, 1864-05-07
Guilty Or Not Guilty.

04AST Va &NSb Nu1AbJs
Guilty. oh how the word rang in my cal
as the name of each juror was called, and
each separately asked if that was his yer
diet.
What had to say why sentence should
not be passed! On the same testimony
would have convicted any man. bowed
to the Judge and answered, "nothing."
They have been very kind to me. She
whom they say have made widow, even
she comes to see me daily and believes me-
innocent. Who else believes me so on my
simple assertion my mother! Yes, bul
none other. Good, kind, as all are, they
look upon me as a murderer. l have dis
coGraged efforts made upon my behalf tC
obtain accumulation Of sentence. IwOuld
die in the knowlcdge Of mine own limo.
eence, rather than live with the brand Of
Cain always upon upon me. Yet would
leave behind me some remembrance of my
fate, and l write this to be opened only when
l am at rest.
made no defence-perhaps was fool.
ish-I did not make a cOnfidantc Of my
counsel. Why should II Who would
credit my statement-noue. Yet perhaps
when all is over, some may be found who
will believe NE guiltless.
My father died when ! was yet young.
My mother has since then lived ut Winde-
mere Lake, eking out her small income by
letting lodgings in the summer season.
Sir John Bee has been my constant friend
and patron-for my father and he were
brother officers for many years, and were
warm fast fr.ends-as, despite our poverty,
We have been happy family. Lucy,
mother and formed a little world of our
own, a world Of happiness, confidence and
love, and now, now, what is ity lnscruta.
bic are the ways of Thou, Most High =
who hast thus forsaken US. Yet shall
doubt thy goodness and mercy. Husband
of the widow and father of the fatherless,
let me drain the cup Of bitterness to its
dress, and say Thy will be done!
Hubert Beach was Sir Johns only son.
Maynard from boyhoOd, he became vicious
in manhood. Between us there existed no
love, for his pride made him repulsive to
me, and the different views we took Of life
prevented any sympathy of feeling. Ap-
parcntly frank, with idsome person, pol
ished manners and great conversational
powers, he was, however, iavorite with
both my mother and sister, though VIC saw
but little Of him while was ut home. !
had gone to college when l heard Of his
frequent visits to our cottage. Lucy hardly
named him in her letters-my mother con.
stan ". ItDok no note Of this. or nigh,
have surm ised the feelings that occupied
my sisters heart.
/ had just taken my degree, and was
looking for tile to orders, Us Sir John
Beach had promised me the gift of a rec
tory en- the death Of the pl G sent incumbent,
a very aged man. IL was just at this time
| received the first blow to my hitherto
constant happiness. My mother wrote to
me; accident had revealed to her the full
extent Of our misery. Hubert Beach's
visits had been rarer and rarer, aud Lucy
evidently suffered from some mortal afllic-
ton. Then my mother suspected II Il she
loved. and was about TO write to me to ask
my advice, when she discovered that Lucy
was disgraced. .--disgrdced, yet not guilty.
o;rl Ind mo, Unbsr, ami Nd .croo1 !, !,
elapdestine nnion acr,ss tho Sco:t;sb bor.
der. 1t was accomplished. but it was ille-
gal. The villain had deceived her, and
they were united at village on the English
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