Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-03
EDGEFIELD, S. c., JUNE 3, 1867.

said, "Well, Moreton, the boys were unhappily
drowned but it was in consequence OF their
own imprudence"
"Thornton," said he, "you are here to hear
confession; am here to make tits of no use
shrinking from it-fill me glass of wine, for
my hand trembles. Now-two of the boys
the two youngest never saw as God is my
judge, believe if had seen the youngest |
would have done my utterrnost to save him. l
suppose they sank beneath the boat, and foated
down below the surface. The eldest, he rose
close to me; we were not twenty yards from
,oould have saved him if he had cried for help.
I saw him but for moment think when |
struck out to swim, I kicked him beneath the
water-undesignedy, Thornton, undesignedly.
But did not turn round to assist him; | made
for the bank and reached it--and it was then
too late. saw the ripple on the water, and
the boat floating away but nothing else. Thorn
ton, am his murderer %
When Moreton had pronounced this word, he
seemed to be somewhat relieved, and paused. l
imagined his communication had ended; and
ventured to say that although it was only justice
that the inheritance which had become his
should revert to the heirs of those who had
been deprived of it-supposing them to have
been deprived Of it by his act-it was proper
to consider the matter cody for there was
such thing as an over-sensitive conscience !;
and it was perhaps possible that, in the peculiar
circumstances attending the awful event, his
mind had been incapable of judging correctly;
that he might have coupled the fancies which
had preceded the event, with the event itself; /;
and that want of presence of mind might have
been mistaken for something more criminal.
"No, no. Thornton" said he, ~ am no fan
cicr: believe it to be as have told you. But
if you ever could have doubted-as do not
believe you do-your doubts would have been
dispelled by what you have yet to hear. am
not going to give you narrative OF my lie,
and shall say nothing of the time that immedl-
ately followed the event / have related. The
fortune become my father-in-law's; and my
wife became an heiress But my present cir
cumstances were nowise changed. Brighter
prospects led to increased expenses; and en-
barrassments thickened around me. You know
something of these, Thornton; and tried, rs
you recollect, ineffectualy;to extricate ME from
them. Meanwhile, my father-in-law, who spec
dily got over the loss he had sustained, spoke
of his daughter-of Agnes my wife-as great
hercss, and boasted and talked much of his
wealth, though it made no difference in his
mode of living. "Not one shilling, Walter, till
[ die" was constantly in his mouth AND not
shilling indeed, did he ever offer, although he
well knew the pressing difficulties in which we
were placed. once, and only once, Yentured
to ask him for some advance; but the answer
was the same: 1" Not shilling, Walter, till
die: patience, patience-it must all 60 to
Agnes.". -,
aMust I confess it, Thornton yes-I may
confess anything after what have already con-
fessed. The " not shilling till die" were
continually in my ears. The event that had pla-
ced fortune within my power, frequently recur-
red to my memory; and with it the conviction
that was in no way benefited by 1t: the
nearer vicinity of wealth only made the want
of it more tantalizing."
"Iou recollect very well, Thornton, my ap-
plicaton to you in December, 1872, six years
ago You rccollect its extreme urgency, and
The partial success which attended sufficient,
however to keep me from JAIL You might well,
Us you did, express your surprise that my wlie's
father should suffer such u state Of things to be;
but Lie could suffer anything, save parting with
his money hc was miser; the love OF riches
lad grown with their possession: and believe
he would have suffered me to rot in jail rather
than draw upon his Golfers"
I" 1t was Just at this time, or at most a weak
or two subsequent tU it, that Mr.. Bellendeil
was attacked by a complaint to which he had
long been subect-one requiring the most
prompt medical aid but from which, on several
former occasions, he had perfectly recovered.
Agnes was extremely attentive to her father;
and on Christmas evening, as we were both Oh
the way to the sick chamber, we met the family
surgeon leaving the house."
&C You are perhaps going to spend some time
with my patient q said Mr.. Amwell."
WMy husband,' said Agnes, means to spend
an hour or two with my father / have par
ticular engagement at present, and am only 60
ing to ask how he does.'"
"sI have some little fears Of another attack
said Mr. Amwell. DO not be alarmed, my dear
madam; we know how to treat things; prompt
ness is all that is required. 1t will be necessa-
~, my dear SIR said Mr.. Amwell, addressing
me, to lose no time in sending for me, should
Mr.. Bellenden experience another attack; all
depends upon the prompt and free use Ut the
lancet There is no occasion for any alarm,
madam. The good old gentleman may live to
"Mr. Amwell passed on, and we entered the
house. and ascended to the sick chamber. My
wife remand but few minutes, she had some
particular engagements at home; and as she
left the room, she charged me not to lose mo-
ment in calling Mr.. Amwell, should there ap-
pear to be any occasion for his aid. She shut
the door, and seated myself in large chair
near to the bed"
"There was table near to me with several
phals upon it. took them up poneby one, and
examined them One was labelled "laudanum."
While held it in my hand all the demon was
within. My pecunary difficulties seemed to
augment; the excellence of wealth to increase;
the love of enjoyment grew stronger; and my
estimation of the value Of an old mans life
weaker. At this moment the sick man asked
for drink Thornton need hesitate to con-
fess that was strongly tempted but resisted
the temptation. held the fatal phial for
few moments in my hand laid it down-pushed
it from mc-and assisted the old man to his
needs. But no sooner had 1 done this, and re-
seated myself, than began to accuse myself
with inconsistency. These, thought are dis
tinctions without any real difference. youth
who stood betwixt Inc and fortune, was drown
ing; and did not stretch out my hand 10 save
him there are many kinds of murder, but in
all the crime is the same"
"I had nearly proved to my satisfaction that
was fool, when certain indications that could
not he mistaken, assured me that AmWelPs
fears were about ~ he realized; and they instant
" were to the fullest extent MIR. Amwell's par
ting words recurretl to me, call depends upon