The Shasta courier., 1859-04-02


not at once, in burning words, upbraid him for
his vlllainy, and flee, from pestilence, his
sin-accursed house? The man noticed nv hes
itatlon. He could not, of course interpret its
cause. As he repeated his request, the look of
distress upon his face excited a feeling of pity,
which, for the moment, slightly disarmed my
resentment, and under the influence of this feel
ing, almost unconsciously passed into the din
ingroo
81 am sorry little Nelly's mamma'-1 was
glad he did not dare to use the sacred name of
wife," is not able to sit down with u.s. he
said. st is many months since we have had
her presence at our meals. She is suffering from
the effects of slow fever induced by the eli
mate, he added, grayey as he motioned me to
a seat before him.
The table glittered with silver plate Obe-
dent servants brought on the most costly serv-
Ts delicacies such as | had never seen before.
But the skeleton sat at the feast.
could not talk save in monosylabes. Ny
host ate hastily-almost carelessly-waiting
upon me with many abrupt starts and apollo
gies.
Wine came. He drank freely Soon he sent
the little girl and servants from the room, and
seemed striving to nerve himself to conversa-
ton.
"You are frem---ci city, believe" he said,
nervously.
answered an affirmative.
" Did you ever know a gentleman there by the
name of H. E. F-?"
'' knew him, sir" said sternly, looking the
man steadily in the face. " and knew him also
as a ruined, heart-broken man."
With an ejaculation of anguish he D his
handkerchief to his eyes. 1t would have SEEM
ed hypocrtieal, but the suffering on his face
was unmistakable.
Perhaps you have suspected them he be-
gan in quiyerng voice.
Not calmly, but with the words of an accuser
told him what | had seen, and thought, and
felt
Sir" said he, in tone which shall never
forget, if have sinned, God in Heaven knows
have suffered and if in F.s bereavement he
has cursed me, that curse is fearfully fulfilled
Poor Mary is dying-has been dying for months,
and have known it. 1t has been for me to see
the failing step-the dimming eye; it is for me,
now, to see the terrible struggles of her nearly
worn out frame it is for me to listen to her Ian
guage of remorse, that sometimes almost drives
me mad. Yes, mad-mad-mad," he said, in
frenzy, rising and crossing the floor with long.
hasty strides. Then burying his face in his
hands, he exclaimed, Too late-too late--I
have repented." There was long pause, and
he.continued more calmly, No human means
can now restore my companion. Her moral
senslbllltles become more and more acute as she
fails in strength, so that she reproaches herself
constantly"
A weary, mournful sigh broke from his lips
as II his heart would break
"Ohl if he knew" he exclaimed again, /" if
he knew how bitter a penalty she is paying for
the outrage she has committed upon him-he
would pity her-and if it could be, forgive"
"Will you see her, sir?"
shrank from the very thought
She has asked for you, sir do not DENY her
request. Hearing that you came from America,
she entreated me to bring you to her. prom
sed that l wonld'
q will go, chem"
Up the COOL wide, matted stairs, he led me,
into chamber oriental in its beautiful furnish
ing, its chaste magnificence.
There, half reclining in wide, easy chair-a
costly shawl of lace thrown over her attenuated
shoulders, the rich dressing-go clinging and
followed to the ravages sickness had made-sat
one whose great beauty, and once gentle gifts
had made the light and loneliness of a once sa-
cred home.
But nor, pity! pityl
The eyes only retained their lustre they
were wofully sunken. The blazing fire, kindled
at the vitals, burned upon her sharpened cheeks,
burned more fercely, more hotly, as she looked
upon my face. | could think no more of anger
u couIu OHly say 10 HyseH
"Oh! how sorry | am for your
She knew, probably, by her husbands man.
ner, that was aware of their circumstances.
Her first question was,
care you going hack to America, sr?"
The hollow voice startled me. | seemed to
see open sepucre.
| told her that it was not my intention to re-
turn at present.
oh then who will take my little child back
to her father?" she cried, the tears falling. "a
am dying, and she must go back to him 1t is
the only reparation | can make, and little
enough, oh little enough, for the bitter wrong
have done them"
al hoped, sir. you might see him. she added
a moment after, checking her sobs; I" hoped
you might tell him that his image is before me
from morning till night as | knew he must have
looked wien the first shock came Oh sir
tell him my story-warn, o warn everybody !
Tell him have suffered through the long long
hours, these many weary years; ah, God only
knows how deeply"
Mary, you must control your feelings" said
my host, gently.
Let me talk while may" was the answer
Let me say that since the day left my home
have not seen single hour of happiness. 1t
was always to c0me-always just ahead-and
here is what has come-the grave is opening and
must go to Judgment. o, how bitterly have
paid for my sin. Forgive me-O my God-for-
give"
1t was a solemn hour that which spent by
the dying patient. Prayer she listened to-she
did not seem to join-or if she did, she gave no
outward sign. Remorse had worn away all her
beauty, even more than illness. She looked to
the future with a despairing kind of hope, and
but feeble faith.
Reader the misguided woman of Ceylon lies
beneath the stately branches of the palm-tree--
The sweet child met her father in her native
land. She sleeps under the troubled waters OF
the great wide sea. Where the betrayer wan
derS cannot tel-but wherever it is, there is no
peace for him. How often rings that hollow
voice in my ear-'' Tell him my story: Warn, |
Q warn everybody"
Since putting the foregoing sad tale in type,
we see it stated that it is a 'ssheer romance
founded upon the letter of Harlow Case. Moth
ing has ever been heard of the unfortunate Mrs
F. except what was contained in the letter of
Case. The author of this version of the story
of Case and his victim, is lady of Boston, if
she may be called lady who will thus deliber-
ately falsify-EDs. CouRIER.]
Esy-An Irishman was last week charged with |
having violently assaulted Phadelphian. 1t
appeared that the defendant had gone from New