Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1866-09-28

connection with the murder neither was
| there anything to prove but that the mis-
siye had been directed to inc. Indeed Mr..
Argyll might well inquire how could pre-
tend that it should have reached me through
the routine of the dcad-l letter department.,
aftera this stretch oftime nearly two Years
This was matter which troubled me cx-
ceedingly. In the ordinary course of affairs
it would, if not claimed, have been forward
ed TO Washington three months after its
reception at Pccksill, and have long ago
been consigned to the waste basket and
the flames. The hand of an overulng
Providence seemed to be moving the men
in this terrible game. At that hour rec
ognizcd it. and felt a solemn conviction that
sooner or later, the murderer would be
eheckmated. 1t was this assurance more
| than any evidence contaiued in the letter,
which gave me hope that it would evpntt,-
ally he the instrument of punishment to the
guilty. | remembered the VOW | had once
made to my soul, never to rest in the peace
OF my own pursuits, until had dragged
the slayer of the innocent into the awful
presence of Justice. That VOW | had neg-
lectcd to fulfil to the uttermost, partly be-
cause of the mi drv which had been done to
my self love, and also because the circun
stances which had attached suspicion to HE
i'll the eyes Of those interested. had made
fit dangerous for me to move in Il matter
when all my motives were msconstrued
But now that Fate had intcrposed in this
singular manner i'll my behalf and in that
of Truth, | took fresh courage. was full
ly startled from my apathy That night |
wrote NY resignation to the Department,
gathered mp my few effects again, and the
next morning found me on my way to New
York.
My first purpose was to consult Mr. Bur
ton had not seen him since that day
wh,n we parted at Bankyllc: only knew
by accident that he WAS still a resident OF
New York, having casually heard his name
mentioned III connection with 4 case which
had brought some detectives on to Wash
ington only Il few weeks previous.
had never forgiven or understood the
part he had played i'll that last interview
with the Arsvls. remembered the aSstlr-
ance he had given me Of friendship. but |
did not believe that he had shown any
friendship for me i'll that consultation with
the relatives, or the results would not have
been so disastrous to me. Nevertheless felt
II confidence in him; he WAS the man Ion
the emergency, and to him would take the
letter. thought it quite probable. that Ill
the multiplicity o! new Interests, the cir
cumStauccs which had once brought Us 81
much together had faded from his mind,
and that should have to rcawalicn his rec
objection of the details,
Oethc morning after my arrival i'll New
York consulted the directory, and finding
that Mr.. lfurten .>ti!l resided in Twenty
third street. | calcd at the ho,l>c at The
earliest possible hour
While was handing my card to the ser
Want. hi master came oat OF the library al
the end Of the hall, and Fastening forward
shook me heartily by the hand. Ills joy
nIts tones were better evidence Of his pleas
urc at seeing me tha} even his words, Inch
were cordial enough.
4 heard Your voice, Richard" he saia
and did not wait for you to be ushcrcd III
with the furmalltics. Welcome my friend
his eNprsssiun was Us if he had said welcom,
my son
lie led me into The library, and placing
me in an arm chair, sat down "ppo>Itr me.
looking at me with the we'll remembered
piercing shafts of those steel blue eyes.
\tlcr iuquirn@ about ny hcaltll, etc, he
Sad suddenly
~ on have news.
.Iouarcright. Mr. Burton--rlsc | Shonld
not have hccn here. | suppose !on af,
aware that have been u clerk in the dead
letter office for the last eighteen monihs.
i was aware Of it. nrver lutcnded t'
lc' ,ou >lip ont of the numbered rosary o
my friends. and lose lou 80 entirely as hol
even to know of Nour whereabouts.
.Day-hotnr. Yesterday this letter arilvee
nj HE otli"c, and chanced to be In" cicrh
Who opened it,
handed him the mjssiyc. He cNamniet
the envelope attentively, before unIoldn:
the sheet within and as he continued Il
hold it in his hand and gaze at IT, one I"
those wonderful changes passed over HI
cuuntcnance that had remarked ON s"hi'
previous Important occasions. liis ptac
iced intelligence seized upon the date tn
po,t office marks, the hasy direction, an'
made the contents OF the letter his OWL al
most before he read it. For some moment
he wondered the outside, then drew iortl
the letter, prrusrd ii with one swift Slahc
and sat holding it, gazing at It, lost II
thought, and evidently forgetlul OF III.
presence. \ stern pallor settled gradual.
over his usually placid face; at last h
looked up, and seeing me, recalled HI
surroundings to his recollection.
NJ is sad to he made to feel that sncl
creatures live and flourish, 'hc said almos
despondiugly; bnt, as his face frightened,
cannot sa, how clad am to set hold OF his
1t partially explains some Things which
have already found out. The chance whic
threw this document into your hauds. wa
Il marvellous one, Richard
However simple the explanation ma
prove to be, | shall always regard 1t Il
l'royidcntial.'
3..All things are proyidcntial' said m
companion, none less none more so. Caus
es will have their Effects. But now as to til
writer of this-I am glad | have Il spcel
men of the villains handwriting it vii! en-
able me tn know the writer when see him
How so Mr. Burton =
Because have very good picture o
him now. in my minds eye lie Is abou
thirty wears of age, rather short and hroa'
shouldercd, muscular has dark complex
ion and black eyes; the third finger ot hi
rirht hand has been njurcd, so as TO con
tract the muscles and leave it useless. III
, has some education, which he has acquire
by hard study since he grew up to be hi
own master. His childhood was passed IL
Iirnorancc, in the midst ai the worst assocl
. ations; and his own nature is almost ut
terly dcpraved. lie is bad, from instinct