Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1866-06-09


prospects. repelled the idea as heartless
and cruel; but it possessed o strange fascina.
ton, and was constantly returning. I lay
awake the whole night, and found myself
planning the disposal of an inheritance
which, in my distempered Imagination, l
fancied already in my grasp, forgetting that
another life-that of my father-in Jaw
stood between me and its present enjoy
ment. A .. -.... :.
"Next morning, however, favorable
change had taken place, and all three event.
ually recovered; but SO firm was the hold
taken on my mind by the hopes thus sud-
| denly engendered, that regarded the event
that dissipated them not only with feelings
of the keenest disappointment, but as an
| untoward accident which had deprived me
of something to which was rightfully en-
titled. You must understand that these
were thoughts, feelings, fancies. Had
stood by the bedside of the boys when the
flame Of life was trembling in the socket,
would not have extinguished it. was no
murderer then
'You know something of the river here,
and of the passion for boating which pre-
walls among the inhabitants. The three boys
often indulged in this exercise and it some
times happened that / accompanied them.
One day we had rowed several miles down
the river, and it was nearly sunset when we
thought of returning. The sky was sudden
ly overcast, and it began to rain heavily
In the scramble for cloaks and umbrellas
which ensued, the boat was nearly over
turned but it righted Immediately, and the
circumstance merely served the boys as food
for merriment. In me the effect produced
was very different. More than a year had
Le!apsed since the epidemic gave rise to feel
ings which have already confessed, and
which had been nearly, out not quite for
gotten. AT that moment they recurred with
terfold force. If it had upsetr said
within myself-'ifit had upset r-and then
the prospect of wealth again opened before
me. The boys were shouting and laughing
while sat moodily apart, Indulging in my
re-awakened reflections.
AS we continued to row, darkness set in.
The boys were in the height of their glee,
and was absorbed by fancies was now
powerless to struggle against, when we
passed some Object floating in the water-I
know not what. Half in boyish curiosity,
half in sport, the three brothers spiang to
the side with arms and oars extended to
intercept it, and in an instant the boat was
capsized"
st. Clair pronounced the last words rapid
ly, and apparently under great excitement,
though lie had yet said nothing tending to
criminate himself, and the occurrence re-
lated appeared, as had always understood
it to be, purely accidental.
-"Well," sald, "the boys were unhappily
drowned; but it was in consequence of their
own imprudence, and through no fault of
yours"
"Stay," he continued, "you are here to
hear confession, and | am here to make it,
of tha hnra f1a
Heaven is my judge, never saw. l believe
had seen the youngest, would have done
my utmost to save him. The eldest rose
close to me. We were within twenty yards
of the bank. could have saved him-I
believe would have done so, had he called
for help / saw him but for moment; and
l think, as | struck out to swim, l kicked
him beneath the water, but it was unde-
signedly! But did not turn to help him.
made for the bank, and reached it, and it
was then too late. l saw the ripple on the
water, and the boat floating away, but
nothing else, am his murderer"
st. Claire paused, overcome by the vio-
lence of his emotion, when l ventured to
hint that the peculiar circumstances which
had attended the event might have so
wrought on his Imagination as to confuse
his memory of the facts.
mo, no ~ he exclaimed; "I am no fan
cicr. But if you still entertain doubts, let
them be dispelled by what have yet to re-
late. My father-inlaw succeeded to the
fortune, and my wife became prospoctively
an heiress. Brighter prospects led to in
creased expenditures, and embarrassments
thickencd around me. In my difficulties l
appealed to my father-in law. Not penny
till die was the answer he gave with un-
,snlI 1lNI 10 1.
an inveterate miser, who could not think OF
parting with the smallest portion of his
wealth save with his life.
''It was at that time that Mr. Benson was
seized by complaint to which he had long
been subject, and which required prompt
medical aid. With the assistance of DR..
Neale he had come safely through several
similar attacks and, on the present occa-
sion, the doctors skill bade fair to prove
equally successful. My wife ha6 spent the
night in the sick chamber, but in the morn
ing the patient being pronounced out of
immediate danger, she yielded to my entrea-
ties, backed by those of the physician, anG
went to seek an hours repose. The doctor,
who was also worn out with watching, en-
braced the opportunity of temporary relaxa-
tion thus offered.
Il have some apprehensions of another
attack said he, as he left me alone with his
patient; but there is no cause for alarm ; it
will only be necessary to lose no time in
summoning me in case such an event should
occur
"Mine was singular situation. I, who
! for years had had my hopes fixed on great
inheritance, and had seen the most formida-
ble obstacles removed, was now alone
watching the sick bed of the last individual
who stood between me and the goal of my
wishes. There was a table near me with
several phials upon it. took up one of
them. It was labeled 'laudanum.' All the
demon was reused within me. My pecuni-
ary difficulties seemed to augment, and the
value of the old mans life to diminish. He
called for drink. The key to wealth and
enjoymen. was in my hand The tempta-
ton was fearful, but resisted it.
81 had replaced the phial on the table,
when certain unmistaksble indications as
sured me that the physicians fears were
about to be realized. l knew from the doc
tors previous treatment that everything de-
pended on the prompt use of the lancet
My heart beat quickly. rose-hesitated-
reseated myself-rose again n--listened-again
sat down-pressed my fingers on my ears
that might hear nothing. and leaned my
head upon the table. continued in this
posture for time, and then started up and
1 ~ N Nhn hall