The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-10-12
He wa. . singular being. A, times, he

was overflowing. with wit and humor, bu
these occasions were rare. A settled gloon
hung over his counienance, and all his con
versalion wore an air Of sadness, rs plainly
as though II was stamped upon his brow ia
letters deeply GU, as the brand Of Cain.-
was written in the curse OF his life-mem'
ry. Curiosity, and tho deep and ARDEN
friendshipI had acquired for him, ofen
prompted me 10 endeavor 10 liz, the veil,
which, like darkening cloud, hung over
bis heart and his life, but always 10 no pur.
pose. Occasionally, he would come 10 the
office, much eIhilaraied with drink, and
then he would si, down and dash of one
Of those flowing, sca:hius, pi,hy, and pre-
pheiic articles, which at that time made the
Morning--so celebrated, and which
were quoted and commented upon through
out the country and the world, as The pro-
duclions OF the celebrated editor. So things
progressed for months, and though VIC were
in constant Intercourse with each other,
though all his daily life and action were a
part Of mine, never learned his history,
never dreamed The secret Of his life, never
knew why he sought and hoped only for
the Leths OF forgeiiulness, ill the incident
occurred which am now about TO relate.
l, was portion Of my reportotial duties
10 60 daily 10 the police office, and there
gather and colla,e, that the curious world
might know them, the annals OF crime. 10
pursuance Of this duty, | was one day turn.
ing over the leaves Of the Police Book,
when my eye was struck by the following /;
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD !
The above reward will be paid for the ar
rest, or any information which may lead to
il, OF G-A-M-, who Is charged
with the commission Of forgery, four
years since, and who has recently been
seen in the city otiNew York. He may be
known by the following description.
And then followed an exact description oi
my poor friend, even noting a peculiar
bith.mark, which he bore upon his neck
To say ,ha, was horor-slruck would poor
" convey All idea Of my feelings on read.
ing and drinking in the contents OF that
damning page before me. Tread it and
re.read it, again and again, and impulsive.
", mechanically, scarce knowing what |
did or why ! did il, copied the whole OF II
on my note book. was s,ill poring over
II, in a state OF utter iorselfulness 10 all
else, when was aroused from my sad rev.
erie by the gruf voice Of policeman, who
wished 10 examine the book, and who asked
me in surly tone il was going to keep
i, all dayl" Imadelsome flippant reply
10 him, and handed him the book. His
eyes rested at once on the glaring caption,
1.-TWO hundred dollars reward F" and ahe'
reading i, carefully. no turned TO me and
said:
"If I ain't very much mistaken, I saw
that chap with you, fourth OF July"
II was irue-we had been together all
that day, and IN 'ha, very day had together
entered iha, same police office. and con.
versed with tha, samo disciple Of Dogber'
y.
Isimply replied ,ha, 81 guessed nol,''
and as soon as | could safely, and without
creating suspicion, left the Office.
With speed as rapid as ! was capable
Of, I started for the Office Of the Morning
-. A friend whom met on the way
the next day laushingly demanded an apol
ogy Of me for the rough manner in which
had jostlcd him aside. when he srasped my
hand, and would have spoken with me-
But remembered il not. The busy street
was all blank space 10 me that afternoon.
The din OF carts, and carriages, and news.
boys cries, fell not upon my ear. But one
though, filed me-but one hope animated
me, and that was 10 see my poor friend G
- in time 10 save him from the clutch.
es Of the law. rushed madly into The OF.
flee, and found G. quietly sitting a,
his desk, engaged in writing. 1seized him
wildly, and babe him no, 10 speak, but fol-
low me 10 my room. Arm in arm we went
together. pulled him along with rapid.
i.y that mus, have alarmed him. Not u
word was said till my attic chamber was
reached and then I bid him be seated,
pulled out my note book and told him 10
read the transcript had made-the record
of his crime. He read it through calmly
and quietly, and when he had reached the
ending, the note book dropped from ont his
hand, and he following it, fell upon the
floor, where tears and sobs for moment
choked his u,ierance, as he tried 10 speak
10 me. babe him be calm. and whisper
ed words Of consolation and hope in hi,
ear; and when the first gush Of sorowiul
despair had passed away, he seated him.
self upon my bed, and told me the sad Sc
Gre, Of his life (: and for the first time ful.
" learned why il was he had so long been
hoping for the Lelhe Of forgetiulness.
Ho was the only son Of a somewhat ce!e
braied divine, in The State Of, and his
mother was widow. His father, ere he
died, had intended him 10 follow in The
footsteps OF his sacred calling. and oil thai
parental fondness could offer was lavishcd
on his education. When eighteen years O
age, he entered college at, and there
his brilliant intellect, and the noble quail
ties Of his heart, young as he was, drew
around him crowd Of admirers. He wal
loved, and lie was aaiiered. Minslinl
with the gay and reckless youths, who il
college life are usually made up Of tho mos