The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-04-02


mine.
You are safe, dearest I murmurod.
She did not rebuke me for calling her
so: and emboldcned by her silence, took
her hand to lead her from her narrow pris-
on She moved forward and fell into my
arms a corpse!
| cannot we'll recall what followed |
| only know that every means was tried for
her restoration to life; but slasi without
success. OF one thing | was firmly con-
vinced, she had not died from suf1oeation.
She was pale, rigid, cold. The tumult
of her own emotions must have killed her
the moment the door was closed up on her.
BY some means l kept my secret from
the knowledge Of Watson and every one
else. All that night was trying to recover
! her Then [ framed the project eft shut
ting her up in the closet, locking up the
chambers and going abroad for twenty
years. But the plan was rejected as soon
as formed; for it would be hardly possible
that the presence of a dead body in
house should not be discovered before
that time Next thought of setting fire
to the place, burning ell my books and
papers, making q funeral pile of them,
and thus ruining myself to preserve the
secret It might cause some loss of life
and property to many innocent people, and
would be a bungling proceeding after all,
and if the fire was discovered early, police
men, fremeu, mob, all would break in,
| finding the body there, all would be lost
for il was more to save her reputation
than my life, that was striving and plot
ting.
In the meantime was a prey to the
most fearful anxiety. was sure she must
have been missed and sought for. Per-
haps she had been seen to enter my cham
bers. Every step that I heard, / feared
might be that of a policeman. In the
morning stranger called on business.
This, of course, was nothing unusual, but
when he was gone, I felt that he was q
detective officer, ana had come as spy.
thrust a few cloths into carpet bag,
intending to escape to France. caught
up box of matches to set the place on
/ u
ly at its edge as the surest way to settle
/ my misery. But then all these would
leave her to the jests of the world and
my sufferings were nothing in comparison.
At this distance of time can look back
impartially and coolly upon the dreadful
day; and / can solemny declare that
would rather be hanged for numbering her
than to have allowed breath to sully her
| fair name.
/ had just laid down the razor, when a
hurried step across the ante-room was
! heard 1t was her husbands. Now,
thought, all is lost, she was seen to enter
and he has come to claim her. @
/ '.My dear--,'' he began in nervous
unsettled way. "You remember the bust
ness that 1 came about yesterday,
Perfectly
sAnd do you remember the words used
as was going? Imean in answer to what
you said about my not being able to touch
this money until after the death of my
wife?'
Yes, I~rerlember I them distinctly
My wife has disappeared since yester-
day morning he continued turning more
pale than before; and if any thing serious
should have happened you know. if you
should repeat the expressions, they might
be laid hold OF, and l don't know what
might be the consequence. / might be
suspected of having murdered her.
Poor fellow! if I had not known the
truth, should have expected it myself,
from his excessive terror and anxiety. He
wiped the perspiraton from his face and
! sank into a chair The sight of per-
son frightened more than myself, re-assur-
ed me. / was calmer than / was the
preceding morning.
Where did she go?' How was she
dressed' exclaimed I, anxious to know
all l could on the subject.
L don't know She told me she was
going out shopping aud visiting; but nc
one saw her leave the house, and none O
the servants knew exactly how she wa:
dressed. When l went home to dinnel
!. the first thing l heard was that she haG
! not returned
What have you done? Have you SEN
to the police and to the hospitals?'
Yes, and to every friend and trades
/, man where she would be likely to CALL
You may depend upon it, / replied
very impressively, that viii not repea
what you said yesterday. You are righ
in supposing that it would tell agains
you very much, if she should be fount
= dead under suspicious circumstances
He talked little longer and then wen
v to renew the search for his wife. How
!. preserved my self-possession during this
r interview, do not know, could have
gnawed the flesh from my bones in my
= agony.
That night when the doors were fasten.
g ed, and / was alone, shut myself up il
+ the closet for two hours, to ascertain if sht
v died from want of air; for Idistrusted m,
: own knowledge of the appearance of suf
focated persons. The place was we'll sup
y piled with air from a couple of creyices