The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-04-06

l scarcely knew what | expected to find ;
but something stronger than myself seemed
TO impel me to the discovery of something
horrible, and placing the candle on the floor,
crept nolselessly along the passage, every
nerve strung to its utmost tension.
Master George slept in room at the end
OF the back-stairs gallery, which run at right
angles to the passage in which my room was
situated. My door faced Mr.. and Mrs.
Bonds; Master Georges faced the kitchen
stars and was properly the servants room,
but she had been moved to small closet
near me, Mr.. Brand not approving of her
holding as large chamber for herself,
neither willing to allow the boy anything of
better class. When stood by my door
could see Mr. and Mrs Brands room; but
it was only by gong the whole length of the
back stairs gallery that l. could get to Mas.
ter Georges. | could see now, however,
that this door was open, Tor ray of light
fell along the staircase wall, and could hear
his heavy snoring breath. And heard
another. heard mans step in the room :;
| heard the boards creak and the bed cloth
softly rustic; | heard an impatient kind Of
moan as Of some one disturbed in his step,
and then heavy blow, stihcd groan, a
man $ deep drawn breath. and the quick
sharp drip OF something split upon the floor
Dumb from terror, stood in the doorway of
the boy room. Pale, heavy, mollonless On
the bed lay the youth, his large limbs care
Iessly flung abroad in the Inconsistencies Of
sleep, and his face as calm and quiet as If still
dreaming. The sheets were wet with blood -
red the light of the candle still gli>teuing
upon sIna u red stream that flowed over the
side of the bed, on the floor beneath. Alta
Il ln I'll { .p H., l..
on handkerchief lie turned, and our eyes
met. lie came up to me with an oath. caught
me by the throat and drew the knife across
my hands. remember TO more until |
awoke in the broad daylight and found my
self IN the midst OF crowd gathered round
my bed.
Curious eyes stared at me; harsh voices
Knocked me; rough hands were laid upon
me; and heard myself branded with the
burning name of Murderer. Red tracks made
by woman's naked feet-made by mn feet
led from the boy room to mine: euch track
plainly printed on the bare urcarpctcd floor
tracks OF woman S feet, and of none other.
There was no explaining away these marks
and signs of guilt. Who woall believe me, a
half mad, lonely stronger with such family
history as mine, and. according to populsr
derous attack against any one offending =?
Had not this unhappy youth VIGOROUSLY Of
Tended and had | not only that very evening,
openly deiicd and threatened him? Escape
was impossible. To all the evidence heaued
up against me with such art and cunning.
tad but all unsupported assertion. which
would be set down as maniacal raving, and
only deepen the case against me.
| lr, ~ ali ~,
winter 5 day; and when the night came they
fastened me with cords and left INC once more
alone. vas SO well secured - bound hand
and foot. and t!piy 4cund-that it was not
thought nc,dGul to watch me: aud they were
all too much excited and overweight to wish
TO remain through the night with lunatic
murlutr, as was called. So they went, aud
MIR. Brand locked the door. saving, as he
turned away, We must have no more such
dangerous fits of madness, Miss Erfurt -
with sneer OH the word,
was too hopeless and dcsolate to think OF
any plan OF escape, feasible or not. The re-
action had set in, and | was content to lie
there in quiet, and to feel that had done with
lie forever. 1t had not offered me so many
joys that should grove to leave it, and for
the shame who cares for shame III the grave?
No: | was content to have done with all that
weighed upon me so long aud heavily. had
no one 10 mourn for me. no one to love me,
with a broken heart and a sorrowcd faith: |
vas aonc-alonc-an might as well die at
once and sleep TRANQUILITY in my murdered
grave. And was not unhappy, thinking all
these things Perhaps my brain was slightly
paIal ysed, so that could not suffer How
ever it might he, it was mcrci(ul moment of
aim.
TWAS nearly three o'clock, when | heard q
light hand upon tue door. The key was
turned softly in the lock, and, pale and terri
bic, like an avenging ghost, the poor brreaved
mother ellded into my room. She came up
to my bed and silently unfaStcnod the cords.
She said no comforting word, she gave me no
kind look, no plying human touch, but in
strange weak. wan way, she unbound me
limb by Limb until was free
60" she then said. below her breath, still
not looking at me. Il do not love you and
he did not; hut | know that you are inno-
cent. and do not want your blood on my
head. My turn is TO come next, but do not
mind, now he has gone. Go at once that
sleep will not last long. ! made it come for
you"
Without another word she turned from the
room, leaving the door open. got up as she
babe me. Without energy, without hope,
quietly dressed myself and left the house, 20.
ing forth into the darkness and desolation,
more because had been hidden to do so, than
to escape greater peril ] wandered through
the by-roadS aimleSsly, nervclessly: not shap-
ing my course for any gaol but simply going
forwards, to wherever chance might lead me.
poor woman gave me some milk: and
slept, believe. once beneath haystack. |
remember lying down there, and finding my
self again after many hours. In time-T can
not tell you how or when, nor how long had
been out out in the fields, but it was evening,
and the lamps were lighted was in London,
reading description of myself posted up
against the walls. saw myself described as
a murderess and maniac, and reward Of
fercd for my apprehension my dress, my
manners, appearance, gait. voice, a., Were SO
infinitely noted, as to render safety impossible.
Seized 18th terror fled: | fled like wild
being hunted and pursued, and have never
rested since.
"
CuRlOUs MISTAKE The feuilletonste of
ON excellent Brussels contemporary, I Unirer.
sal, in his notice of the death of the too cele-
hrated Lola Montez, has the following -
The celebrated pechcresse died it is said,
in most religious spirit, deploring the scam
dals and extravagances of her life. She YVES
taken care of during the last days of her life
by AIS. BHchGnan, 1rife Of the President of
the United States, who lad known her formerly
and took pity GU her abandoned condition"