Litchfield enquirer., 1861-07-04

LID, CONN, THURSDAY. his creditors, and departed suddenly, none knew whither, carrying with him his humbled and sor- rowing wife.
 The commercial world was startled for a mo- ment by the extent of the failures but in a few brief weeks the thing was almost forgotten, save by those who had suffered immediate less All these things learned long afterwand. It would profit nothing to detail to you the wearying and humiiating routine of my prison life.
 Let me pass to the close.
 I had been shut out from the world nearly two years, and one evening was sitting on the low bed in my solitary cell, dreamily wandering among the gardens of memory Sorowful enough is this, even to him to whom time has brought no show of disgrace. Who, while he looks into the irrevocable long ago. dozes be- side his fire-side, surrounded by those who love him, and by those he loves :? Who shall say how many grim forms of unrepented error look out from its shadows upon even the happiest mani How much less, then, shall any tongue tell how bitterer than gall it was to look into the past, to me, who, while yet young, had seen my name stained with foulest dishonor, all my aspirations in g moment crushed, and my dearest hopes even in their broadest noon, plotted into instant night.
 And so I was sitting, in the growing gloom of that autumn evening, mentally living over again the days that were gone, when the door opened, and the turnkey, accompanied by two or three gentlemen, entered the cell. One of the gentlemen l recognized as having been the pro- scouting attorney upon my trial the other Idid not know.
 This is the man, Mr. Cramptou,' said the turnkey. rose and bowed stif1y.
 My dear Elmore,' said the attorney frankly extending his hand, let me congratulate you up- on your restoration to lfe liberty, and the pnr- suit of hspiness,' as the ancients' have it. You are from this moment free to wander whitherso- ever you choose. Come, let us get out into the air 1t makes me feel anguish in here.'
 was completely bewidered, and suffering myself to be led without word, before I could collect myself to ask the reason of this unex- Pected proceeding, found myself once more un- der Cops blessed stars, accompanied by, or rath- CT being dragged by, the good-natured old law yer And what was the reason? you ask. Sim ply tbis The note, for the uttering of which l had been prlsoned. was the issue of country bank, and, since my trial, had remained in the hands of Mir. Champion, the attorney. A short tune previous to my release, Mir. Wilson, one of the gentlemen who accompanied Mir. Champion to the prison, and president of the bank whence the note was issued. being ill Boston, was sitting ln Crampton's office, when some casual remark recalled to the memory of the latter the crcum- stances attending my conviction. From mere curesity he showed the note to Mir. Wilson, and he, to Champions astonlshment, pronounced it genuine!
 And so had been guilty of no crime, either in thought or deed. But where was the redress? W hat redress could there be for a mother mur- dered, and name dishonored?
 ou need not be told my reasons for quitting Boston forever. Icame here after many wander ings and, to this day, no soul there knows but that am dead.
 Once more the old man paused, relighted his pipe, and in a cheerful tone, continued his story.
 bad lived here, with an old negro woman for house keeper, nearly four years, when some unaccountable impulse prompted me to go to New Orleans. There was no reason why l should either go on. or stay. except my own in. ci;natlon and so ran down to the bank there passage for the city.
 1t was hot but beautiful day in May when the White Cloud swung out into the current, and steamed gallantly down tine river. The heat was tempered by strong breeze from the south, before which, small, feecy clouds, that seemed almost melting into the distant blue, like little fairy barges, scudded swiftly to the northwurd Always silent and abstracted, 1 was that day un- usually thoughtful. remember sat all day on the guards to all appearance looking at the banks of the river, really looking dreamily into my heart-history, with sort of pleasant sadness which every meditative man so often feels that partial losing of ones present consciousness in the cloudy living over again the pleasantnesses of years agone
 Late in the afternoon, the sun disappeared behind mass of leaden-b blue clouds, gliding its volume verge with line of dazzling light. The wind ceased entirely, a stifing closeness crept through the atmosphere and, to an eye at all weather-wise, it was evident that the armies of the air were mastering for a conflict By-and- by. the thunder, which, like the artillery on a distant battlefield, had all the afternoon tremb- led along the horizon, swelled nearer and more near; the lightning, fierce spirit of the storm, leaped from the bosom of the clond, and waved his flaming banner in advance a few large drops, which in the oppressive stiffness sounded like a shower of shot, chattered upon the deck and then with all the roar and dim of the srmmer, tempest, the elemental battle whirled around us.
 For more than three hours the storm ragged with unabated fury, and even when it's fercest rush had swept away to the east, the rain pour ed down in steady torrents, and, except for an occasional pale of lightning, the night was in- tensely dark. During the whole of the first half of the night felt no inclination to sleep, felt rather as if could not sleep, should try ever so earnestly, and at nearly two o'clock in the morning was standing at one of the glass doors of the social hall. I do not know how long I had stood there II only know that alone of the passengers was waking, and, except for the es- capng steam, there was no sound on board.- Suddenly was aroused by loud shouting with out, followed in quick succession by the hurried trampling feet, and a crashing shock, that made the vessel tremble to her keel. As gained the deck, the air was filled with loud screams and agonized cries for help. The next moment the resin torches of the boat flashed their red light upon the darkncs, and there, close before us, lay disabled steamer sinking rapidly. In the thick darkness the eye could not properly measure distances, and in a rash attempt to cross the course of the White Cloud she had been cut far below the water-line.
 I had not dwelt so long upon the rivers bank without familiarizing myself with the use of the oar, and with the aid of two or three of the first who recovered their self possession, launched one of the steamers boats and pushed of to the assistance of those who were struggling in the water. I shall never forget the faces saw that night and shudder even now as I recall their looks of despairing supplication as the turbid waters closed over them forever, within sight, almost within reach of helping hands. T was standing in the bow of the boat as Ee were returning slowly from long circuit around H. -l~.. II