The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-01-09

how il would be gained, amongst our neigh
bors. They came into our little back par
lor ju ct as usual, and wounded US with ev
cry word. Now mark my words, SAT-
one, the fellow will be discovered in tn
end and hanged /; and ay, ay, murder vii
out, sooner or later said the rest. Soon
er or later how those words haunted us
for now, indeed, we had played q part
which, if discovered, would have proved III
at once guilty; my wife took to her bed
and fairly sickened from sheer anxiety
She had fever, and was dclirious for weeks
and never dared TO leave her, or let another
watch by her bedside, 70, fear Of what she
might rave upon. Whom the end came a'
last, my poor wife wanted to soc the clergy
man but l said No. 1t was for the same
reason that would not send for Mr.. Roland
here, myself; he was magistrate. You're
not magistrate?' demanded poor Charl-
ton, suddenly, with the damps of death up
on his forehead. l quioted him as we'll as
I was ablO, and begged him to set his mind
at ease as to any earthly tribunal. After a
little time, and without noticing the warn
ing contained in my last words, he contin-
ued
&" Among the folks in our parlor, one
man in particular, tailor, by the name OF
Deckham, seemed never weary in talking OF
Spigat's murder. lie was miserably poor,
ill-iavored person, who had drilled his way
into our company by means of sharp
tongue. One night l told him fatty enough
did not like such mournful talk, and was
quito tired Of that theme. why, one
would really suppose that you killed tho
man YOURSELF he retorted. 1t seemed as
If an arrow had darted through my brain
for moment, and could hardly keep upon
my legs; but laughed it of as well as l
could.
He stayed, however, to the very last ; and
when we two were alone, he drew small
strap from an inner pocket, and asked me
whether 1t was mine; 'for | found it, said
he, inside your house, bstwixt the back Of
the JC,r aud the WALL NO, it is not l
replied, but rather hesitatinsly, for saw he
had some purpose in the question. Il thought
so,' he went on, 'for il is the fellow to that
found upon John Spisat, the man who was
murdered fifty yards from here,i the Shawl.
ham Road
81 could not speak at first, nor do any
thing beyond making deprccatins and pitt
ful motions with my hands; but afterwards
made shift to tell this Deckham the whole
truth. "Likcly enough, Master Charlton"
he said quite coolly; 'atwecn friends, how
ever, such things look better than before q
judge and jury I'll put paddock on this
here tongue safe enough, if you'll fit it. rs
I'm sure like sensible man you will, with
a golden key" felt the halter already
round my ncck-this friend jerking it loose
ly or tightly as he would but there seemed
to be then no help forit. Ipaid five pounds
that evening-miserable dolt that was
as a retaining fee to villain for working
my total ruin. Many and many time did
my children and myself 60 without the
barest necessaries that that man might have
the means to indulge in debauchery and ex-
tiavasancc. l sold the shop, and removed
with my mothcrless BARNS to another part
of the town; but Henborough itself my ty-
rant would not permit me to leave. Loss OF
custom, loss Of health, and almost loss of
reason followed, Of which you now know
the cause. This incubes bestrode mo day
and night, and wore my very life out. Of
ten and often have l been q murderer at
heart because of that mocking fend ; once,
indeed, he confessed to me, that vague
suspicion had alone induced him to try me
in the matter, and that the strap story was
only an ingenious to,,chstone Of his own
Cunning as | was then, / had been over
reached, and anxious to efface the very
breath of SANDER, l had given gratuitous
proof of guilt. Here, il, this workhousc ,;
friendless, penniless, | am safe from his per-
secutions; but tremblc for my children,
lest he use them also rs his tools"
strove to comfort him, and to represent
the folly of having submitted to such q
treatment at first; but l was speaking to
ears that could not listen. The wifeless,
childless man was dying fast, on awful los
son to the crafty and untruthful. What
little leaven of dishonesty had leayeued all
this lump? How the path of life had been
darkenod forever by tho merest shadow p
While l almost doubted whether he was
alive or dead, no spang up once again into
sitting posture and pressed the paper which
he hadconcealcd SO carefully, into my hand.
A sudden dread Of awakening suspicion,
even after death, had nerved dissolving na-
turc fr that effort, and hardly did the grey
head touch the pillow before his worn heart
ceased 10 beat. Near twenty years ago, as
long us most burn on in fruitless hope, it
had throbbed in groundless fcar!-HousehoH ID
Words.