Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-06-03

strong persuasion that the last obstacle to for
tune had been removed. But, Thornton, again
l knew that was-a second timc-a murde-
rer !" -
"Here Mr.. Moreton paused, and leaned back
in his chair, apparentlyt exhausted l again
thought his communication had ended and al
though could not now address him as I had
addressed him before, was beginning to say
that to make absolute beggars of his children
could not be IN acceptable atonement for crime,
when he interrupted me, needless, apparently,
of my having addressed him.
ain few minutes Mr.. sAmwel entered the
room. He approached the bed, bent over it,
turned to me, and said, AI fear it is too late,
Mr. Moreton."
"Perhaps not said Lat all events make
the attempt"
"Mr. Amwell did of course make thcattempt,
and in few moments desisted shook his head,
and said, "A little-and have reason to believe
only very little-too Late and in few min
utes was again left alone"
"Thornton, since that hour I have been o
miserable man."
Another long pause ensued, which I did not
attempt to break but Moreton at length re-
sumed -
"Since that hour, say, Charles Thornton,
have never known moments peace. My wife's
tears for her father fell upon my heart like drops
of fire; every look she gave me seemed to read
my innermost thoughts; she never spoke that
did not imagine that she was about to call me
murderer Her presence became agony to me.
I withdrew from her, and from all society-for
thought every man looked suspiciously upon
! Inc and I had no companion but conscience
ay, conscience, Thornton, ,-conscience that l
| thought had overcome-as well might, for
had not seen the young and healthy sink,
| when might have saved and how could have
believed that E. but so it was, and is: look
at me- and you will see what conscience has
made of me. Agnes sickened, and as you know,
died. This felt as relief; and for time
breathed more freely; and married again. But
| my old feelings returned, and life every day be-
comes more burdensome1o me- Strange, that
events long passed become more and more vivid
but so it is. The evening on the Cam, and
the death chamber of old Bellenden, are alter
| nately before me-
"Now, Thornton, you have heard ALL Are
you now ready to frame the will as directed? :?
| ain possessed of quarter of million, and 1t
| belongs to the heirs of those for whom it was
originally destined"
Some conversation here ensued, in which my
object was to show that, although the large
property at Moreton's disposal ought never to
have been his, yet if the events which he had
related had not taken place, it never could have
come into the possession of those for whom he
now destined it. I admitted, however, the pro-
prety of the principle restitution to the branch
es of the family in which It had originally been
vested, but prevailed wifi Mfr: Moreton in hav-
ing competency reserved for his own children,
and for his wife, who married in the belief that
lie was able to provide for her. And upon these
principles, accordingly, the testament was framed
and completed the same evening.
Itgrew late "Waltcr Moreton," said |, rising
to take leave, let this subject drop for ever.
When we meet again, let there he no allusion
to the transactions of this evening"
"rhornton," said hc, ave shall never meet
again"
"Therc are remedies, my FRIEND" said L
"there arc remedies for the accusations of con-
science apply yourself to them; if the mind
were relieved by religious consultations, bodily
health would return"
Aloreton family smiled. eyes, Thornton"
said he, "there are remedies; know them, and
will not fail to seek their aid. Good night p
1
to bed as may easily be believed, to think OF
the singular revelations of the evening. For
some time these thoughts kept me awake; but
at length fell asleep. My dreams were dis
turbed, and oil about Walter Moreton. Some
times he was swimming in the river, or standing
on the bank, pointing with his finger to a human
head that was just sinking: sometimes he was
sitting by the bedside of old Bellendcn, exami-
n;nc, +bo ,,h;.l ontI ,ro1kinu on tintou TO thc
door, and sometimes the Scene Of the past eve
ming was renewed, when saw and listened TO
his narrative Then again, he had 4 phial i'll
his hand, and uncorked it, and in raising it to
his mouth, it seemed to be a small pistol and
just at this moment | awoke.
The last scene remained forcibly and rlyidly
on my mind 1t instantly occurred to me that
he might have meditated suicide, and that that
was the remedy of which he spoke. lookedat
my watch; it was an hour past midnight. l
hastily dressed, and hurried up to "Hrumpington
Street There was light in one OF the win
dows. knocked gently at the door; and at
the same time applied my hand to the knob,
which yielded. | hurried up stairs, directed by
the situation of the light had seen, and entered
the room. Moreton stood near to the bed, be-
side small table; phial in his hand, which,
at the moment entered, no laid down. sprang
forward and seized it. 1t was already empty.
"Ah, my fricnd" said but further speech
was useless. Mo-eton was already in the grasp
Of death.
ApvERr1s1Nc.- people object to adver-
tisng; in fact they object to everything. Now
our experience teaches us that unless a man adj
vertiscs, his business will necessarily diminish,