Western Reserve chronicle and weekly transcript of the times. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1854-1855, 1855-03-14

cold, with the lips set and rigid, and the
death band beneath her chin. There she
was, stiff in her white shroud, the snowy
linen pressing so lightly OH her; no life
within, and no warmth about her, and all
my fancies were vain dreams. Then 1
buried my face in my hands, and wept
as if my heart was breaking. And when
| turned away my eyes from her, the
presence came around me again. So
long as watched her it was not there; |
saw the corpse only; but when shut
this out from me, then it seemed as if a
barrier had been removed, and that my
sister foated near me again.
1 had been praying, sitting thus in these
alternate feelings of her spiritual pres
ence and her bodily death, when raising
my head and looking towards the farther
corner Of the room, saw, standing at
some little distance, my sister Ellen. l
saw her distinctly, as distinctly as you
may see that rel fire blaze. Sadly and
lovingly her dark eyes looked at me, sad
ly her gentle lips smiled, and by look and
gesture too she showed me that she wish
ed to speak TO me. Strange, | was not
frightened. 1t was so1hatutal to see her
there, that for the moment | forgot that
she was dead.
"Ellen," | said, "what is it 2"
The figure smiled. 1t came nearer.
Oh! do not say it was fancy! saw it
advance it came glidingly; | remem-
bere1 afterwards that it did not walk, but
it came forward TO the light, and stood
not ten PAGES from me. 1t looked at me
still, in the same sad gentle way, and
somehow, l do not know whether with the
hand or by the turning of the head, it
showed me its throat, where were the
distinct marks of two powerful hands.
And then il pointed TO its heart; and
looking, | saw the broad stain of blood
above it. And then 1 heard her voice.
swear | was not mad-I heard it say,
say to you distinctly, whisper softly,
" Maryp and then it said still more audi
bly,, Murderedp'
And then the figure vanished, and sud-
denly the whole room was vacant. That
one dread word sounded as if forced out
by the pressure of some strong agony;
like man revealing his life's secret when
dying. And when it had been spoken,
or rather walled forth, there was a sud-
den sweep and chilly rush through the
air; and the life, the soul, the presence,
fled. | was alone again with Death.
The mission had been fulfilled the warn
ing had been given; and then my sister
passed away, for her work with earth was
done.
Brave and calm as the strongest man
that ever fought on battle field, stood
up beside my sisters body. unfastened
her last dress, and threw it back from her
chest and shoulders; | raised her head
and took off the bandage from round her
face and then saw deep black bruises
on her throat, the mark of hands that had
grappled her from behind, and that had
strangled her. And then looked further
and | saw small wound below the left
breast, about which hung two or three
clots of blood, that had oozed. up, despite
all care and knowledge in the manner
of her murder. | knew then she had
been first suffocaled 10 prevent her
screams, and then stabbed where the
wound would bleed inwarily, and show
no sign to the mere bysiander.
| covered her up carefully again. |
laid the pillow smooth and straight, and
laid the heavy head gently down. |
drew the shrou1 close above the dreadful
mark of murder. And then, still as calm
and resolute as had ever been since the
revelation had come TO me, left the
room and passed into my husbands study.
1t was on me TO discover all the truth.
His writing table was locked. Where
my strength came from know not; but
with a chizel that was lying on the table,
priced the drawer and broke the lock.
L opened it. There was long and slen-
der dagger lying there, red with blood /;
a handful of woman's hair rudely severed
fiom the head, lay near it. 1t was my
sisters hairl that wavy, silken, uncurled
auburn hair that 1 had always loved and
admired so much And near to these
again were stamps, and dies, and moulds,
aud plates, and hand writings with fac
SMILES beneath, and bankers cheques,
and a heap of leaden coin, and piles of
incomplete bank notes; and all the evil
dences of coiner's and forger's trade
the suspicion of which had caused those
bitter quarrelS between poor Ellen and
my husband-the knowledge OF which
had caused her death.
With these things l saw also letter
addressed to Ellen in my husbands hand
writing. 1t was an unfinished letter, as
if it had disPleased him, and he had
made another copy. 1t began with these
words-no fear that shoull forget them,
they are burnt into my brain-"I never
really loved her, Ellen; she pleased me
only as doll would please a child and
| married her from pity, not from love.
You, Ellen, you alone could fill my heart;
you alone are my fit helpmate. Fly with