Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-02
aNortester DAILY Spp,
[From the Albany Evening Journal
THE BR0KEN-HEARTED;
OR, CRIME IT'S OWN AvENGER.
A New Leaf from a wen Known Higtory


implored the forgiveness of her husband. I'm
der the title we have given above, missionary
correspondent of the Boston Waterman and
Reflector describes an interview with the guilty
pair, which took place shortly before death
hurried away the mother and the child whom
she had made the companion of her wander
ings. The subject is a painful one, but the
writer describes so feelingly and truthfully the
selfinflicted misery of Case and his partner in
guilt, that we reproduce his narrative:
"What though the spicy breezes
Blow soft DER Ceylons Isle;
Though every prospect peases,
And only man is yile!n
Curiously enough, was just repeating this
stanza, when my new acquaintance called for
me. | had met him while on business visit
to Ceylon, as countryman of mine, and was
pleased with the opportunity that afforded me
more intimate personal knowledge.
thought myself fortunate in falling in with
so agreeable a gentleman, and considered his
face and manners peculiarly refined. On our
second meeting, noticed a singular restless
ness of the handsome dark eyes, an irritable
bitterness Of the lips and disposition to be
constantly on the move, shown in the tapping
of light bamboo cane, or in the motion of foot
or hand.
These things, however, did not strike me as
singular at the time but, coupled with what l
afterwards learned, were certain evidence that
the man felt already the cravings of the worm
that never dies.
One forenoon, we left the little seaport town
where | was sojourning, and rode a short dis
lance into the interior of the gorgeous island.
Most glorious were the surroundings on every
hand. With prodigality quite undreamed of
by the inhabitants OF colder Cline nature
had showered her most exquisite floral gifts
everywhere Trees loaded with sweet SMELL
ing flowers, their intense colors vieing with the
foliage Of richer green, from out of which they
smied-tall cactus plants, with crimson, goblet
shaped RESPONSIBILITIES, gorgeous in the'queen-
ly unfolding of form and color-everythin
rich, lavish, wonderful, met our eyes, feasted
to fulness with this tropical luxuriance.
"That is my house." said my new friend,
pointing to a low-roofed cottage, surrounded by
wide verandah, from whose clnging vines
sweet odors were flung upon the soft atmos-
phere-but from the moment the words were
uttered his sociability departed.
Within the cottage enclosure were walks,
bowers, and fountains. Chaste statuary was
dispersed over the grounds with most charm
ing effect. The house seemed almost a fairy
structure, rising in the midst of flowers and
foliage And the man who sat beside me,
whose smile mounted no higher than his lips
the dreamy, far-looking discomfort in his eye
the owner of this Eden-like home.
We were met on the threshold by lovely
child of some eleven Summers. Her hair
hung in curls. Her eyes particularly lustrous,
yet mouTnful in beauty, and on the young
brow seemed to see something's shadow
of sadness-an unchildlike quiet, as she greet
ed my new friend
Dressed in pure white, she glided in before
us, and to her was left the duty of entertaining
me; while Mr. c., excusing himself in the re-
mark that sickness necessarily called him
away, for a halfhour or so, left the room
'Is your mother very unwell 2" | asked of
the little girl, who, with those shallow filled
eyes OF hers, was regarding me gently, but at
tentively.
Eyes sir, mamma has been sick long
time" replied she, dropping her eyes, while
her lips trembled.
"Did you come from America 2" she asked,
timidly, after long silence.
eyes, my dear. Do you know anything of
that country 2? returned, growing more and
more pleased with her expressive face.
"Only that mamma came from there, and l
think" she added, hesitatingly, "that l did.
But Mr.. c. will never let me talk about it."
care yon, then, not the little daughter of
Mr.. C.sa" asked, somewhat astonished.
Liam my mothers daughter" answered the
child, with grave dignity in one so young
and a minute after she arose and quietly left
the ROOM
l sat watching her white robes fitting
through the long shady walk opposite my win
dow, and knew that the child brooded over
some dark sorrow, for her eyes were filled with
tears.
Why was it, questioned myself, that pain
full thought took possession of me as l sat
there? 1t seemed as if | were sojourning in
an enchanted spot and that some horror was
suddenly to break upon me.
AT my side, nearly covering beautiful table
of letter wood, were several costly gift books.
l took them carefully-for have a reverence
for books-and turning to the iy-leaf of
splendidly bound copy of Shakespeare, read
q To Mary Frances F., from her devo
ted husband, Henry E. r"
thrill Of surprise and anguish ran from
vein to vein. My thoughts seemed paralyzed.
The truth had burst upon me with such sud
denness that the blood rushed with a shock to
my heart
/ knew Henry E. F., had known him in
timately for years. He was a friend towards
whom all my sympathies had been drawn, for
he had seen such sorrow as makes the heart
grow old before its time
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted him.
She had taken with her his only child. She
had desolated household; and forgetting hon
or, shame, everything that pertains to God,
had fled from the country with the man whose
arts had won her wanton love.
How could / remain under this roof that
now seemed accused? How meet the de-
stroyer of virtue-the fiend who had revelled
in such a conquest?
l could only think of the evil they had done
not what they might suffer through the tor
lures of remorse. 1t was sometime before the
seducer came into the room where still sat
with the child, determined to meet him once
more before i left the house.
o how guilty how heart-stricken his APP
pearance Remorse sat upon his forehead
looked out from his eyes-spoke when he was
silent.
"Will you come to dinner 2" he asked.
/ hesitated. Should partake of his hospi-
tally; the hospitality of one of those fiends
in human shape whose steps take hold on
hell! knew his guilt-why delay to declare
it? Why not at once, in burning words up
braid for his viany, and flee as from pest-
lence his accursed house The man noticed
my hesitation. He could not, of course, inter-
pref its cause. AS he repeated his request, the
look of distress upon his face excited feeling
OF pity, which, for the moment, slightly dis
armed my resentment, and, under the intu-
ence OF this feeling, almost unconsciousy l
passed into the dining room.
" am sorry little Nely's mamma I'll was
glad ne oild not dare to use the sacred name of
wife is not able to sit down with u.s." he
said 1t is many months since we have had
her presence at our meals She is suffering
from the effects of sow-fever; induced by the
climate" he added gravely, as he motioned
me seat before him.
The table glittered with silver-pate ODE
dent servants brought, on the most costly
servers, delicacies such as l had never seen be-
fore.