The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-04-27
A True Story.

{
accompanied his flight and implored forgiveness
of her husband was published. Under the title
we have given above, a reliable correspondent
of the Boston Watehman and Reflector, writing
from Ceylon, 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
wanderings. The writer describes so feelingl7
and truthfully the sef-inficted misery Of Case
and his partner in guilt, that we reproduced his
narrative:
One forenoon we left the little seaport town
where was sojourning, and rode short dis
tance into the interior of the gorgeous, rich
island. Most glorious indeed were the sur
roundings on every hand. With prodigality,
| quite undreamed by the inhabitants of colder
cline, nature had showered her most exquisite
floral gifts everywhere Trees, loaded with
sweet-smeelling flowers, their intense colors
vieing with the foliage of richer green, from
out of which they smiled; tall cactus plants,
with crimson, goblet shaped blossoms; lilies,
| gorgeous in the queenly unfolding Of form, and
color everything rich, lavish, wonderful met
our eyes, feasted to fullness with these tropical
luxures.
"That is my house, said my new friend.
/ pointing to a low rooted cottage, surrounded by
a wide veranda, from whose cinging 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 charming
effect. The house seemed almost fairy struct-
ure, 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 growing every
moment more perceptble, which was the owner
of this Eden like home.
:. We were met on the threshold by lovely
child of some seven summers. Her hair hung
in curls Her eyes particularly lustrous ye
mournful in beauty, and on the young brow
seemed to see a something; a shadow of sad
ness-an unchildlike quiet, as she greeted 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 half hour or so, left the room.
''Is your mother very unwel?" | asked o
r the little girl, who, with these shallow fllec
eyes of hers, was regarding me gently, but at
tentiyely.
eyes sir, mamma has been sick long time,
replied she, dropping her eyes, while her lip
trembed
Ibid you come from American" she asket
timidly, after long silence.
J eyes, my dear. Do you know anything 0
$ that country?" retdrned growing more ant
more pleased with her expressive face.
"0nly that mamma came from there, and
think" she added, hesitatingly, 'that | did
c But Mr.. G. will never let me talk about it,
!, care you then not the little daughter of MI
y C.?'' | asked, somewhat astonished.
81 am my mothers daughter" answere
the child. with grave dignity in one SO youn
and a minute after she arose and quietly lei
the room.
l sat watching her white robes fitting thrc
the long shady walk opposite my window, an
knew that the child brooded over some dar
sorrow, for her eyes were filed with tears.
Why was it? questioned myself, that pain
ful thought took possession of me as sat there
1t seemed as if l were sojourning in an enchant
ed spot, and that some horror was suddenly t
break upon me.
; At my side, nearly covering beautiful tabl
! of sandal wood were several costly gift books
Itook them up carefully, for have a reverenc
q for books-and, turning to the fly leaf of
, splendidly bound copy Of Shakespeare, read
> ''To Mary Frances F-from her devoted
+. husband-Henry E. F."
A thrill of surprise and anguish ran from
. vein to vein. Ny thoughts seemed paralyzed
The truth had burst upon me with such sud
! denness that the blood rushed with a shock t
) my heart.
knew Henry E. F--had known him init
mately for years. He was friend toward
> whom all my sympathies had been drawn, fo
he had seen such sorrows as make the heal
2 grow old before its time.
His wife, whom he loved, had deserted hin
F She had taken with her his only child Sh
had desoated household;and forgetting honor
shame. everything that pertains to virtue an
! to God, had fled from the country with the ma
4 whose arts had won her wanton love.
;. ;. How could remain under this roof that no'
il seemed accursed? How meet the destroyer {
vrtue-the fend who had revelled in such
$ conquest?
: 5 could only think of the evil they had don
: : mot what they might suffer through the ton
7 lures of remorse. It was sometime before th
d seducer came into the room where I still Sc
5; with the child, determined 10 meet him ono
: more before left the house.
5 ;, o! how guilty! how heart stricken his az
> pearance Remorse sat on his forehead-looke
out from his eyes-spoke when he was sileu
'sWill you come to dinner?" he asked.
]! hesitated Should I partake of his hospitalit
tie hosBtqy Qf ons 9f tbbd tbffs oG 6ands IN hsma
/ his guilt-why delay to declare it? Why ne
at once, in burning words, upbraid him for b
. . villainy, and flee as from pestilenee his sir
e cursed house? The man noticed my hesitation
r He could not, of course, interpretits cause. A
e he repeated his request, the look of distre:
upon his face excited feeling of pity, Whict
= y for the moment, slightly isarmed my resen
to ment, and, under the Influence of this feeling
s almost unconsoiously I passed into the dinin
room.
Il am sorry little Nelly's mamma e vi
= clad he did not use the sacred name OF wife
-ssis not able to sit down with US, he sal
rs at is many months since we have had her pre-
" ence at our meals She is suffering from tt
y effects of slow fever, induced by the climate,
he added gravely, as he motioned me Sc
i'd before him.
The table glistened with silver plate. OBJ
u dent servants brought, on the most costly SER