The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-16
a True Storv

n ouShy, Ollo announced the deceaSe OF the I'M
:, happy woman who had accompanied his fight
S and implored forgiveness of her husband
5 Under the title we have given above. a re-
liable correspondent of the Boston Watchman
and Reflector, writing from Ceylon, describes
an Interview with the guilty pair, which took
n place shortly before death hurried away the
mother and child whom she bad made the COM
panion of her wanderings The writer des-
cribes so feengly and trpthfully the self infict-
ed misery of Case and his partner in guilt, that
we reproduce his narrative:
One forenoon we left the little seaport town
n where l was sojourning, and rode short dis
tance into the interior of the gorgeous, rich
island. Most glorious were the surroundings
on every hand. With prodigality, quite uh-
dreamed of by the inhabitants of a colder cline,
nature had shoWered her most exquisite floral
gifts everywhere. Trees, loaded with sweet
0 smelling flowers, their intense colors vieing
with the foliage of richer green, from out Of
which they smiled; tall cactus plants with Grim
0 son, goblet shaped blossoms; lilies, gorgeous in
the queenly unfolding of form and color--eyery-
thing rich, lavish wonderful met our eyes,
q leased to lullness with this tropical luxuries.
''That is my house." said my new friend,
pointing to low rooted cottage, surrounded
q by wide veranda, from whose clinging 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 Iips-the dreamy,
far looking discomfort in ais eye growing every
y moment more perceptible-was the owner OF
this Eden like home.
We were met on threshold by a lovely child
0 Of some eleven summers. Her hair hung in
curls. Her eyes particularly lustrous yet mourn
ful in beauy, and on the young brow | seemed
to see a something; a shadow of sadness-an
0 unchildlke 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.. G., excusing himself in the re
% mark that sickness necessarily called him away
for a half hour or so, left the room.
e'Ls your mother very unwell?" | asked o
the little girl, who, with those shaiiow filed
10 eyes Of hers, was regarding me gently, bu
attentiyely.
Eyes, sir, mamma has been sick long
70 time, replied she, dropping her eyes, while
: : her lips trembled.
70 Did you come from America" she asked
,e ,e timidly after long silence.
5 "Yes, my dear. Do you know anything 0
IN that country?" I returned growing more anc
TO more pleased with her expressive face.
h "Only that mamma came from there, and
ty think, she added hes!talingly, "that | did
n But Mr. G. will never let me talk about it.
"Are you then not the little daughter Of Dir
- C.?' | asked, somewhat astonIshed.
r. q am my mothers daughter" answered
to the child, with a grave dignity in one so youn
and minute after she arose and quietly lei
the room.
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 filled with tears
al Why was it? l questioned myself, that pair
full thought took possession of me as sat there
It seemed as if | were sojourningin an enchan
50 ed spot, and that some horror was suddenly t
00 break uponome.
99 00 At my side nearly covering beautiful tabI
90 of sandal wood, were several costly gift book
took them up carefully, for have FeTerenc
90 for books-and, turning to the fy-leaf of
W spendidly bound copy of Shakespeare, read
90 s.To Mary Frances F-from her devote
90 husband-Henry Z. r"
'e, A thrill of surprise and anguish ran fror
od vein to vein. My thoughts seemed paralyzec
We The truth had burst upon me with such sud
i'll denness that the blood rushed with a shock I
le- my heart,
=, knew Henry E. r, had known hir
e, intimately for years. He was friend TOWARD
IS whom all my sympatbies had been drawn, tc
mt he had seen such sorrows as make the heal
grow old before its time.
His wife, whom he loved had deserted hin
She had taken with her his only child. Sh
had desolated household; and forgettln
=, honor, shame, everything that pertains TO VII
tue and TO God, had fled from the country wit
the man whose arts had won her wanton love
How could remain under this roof that no
= seemed accursed? How meet the destroyer
yirtue-the fend who who had revelIed in sue
IN a conquest?
On could only think of theaeyil they had don
-. not what they might suffer through the tol
b- lures of remorse. 1t was sometime before tn
seducer came into the room where | still Sc
nd with the child, determined to meet him ono
Il more before I left the house.
We O!how guilty how heart-Strickcn his appear
dllCc! IbtIIOl SC Stlu Oll MS O CilC w
IA from his eyes-spoke when he was silent.
ne "Will sQu come to dinner?" be asked
ro hesitated Should partake of his hospitality
the hospitality of one Of those fends in huma
ny shape, whose steps take hold on he'll? l kne
,s his guilt-why delay to declare it? Why nj
i'd at osce, in burning words, upbraid him for h
viIlainy, and flee as from a pestiIence bis siI
mt cursed house? The man noticed my hesitation
rIy He could not, of course, interpret its caus
As he repeated his request, the look of distres
- upon his face excited a feeling Of pity, whicl
for the moment slightly disarmed my rcsen
ment, and. under the influence of this feelin!
IA. almost unconsciously passed into the diniin
ed room
b- = am sorry little Nelly's mamma'- q WI
re- glad he did not use the sacred name Of wife
zes -'sis not able to sit down with US, +" he sat
oG ssIt is many months since we have had h
he presence at our meals. She is suffering fro
Y the effects of slow fever, induced by the clin
Is ate, ;" he added grayely, as he motioned me
- seat before him.
in in The table glistened with silver plate. Oh