Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-10-01

| euLtTeu-
Miss King" she said nervousIy, "woulc
: you come up stairs | don't know what il
the matter with my mistress"
made Mr.. Hallam accompany me, and w
returned to Caroline's room. She was still
almost unconscious, but moaning in pain. Ii
half an hour two physicians were at her bed
side and that night she was delivered of dead
child.
1t was four o'clock ir the morning, but still
dark as midnight, for we were in the midst OF
winter. The commotion of the last hours was
over. Caroline's room was hushed and, mo-
tionless and almost insensible, she lay between
life and death. In another room, alone with
its white limbs composed, rested the little form
whose eyes had never opened to the light
the human body that had never held living
spirit.
Over the still burning drawing-room fire I
sat with Mr.. Hallam / had tried to induce
him to retire to rest, but he would not GO
Blanched over cheek and lip, his very teeth
chattering like man in deadly terror, he sat
beside me, holding my hand in his with force
that crushed the flesh
How firm the eyes were closed, he kept
tremulousy muttering. Did you notice
Anne land the clenched hands, as if there
had been struggle Could it have fought
for life Oh, the third the third !' he
gasped How many more ?"
He chilled me with his wild wbisperings,
until my heart grew faint. l asked him at
last, sharply,
What do you mean ?"
My question brought scared look from
him, but no response. He ceased, however to
mutter to himself, and for minute we were
both silent then, touched by the half con-
temptuous pity that constantly awoke in me
when perc eived him quelled by my voice or
look, | said more gently than | had spoken at
| first.
Why do you keep whispering these things
to yourself, Frederick What do you mean
by them ?"
He turned his face around to me as spoke,
and wild fierce light sprang to his eyes.
What do mean by them? Doyou want
me to tell yon ?" he cried
His changed aspect startled me but con-
cealed my fear. | said, calmly,
Yes-or | would not have asked yon"
He held his gaze steadfasty upon my face.
As he sat gazing at me, something dawning in
that look made my blood curdle.
"ShaH | tell you ?" he said, sharply.
The fear was creeping over me with no will
of mine. Trying to crush it, answered quick
ly and contemptuously-
MIR. Hallam we are not pair of child
rem If you have anything to tell me, tell it at
once. Do you mean to speak ?"
"Hush, Anne |" he said "Anne," he
whispered, bend nearer Oh, it is horrible
to tell you v-he was shivering from head to
foot-"but must tell some one | cannot
bear it longer! Are you ready? Anne p he
| cried. L" | have shed blood !"
Mr.. Hallam, you are mad ~
l leapt to my feet. | cast his grasping
hand away from me. High above his voice
sprang my cry, and he answered with wild
shout of agony.
ooh, that l uere mad |" he cried "that
God would have that mercy on me, to strike
me mad Anything, anything to escape this
torture Oh, Anne, turn your face away do
not look at me with those dreadful eyes You
have got my secret. Have mercy on me, have
mercy on me now ~
With limbs that were turning into stone,
with pulses that seemed ceasing to beat |
stood, pity crushed out of me all emotion
concentrated and hardened into one unuttera-
BILE and incredulous horror | could not speak
my cold lips would not uncloSe to ask one ques-
tion but perhaps he read my face, for he
came after | do not know how many moments
had elapsed and passionately cast himself
down at my feet.
You do not believe me ?" he cried "you
cannot believe ME. But it is true, Anne i
As God sees me, is true Stand still-you
shall listen had friend-Frank Hiyard
--and we quarreled. took up pistol that
lay upon his table, and shot him dead Again
| met the woman who was to have married
him, and she suspected me, and threatened
me- put my two hands around her throat
he looked up, and his eyes were like devils,
glaring at me from the ground, ,-"and stran-
led her All Stand STILL Anne p he cried
1t was the last word that | heard. His
voice had risen to a shrek. Trying to move
and fly, | fell A mist was over eyes and brain,
and recollect no more.
We were still in the room alone together
when awakened. He had raised and laid me
on the sofa he himself crouching like wild
animal, was again at my feet
| lifted myself up, aud slowly and fearfully
the recollection of what had heard came back
to me,-hideous, unreal-lke the memory of
nightmare. l rose up pressed my hand
upon my forehead, and tried to clear my voice.
| went forward and stood above him.
care you mad 2" | family asked him. "or
is what you have told me true ?"
He lifted his haggard face, and broken and
toneless came his voice
AS | stand before God it is true !"
| staid to hear no more. Breaking from
him, fed from the room and through the