand beside you when
the orange wreath encircIed your white
brow"
His b'eath grew shorter life was evil
IDENTITY ehbing slowly away, and again his
medical attendant administered the revi-
wing medicine, and the speaker proceeded
slowly and with much effort.
"My plans were laid with diaboIicaI
cunning. Being aware that high words
had passed between Lindsay aud VIII.
&ams" (for SO the murdered man was
caIle.l;) ai.ut a slort time previous, and
having IA deadly hste towards the lat
ter as,l possessed for the former, con
ceived the idea OF ri'lding myself of my
two ene,Dies in the following manner.
81 gained the possession OF knife be-
longing to Walter,' and determined to
murder Williams, leaving the kuife buried
in his heart, rs it would tend to criniuate
it's owner in the eye Of tile law.
''Chance favorel my project. They
had become rec"nciled, and were walking
in company, one evening, from the vii
lagc toward their respective homes.
was on the watc,i-concealed IN some
bushes growing by the roadside, and saw
them par. Lindsay's house being the first
one, and Williams some ways beyond.
AS he neared my place of conceal.
ment. sprang upon him, and in an in.
slant my knife was in his heart. Under
cover of the darkness reached my home
undiscovered, and you know all the rest,
This is Gods truth !" continued the mise.
rable man. will, one loot in the grave,
and the curtain Of eternity half drawn, a
man can hardly dare to speak falsely
Hasten Save poor Walter from his i'm
pending fate. 'ris all the reparatiou
can make. o, God. | am dying! | feel
the cold hand at my vitals. o, pray Tor
me. Eva-pray, for the love Of God -
You are pnrs-yourp prayers will I've heard; /;
bu, mine-jusl Heaven there is no hope y
With groan. the murderer sunk back
upon his pillow, while that. pale, beauti-
iul gir! knelt down, aud with clear. sil.
very voice prayed that heart might he
cleansej OF its blackness and sin, aud
meet with mercy al the bar OF Heavens
coart.
Aud will, the name Of Eva trembling
upon his asllen lips, the murderer's soul
driited out upon the wings OF that soft
petition--out on that shoreIess and uu
known sea.
lie Was saved !--snatcbed from the
very jaws of death. ut the eleventh hour |!
Loves iaithfulness had gained its reward,
and the gentle Eva once more lay upon
the bosom of her hearts idol. But O.,
so changed, 50 crushed in spirit, 40 broken
down in the April OF his days. She had
him back, but twas only the shadow of
her Walter, not the noble, vigorous yodth
~ whom year ago her maiden VOWS had
been pledged. But the wreck. even, was
dear to her soul, aud she was harpy.
Time works marvels. Health came
again to their wasted forms--a welcome
visitor. Pale cheeks grew rosy; buoy
ancy dwelt in tue step once slow and
weary and eyes washed by aliiction's
tear, now sparkIed with the light Of love
and joy.
Aud SO they were married. Such
trials m they had encountered surely de
served happy finale and what can
bring more happiness 10 two loving hearts
than y happy bridhi
/ The Governor was proud OF his young
son-in. law, and thought, with feelings OF
horror, how near he had been the instru-
ment of his untimely death, thanking
God aud his child for staying him from
the commission Of so sad deed.
A curse upon circumstantial evidence
II ~ foul blot upon the escutcheon Of y
nation, and ought to be erased from The
statute books Of TIE world. The condem-
nation Of - man to death npon such eyi-
desce is nothing more or less than a ja-
dicial murder Il IL bad enough, God
kncws, 10 sever the thread Of lie ~ him
who's clearly proven. by direct testimony,
10 be guilty hut 10 rob from one the
dearest boon bestowed BY the 0mnipo-
tent -iiSs--,o bresk al one Cell blow all
those sweet and precious ties which bind
him here, and send him unbiJlen before
the Useat Tribunal Of the skies, isa
inoekssy, pisifal mostefy. of She name