Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-05-19


with the gentle mark Of sorrow on it that it
had in life, looked so grand She was so pure :;
she was like goddess sleeping she was not
like mere woman of this earth She did not
seem to be dead there was life about her yet,
human sympathy that sho used to have when
alive. The soul was there still and love and
knowledge.
BY degrees strange feeling of her living
presence in her room came over me. Alone, i'll
the still midnight, with no sound, no person
near me, it seemed as if l had leisure and
power to pass into the world beyond the grave.
felt my sister near me ; l felt the passing Of
her life about me, as when one sleeps but still
is conscious that another life is weaving in with
ours 1t seemed as if her breath felt warm on
my face as if her eyes were looking through
the darkness at me as if held her hands in
mine, and her long hair hoated round my fore
head. And then to shake of these fancies
and convince myself that she was really dead
l looked again at her lying there marble
corpse, re'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 tightly on her 10 life within, no
warmth about her, and allmy fancies were vain
dreams, Then buried my face in my hands,
and wept as if my heart was breaking And
when turned my eyes away 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 ont from ME, it
seemed as if Il barrier had been removed, and
that my sister floated near me again
l had been praying, sitting thus in these
alternate feelings of her spiritual presence and
her bodily death, when, raising my head and
looking toward the farther corner of the room.
| saw standing at some little distance, my sister
Ellen. / saw her distinctly as you may see
yon red fire blaze. Sadly and lovingly her
dark eyes looked at me, sadly her gentle lip
smiled, and by look, and gesture too, she show
ed that she wished to speak to me- Strange |
was not frightened 1t was so natural to see
her there, and for a moment / forgot she was
dead. Ellen" said "what is it -
The figure smiled 1t came nearer. Oh
do not say it was fancy saw it advance it
came glidingly | remember after that it did
not walk-but it came forward-to the light,
stood not ten PAGES from me. 1t looked at me
still, in the same sad, gentle way, and some
howl do not know with the hand or by the
turning Of the head showed me the throat,
where were the distinct marks of two powerful
haads. And then it pointed to its heart and
looking, I saw the broad stain of blood above
it. And then | heard her voice-I swear |
was not mad-I heard it, I say to you distinctly
whisper softly. Mary 7" and it said still
more audibly, Murdered ?"
And then the figure vanished, and suddenly
the whole room was vacant. The one dread
word had sounded as if forced out by some
strong agony,-like man revealing his lifes
secret when dying. And when it had been
spoken, or rather walled forth, there was a
sudden sweep and chilly rush through the air
and the life, the soul, the presence fed.
was alone again with death. The mission had
been fulfilled the warning had been given !!
and then my sister passed away for her work
with earth was done
Brave aud calm as the strongest man that
ever fought on a battle field, | stood up beside
my sisters body | unfastened her last dress,
and threw it hack 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 marks of hands
that had grappled her from behind, and that
strangled her. And then | looked further.
aud | saw small wound below the left breast,
about which hung two or three clots of blood
that had oozed up despite all care and know
ledge IN her manner of murder | knew then
that she had first been suffocated, to prevent
her screams, and then stabbed where the
wounds bled inwardly, and show no signs to the
mere by-Stander
covered her up carefully again, | laid the
pillow smooth and straight, and laid the heavy
head gently down. / drew the shroud close
above the dreadful mark of murder. And then
still as calm and resolute as | had ever been
ever since the revelation had come to mel
left the room and passed into my husbands
study. 1t was on me to discover all the truth
His writing table was locked. Where nav
strength came from know not but with
chisel that was lying on the table, pried the
drawer and broke the lock- l opened it
There was slender dagger lying there, red
with blood handful of womans hair, rudely
severed from the head, lay near it. Itwas my
sisters hair that wavy silken uncurled
hair that had always loved and admired so
much And near to there again, were stamps
and dyes, and moulds, and plates and hand
writings, withfac-smlies beneath, and cheques,
and heap of leaden coin, and piles of in
complete bank-notes and all the evidences of
colnerS and ferger'S trade-the suspicion
OF which had caused those bitter quarrengs
between poor Ellen and my husband-the
the knowledge of which had caused her death.
With these things | saw a!se letter adj
dressed to Ellen in my husbands handwriting.
1t was unfinished letter, as if it had displeas-
ed him, and he had made another copy 1t
began in these words-no fear that | should
forget them they are burnt into my brain
3" never really loved her, Ellen; she pleased
me, only as doll would please child and |
married her from pity, not from love. You,
Ellen, you alone could fill my heart YOU
alone are nay fit helpmate Fly with me
Ellie" Here the letter was left unfinished
but it gave me all the meaning of the first
weeks of my sisters stay, here, and why she
had called hm villain, and why he told her
she might tell me and that | would not believe
it.