Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-09-10
GIARKsEIIlE, TENN, FRIDAY. SEP TElBER 10. 1855


man, and draft of the same, restored
him to consciousness, and called forth a
degree of strength and vitality which in
duced Motley to believe that the wound
was not mortal and under this impress
sion, he told Dolt to hasten back to Ii e
Springs, send the doctor and procure the
meapsos removing Burton to the nearest
house. N ql,.s - ,8a. saa.,g "a
Gall that is unnecessary, Mr. Motley !"
said Burton, speaking with difficulty 81
am dying man. But am glad you are
here, for have something to say which
wouldrather say to you than to any one
else. Feel in any side-pocket, and you
will find two papers" And whilst Mr..
Motley was making the search, Burton
closed his eyes and remained quiet, as if
resting from the fatigue of uttering the
few words he had spoken.
"Here," said Mr.. Motley is copy of
a will, and a marriage certificate, and as l
know all about the former, you need not
fatigue yourself by an attempt to explain
it; but I am anxious to know the history
of the latter" NpF
''Give me drink from the bottle you
will find in my coat at-pocket, Mr.. Motley,
and you shall be gratifed." His request
being complied with, he resumed -"Iti is
not the history of those papers that 1 am
so anxious to relate, but to tell how, in
my own particular case, wrong doing has
been followed by punishment, l, have
tried hard to convince myself that my evil
course has resulted from the harsh treat
ment of others but feel now that a ma
tural proclivity to evil, aided by vicious
associations, is the secret of my ruins
Even when | was respected as man Of
honor and the habit of intemperance was
just taking root, l violated the confidence
reposcd in me by your father, and kept
possession of that will, because | foresaW
that it would enable me, at some future
day, to extort money from the wretch who
now lies dead by my side / was on my
way to his lodgings to receive the stipula
ted price, when he shot me. from beAint
that tree and, stepping forward to rifle my
pockets, he received shot in return and
} more fortunate than I, died without
struggle. F" 7t
"But this certificate, Mr. Burton-wha
Of it?" Asked Mr.. Motley, with an eager
! ness that told how. deep was his interes
in the subject.
"The same spirit of evil, Mr.. Motley
: prompted me to procure it from the Magis
trate, under the plea that it was part o
the joke; but my real object was to hol,
it as means of extorting money iron
/ Miss Berne, or of revenge for her coquetry
! as circumstances might determine trie,
| to use it for the former purpose, but he
1 sense of propriety-of sterling integrit
f defeated me, and / then tried the latte
t experiment and, fear, with too mucl
: success. deeply regret it now, and hop
: she will forgive me. IF | had never drank
: Mr.. Motley, the better part of my natur
would have triumphed over the worse, an
/ should never have brought disgrace up
on myself and my family. But yielde
j. to the temptation-the result has been
: life of sin and death of infamy an
k would to God, every young man could be
p hold me as | am, and profit by the warn
p ing" .. H .. ,-..
"But you will get well, Mr.. Burton, an
e may yet be happy and useful man,
If you will profit by the lesson the past hi
|, taught you" .e ls.s
Y mo, sir, | shall not get well, nor do
d desire it. There is feeling within tn;
e assures me my end is at hand, and eve
had l the option of life or death, woul
&c choose the latter. There is nothing
p make life desirable to me, and 1 am sui
IS that renewed health would be followed /
d a renewal of those vicious habits whic
W have become a second nature, and whic
d I have not the frmness of will to owe
,e come" a l-.H
&c From the beginning, Burton had spoke
6, with great difficulty, but his voice gradual
r became more feeble until he ended in 9
ID almost inaudible whisper. He evident
be desired to say more, and Mr., Motley W
he as anxious to hear what he might say b
at the will was not seconded by ability, al
he with, closed eyes, he laid, for some tim
as perfectly quiet, Mr.. Motley applied Il
he bottle to his lips, hoping to renew /
o. strength, but he closed them the mo
firmly. and shook his head 10 sionifv I