Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1857-11-27

newspaper. Fingered ten minutes Longer
ten fatal minutesl'
"Oh, Ada, never defer duty moment
There is but one right time given us to dc
it in, and to occupy another time, is de.
frauding some other duty of its hour
1t is irreparable mischief done, and may
bring upon you, dear, some grief like this
of mine r. s..
81 knew should have to use great haste
to reach the depot before the train left, SO
I promised the driver extra pay if he would
get me there in time. You see, was anx.
ious not to miss this train, as it was the
last that day, and ! wanted to be in court
before the jury brought in their verdict,
that dreadful word "Guilty," might not
strike into my friends quivering and in
nocent heart. 1 knew Underhill to be a
person of great sensibility, and / knew,
too, that he was engaged to be married.
The verdict Guilty would be an almost
insuferable pang to two persons.
s'Ada, / know by the pain it costs me to
make this confession to you, in whose eyes
l most desire to be good and blameless,
what poor Vicent must have suffered, when
he felt that she whom he loved, would hear
him pronounced criminal. To be sure,
l knew that he would be cleared AGAIN.
but that word would stain their life with
grief, and grief-stains cannot be wholly
washed out in after happiness. (
"My punishment began with my ride to
the cars. In order to secure the promis-
ed advance in fare, the driver lashed his
poor brutes numerically. / remonstra-
ed, but the fellow only grinned, saying,
"No time to lose, sir" could hardly
bear to hear the savage blows which the
poor horses were enduring, to make up for
my indulgence in ease. But did not
bear it. When arrived at the depot. l
found the train had left"
"The next morning I was in time. But
there had been collision between two
stone trains, and it took Ave hours to clear
the tract. So that was nine hours in
reaching Philadelphia, and when arrived
the jury had brought in their verdict,
equity" After it was pronounced, tho
the yet unbroken stiffness of the court,
poor Underhin heared stihed cries and
sobs in the gallery, and tainted. He was
now in another room, being revived sufi-
ciently to return and hear his sentence
This was told me, as | made my way in
frantic haste through the crowd. Iquick-
ly informed the proper persons of his in
nocence, gave up the proofs, and ran to
take the news to my friend. ADD
Randolph leaned his head heavily on my
shoulder. "Oh, Ada, he had just-cut his
throatl saw it."
Randolph was fainting. My kisses and
tears could not revive him. Help came,
but that emotion was too much for his
weakened frame. When they lifted him
from my shoulder, gush of blood poured
from his mouth.
In few days he was we'll enough to talk
a little / sat alone by his bedside.
"Ada," he said, 81 expect another hem
orage hourly. want you to make me a
promise while l have strength to ask it Of
you, and sense enough to enjoy your com
plianoe."
"Anything, Randolph"
"Don't sob, darling. This suffering is
but retribution, 1t almost gives me salts
faction to see my blood flow as his did,
But would willingly spare yeu what his
poor Mary endured. 1t is my heaviest
punishment that cannot. Grant my re-
quest, dear. 1t is to write this cruel sto-
ry for warning to others. believe nc
human failing produces such fatal results
as procrastination. Let others see what
evil may come by being only five minutes
too late.
Poor Randolph has made full retribu-
ton, He is dead.
BEAUTIFUL ALLUsIoN.-What quality