The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-04-14

the whole room was vacant. That one dreat
word had sounded as if forced out by tn.
pressure OF some strong agony-like a mar
revealing his fc's secret when dying. And
when it had been spoken, or rather walled
forth, there was sudler sweep and chill,
rush through the air, and the life, the soul
the presence fled. was alone again with
Death. The mission had been fulfilled the
warning had been given; and then my sister
passed awav-for her work with earth was
done.
Brave and calm as the strongest man tina,
ever fought on battlefield, stood up be-
side my sisters body. unfastencd her last
dress, and threw it back upon her chest and
shoulders; took of the bandasc from a.
round her face: and then saw deep black
bruises on her throat-the marks of hands
that had grarpled her from behind, and that
had stranged her. And then looked fur
ther. and saw small wound below the
left breast. about which hung two or
three clOts of blood. that had oozcd IN de-
spite all care and knowledge in her manner
Of murder. knew then that she had first
been suocated. to prevent her screams. and
then stabbed where the wound would bleed
inwaro'y, and show no sign to the mere by
standcr.
covered her up carefully again | ai,,
the pillow smooth and straight. and laid the
heavy head gently down drew the >hroud
close over the DIRE alful mark of murder.
And then->tll as calm anl resolutc as had
been ever since the revelation had come 10
me-l left the room. and passed into my hus
bands study. 1t was on me to discover all
the truth
His writing table wa> locked. Wksre my
strength came from, know not hut with a
chi>el that was lying on the table, pr.c,i the
drawer and broke the orh ] opened it
There was a lon. ana slender dagger living
there. red witt, blood: a handful Of woman 4,
hair rulc!y severed from the head. lav nea,,
1t. II was my sisters hair that wavv. silk
en-. unrurlcd auhurn hair that | had aiwa,s
loved and admired 80 much And near to
these again. were >ta,nrs and Iic>, and
mould>, and plates. AMI han,wri,inrs with
tac-similcS beneath. and banAcrs chcoue<.
and heap of lea,lrn com. and piles of in
complete bank notes. and all the evidences
Vt a corners aud forSrr> tradr-thr su>pi-
cionS OF which had caused those bitter quar-
rcllincs between poor Ellen AMI nv husband
the knowledge OF w.lich had caused her
death
" E'ith these things saw also letter a,l-
dressed 10 Elm in my husbands hanlwrit
ing 1t was al un'ini>h i letter as if it had
li>plca>rd hin, am, he 'ai made ano her CO.
rv. IL began with these wCrl>-no fear hat
! should forget them: they are burnt into
my hrain-'l never really loved her. Ellen;
She plcasc> me only as a doll would a ch: III
and married her from pity. not from love
! on, Ellen. YOU alone could fill! nv hear,
YOU alone are my fit hclpmect. Fly with me
Ellen Here the icttcr was left un6n
i>hcd; but II gave me enough to explain the
the meaning o.. the first week of nv sister,
stay here. and why she hal called him villain,
and why he had told her she might tell me,
and that would not believe
saw it all now. turned nv head to see
my husband >lanGiIn. a Jew PAGES behind me.
Good heaven have often thou.ht was
that man the same man had loved so lonc
and ionlIy:
The strength Of horror not of courage. up
held me. knew he meant to kill me. but
that did not alarm me only dreaded lest
his hand should touch me ], was not death.
it was he shrank from. believe If he had
touched me then. | should have fallen dead
at his te,t. stretched out NV arms in hor-
Tor. then thrust HIM back. uttcrinc piercing
shrek and while he made an effort to seize
me- ovcrrcaching himself in the madness of
his fury, rushed bv him. shricking. and so
fled away into darkness. where | lived, oh !.
for many, many months
When awoke again. my poor baby had
died, and my husband had gone none knew
where. But the fear of his return haunted
me. could get no rest day or night for fear
of him, and fc!t like going mad with the
one hard thought forever pit,essIy pursuing
me, that should again ;all into his hands
put on widows wce,ls-for indeed am too
truly widowed and then began wandering
about; wandering in poverty aud privation.
expecting every moment to meet him face to
face; wandering about, SO that may escape
the more easily when the moment does come.
FIRST EXPERIENCE Of a DEBT.
Never did feel pron'ier or richer than
when my father said, Harry that calf is
yours Ill give YOU Bosssy: she shall be
YOURS" lie was standing whiting in the
old barn door, while !. his Oldest son, was
marking with delighted interest Bossy's fris-
Ky movements in the yard: how she would
snuff in the sweet morning air. then whisk
her tail and caper around. if not with all the
grace, with far more "Ia,l>omeness and nat
uralness than ballet queen. Bossy seemed
TO think it very pleasant thing to live
Much as loved the thing before, was seiz-
ed with a fresh puff of love a: my fathers
generous announcement
n ~