The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-02-28

A9AtA NAtf NFtNg thAe- HAA ~ va
connected with the trial | could 20
doubt. Il seemed plain that be wa
10 some way connected with the mur
der. Perhaps be might be the real
murderer, and driven by a guilty con.
science, was awaiting the action Of th,
court before making a full confession
Of the crime.
The next day ! attended court a,
before. My strange friend was there
and seemed scarcely less interested
than At the man at tie bar. watch
ed him atteniively.
Later in the afternoon, as / was r..
ding through the outskirts Of the vii
lage over a desolate looking spot.
passed him pacing slowly along with
bis hands behind him, and so lost 10
thought that he did NOS even look Up
rs | went by. He returned to The ho.
tel after the other guests we're seated
at tie supper table, and ate bis meal
in silence.
When retired for lie night / left
him sitting in the bar room with an
elbow on each arm Of his chair, gaz-
ing iuiently at the fire.
lad been in bed about half an
hour when he came MP stairs with two
candles, which he placed up0n the ta-
bic, then went 10 his valise and took
out several quires Of foolseap and last
ly, drew from his pocket a small bot
lie and placed it by his side, as he sat
down and began to write.
/ was too much interested in this
movement to think of going to sleep,
so lay still and kept my attention
fixed upon him.
a. first his pen moved deliberately
over the paper, then as his hand pas
sed over page after nage, is scratch
ings became louder aad more lcrvous
There was esideally 2 burning thought
that must have expression in words.
The veins upon his forehead were
swollen IS Il ready TO burst, aad bis
whole expression was that Of intense
lie seemed ID have for
gotiea the, ,,,ere aas any one Csc in
the to3n, for | could hear hia nlnt-
toring his thoogh;s aioad as he pen
nel item. No.s and then he would
qaus3, draw a ioag breath, and thea
dasb 5n asan. Ailast lie ,hre9 down
Ills pen and sfrrck hs band against
his io,c-ead, witAile gclaAation
u did h' Aud nov that sha IS
gone, why do J & ~ here to see that
poor wretch So lsg ia uiy stead E? 1t
vas s said -5.e lid i5t mary him. |
There's comfort n tha. iheaght. I
los q her y-ell- 70 acll that ga say
he-. Cou.a I haze seeu her as his
wife ac4 net gone aad Yc cruel |
letea, ye wefa 100 Eany far re n .ho |
ancqua, strae, when 'iwas 2 gomans |
heart lcsme the ps.oe ot teelth but |
.ly rood eel did find tS way where
gold is powerless. III wed her yet,
for here is that shall a.ye me quick |
10 the shore where she
hs gone before"
70 .aized the little black bottle,took |
a lecp lrauglt, and then resumed his |
writing
see il al now, thougl,t |. II is
:, = pcaed. This Is tie murderer
lie lover who ~ tie deed. lie IS
committing suicide, aud writing out
bis confession.
was not inclined TO disturb a man
Iuder such circumstances, so ] lay /
till and awaited the result. Lis pen
lashed On more furiously than ever.
Occasionally Ills hand would 20 70 bis
Yotlle, whose contents were evidently /
working upon his brain. One Of his
andes had gene Out, and the othe.
,urned low in the socket. lie threw
.own his pen and epplied his baile
0 his bps once more, and swallowed
he last drop il contained, and then in
sepulehral tone gave expression to
hese words rs he stood before the ex-
'iring light;
"That Is all. When they do look
rron this, then they viii know why it
vas they thought me strange. There
) my confession written for those who
hink it was q little thing that she re-
ec,ed me. They shall know that
gbat ! swore, | had the courage to
,eriorm. III 70 my couch, and let
he morrow tell tale Of horror which
ball make their drowsy souls believe
here is a love far stronger than grim
rath. Farewell, earth, ahere gold
10Th rob me oi my losel and hail thou
TRANCE unknown where she doth wait
~ coming !"
The candle burned blue IS the ex-
tied man uttered these last words.
sish the gestures aud tones Of one tai
ing with tie spiri, ard tone OF the
lurdered Mary. The last glimmer
{ the light WAS goueand thea | heard
be man throw himself heavily upon
be bed
Ny first impulse was to give the
larni, bot a second thought told me
be was the murderer, and had writ
N out his confession. and was now
king himself 81 by i dose Of poison,
could DO no good 10y bring ng him ,
ack to life az .iH orly 70 be strung up {
! rope and die Ike a dog. ! did
OF see why ! should lry 70 keep a
oor wretch in this world when he
I'd become Convinced that lie had !
slter leave it. lie migbs make bis
Kit under worse circumstances, aud