The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-05-23

for a minute, and then continued AL
that know of this cause arises from hi
expressions-while he issleeping BY my side
Hannah he speaks in broken language o.
murder-of having committed murder =
Hannah perhaps woman deceived and
was killed by him." As Catherine said thu
she shuddered, and buried her face in thai
of the babe which she carried in her arms
Hannah was shocked to hear Of this bu,
her good sense led her at once to suggest
for the comfort of the poor wife, that 1t wa'
perfectly possible for her husband to eon'id'
er himself murderer in his sleep, and speak
of II without the slightest reality in the
whole affair.
All, Hannah" said Catherine sadly
+" these dreadful sayings are not the result
of ono nightmare slumbcr. They occur
often-too often. Besides, when l first
heard him mutter in his sleep these horrible
things, I mentioned the matter to him in
the morning at our breakfast, and helauSh-
ed at Il; but he grew much agitated; and
telling me to pay no attention to such things,
I" as he sometimes talked nonsense, he
knew in his Sleep" he rose and went away,
leaving his meal unfinished, indeed. scarce
ly touched. | am sure he does not know
how often he speaks in his sleep, for l have
never mentioned the subject again-though
my rest is destroyed by it. And then his
Cts of sadness at ordinary moments! Han
nah Hannah there is some mystery
some terrible mystery under it YETI" con-
tinued the young wife, "hc is 50 & od-so
kind-so dutiful to God and to man! lie
has too much tenderness and fealing to harm
a fly! Hannah, what am to think or do,
for am wrctchcd at the present. -.
1t was long ere the old dame replied to
this question. She muscd greatly on what
had been told her, and in the end said to
Catherine: "My poor child cannot be-
lieve that William is guilty of what these
circumstances lay seemingly at his door
But if the worst be true it is better for you
to know it, than to be in this killing sus-
pense forever. Go and gain his confidence,
Catherine; tell him all that has como to
your ear, and say you do 80 by my advice.
Hannah continued to use persuasions of the
same kind for some time longer, and at
lenght sent Catherine home, firmly resolved
to follow the counsel given to her.
On tho following day Catherine once more
presented herself ut the abode Of Hannah,
and as soon as she had entered, exclaimed !:
:" Dear mother / have told him all he
will be here soon to explain everything to
us both" .....
The old woman did not exactly compre-
hend this. "IIas he not" said she "givcn
an explanation then to youT
"No, Hannah" said Catherine; "but
oh, he is not guilty! When / had spoken
to him us you desired me he was silent for
a long time, and then took me in his arms,
Hannah, and kissed me, saying: MY
darling Catherine, ought to have confdcd
in you long before. have been unfortu-
nate, not guilty. Go to kind Hannah's and
I will soon follow you, and set your mind
at ease-as far us It can be done. Had ]
known how much you have been suffering,
would have done this long before These
were his words, Hannah. Oh, he may be
unfortunate, but not guilty.
Hannah and Catherine said but little to
each other. until the husband Of the latter
came to the cottage. William sat down
gravely by the side Of his wife, and after
kindly inquiring for the old woman, at once
commenced to tell his story.
"Thc reason ofthe unhappy exclamations
in Sleep" said he, "which have weighed
so much upon my mind dear Catherine, may
be very soon told. They arose from o cir
cumstance which has much cmbittered my
own peace, but which, hope, is to bo re-
garded as sad calamity rather than a
crime. When ! entered the army, which
did at the age Of nineteen, the recruiting
party to which attached myself was sent
to Scotland, where we remained but for a
few months, being ordered again to England
in order to be transported to the continent.
One unhappy morning, rs we were pass
ing out of a town where we had rested on
our march southwark, my companions and
chanced to see q girl, apparently about
fifteen years of age, washing clothes in a
tub. Being the most light-hearted among
the light-hoarted, took up large stone
with the intention Of splashing the water
against the girl. She stopped hastily, and
shocking to tell, when threw the stone II
struck her ON the head, and she fell to the
ground, with, fear, her skull fractured.-
Stupefed ut what l had done, stood gazing
on the stream of blood rushing from my
poor victims head, when my companions
observing that no one had seen us, for IL
was then early in the morning-hurried me
of. We were not pursued, and we were in
a few weeks on the continent; but the i'm
ngc Of that bleeding girl followed mo every
where and since came home, l have new
sr dared to inquire the result, lest suspicion
should be excited, and I should suffer FOL
murder! For, fear from the dreadful nature
Of the blow, that the death Of that pool
creature lies at my door,"
While Hutton was relating this story, HI
had turned his eyes to the window bu
what was his astonisliment, as he was con
cluding, to hear old Hannah cry aloud
"Thank Cod" while his wife broke out in
to hys'erical passion Of tears and smile
and threw herself into his nrms.