Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-18

She did not rebuke me for calling her
SO; and emboldened by her silence, took
her hand to lead her from her narrow
prison. She moved forward and fell into
my arms corpse.
/ cannot recall what followed. I only
know that every means was tried for herre-
storation to life, but alas without success.
Of one thing l was firmly convinced
she had not died from sufiocation. I had
seen man who had met death in this
manner. recollected his purple and
swollen face, and his warm limbs. She
was pale, rigid and cold. The tumult of
her own emotions must have killed her
the moment the door was closed upon her.
by some means kept my secret from
the knowledge of Watson and every one
else. All that night was trying to re-
cover her. Then I formed the project of
shutting her up in the closet, locking up
the chamber, and going abroad for twenty
years. But the idea was rejected as soon
as formed; for it would be hardly possible
that the presence of a dead body in the
house should not be discovered before
that time.
Next I thought of setting fire to the
place, burning all my books and papers,
making funeral pile of them, and thus
running myself to preserve the secret.
But that thought, too, was dismissed. 1t
might cause loss of life and property to
many innocent people, and would be a
bungling proceeding after all, and if this
fire was discovered early, policemen, fire
men, mob, would break in, and finding
the body there, all would be lost-for it
was more to save her reputation than nv
life, that I was striving and plotting.
In the meantime was prey to themost
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 heard, feared might
be that of a policemen. In the morning
a stranger called on business. This of
course, was nothing unusual; but, when
, he was gone, ] felt that he was detect
i've officer, and had come as a spy. |
thrust few clothes into carpet BAG, in
up box of matches TO set the place on
fire, I grasped razor and looked earn
estly at its edge as the surest and swift
est way Of ending my misery. But all
these would leave her to the jests Of the
$ world, and my own suferings were moth
, ing in comparison. At this distance o.
s time l can look back impartially and cool
: ly upon the dreadful day; and can sol.
: emnly declare, that I would rather b.
Y hanged for numbering her than to have
{ allowed breath to sully her fair name
S / had just laid down the razor, when
n hurried step crossed the ante-room. /
d was her husbands. Now, thought, al
II is lost; she was seen to enter here, an
e he has come to claim her.
d "My dear" he began in yer
nervous unsettled way, "you remembe
h the business I came about yesterday p
" "Perfectly."
9 "And do you remember the words
~ used as I was going? l mean in answe
.. to what you said about my not being alb
it to touch this money until after the deaf
of my wife?"
a Eyes, remember them distinctly"
of My wife has disappeared since ye
in terday morning." he continued, turnir
H. more pale than before, sand if anythir
ne serious should have happened, you kno'
ar. and you should repeat those expression
If they might be laid hold Of, and dol
know what might be the consequence
ill might be suspected of having murders
ere her."
en- Poor fellowi IF l had not t-aown {
ife, truth, should have suspecteu i myse
In from bis excessive terror and anxiet
nd He wiped the perspiration from his ia
sck and sank into chair. The sight Of
lrn person frightened more than myself
/ assured me. was calmer than | was sir
. / the preceding morning.
eat Where did she go? How was S
ong dressed" inquired, anxious to know
uld / could on the subject.
ties 81 don't know. She told me she v
going out shopping and visiting; but
Just one saw her leave the house and none
!, / the servants knew exactly how she !
4 to dressed. When / went home to din
lim the first thing / heard was that she
Ire. not returned?"
axe "What have you donef Have
sent to the police and to the hospital
key eyes, and to every friend and trad
the man she would be likely to CALI
Y i