The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-05-31

bade fair to prove equally success
full. My wife had spent the night
in the sick chamber, but in the
morning, the patient being pro.
nounced out of immediate danger,
she yielded to my entreaties, back
ed by those of the physician, and
went to seek an hours repose. The
doctor, who was also worn out with
watching, embraced the opportun.
ity of the temporary relaxation
thus offered.
81 have some apprehensions of
another attack" said he, as he left
me alone with his patient; but
there is no cause tor alarm; it will
only be necessary to lose no time
in summoning me in case such an
event should occur"
"Mine was singular situation.
/, who for years had had my hopes
fixed on great Inheritance, and
had seen the most formidable OBJ
stacles 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. l took up one of
them, 1t was labeled 'laudanum.'
All the demon was reused within
me. My pecuniary difficulties
seemed to augment, and the value
of the old mans life to diminish
He called for drink. The key to
wealth and enjoyment was in my
hand! The temptation was fearful,
but | resisted it.
81 had replaced the phial on the
table, when certain unmistakable
indications assured me that the
physicians fears were about to be
realized. knew from the doctors
previous treatment that every
thing depended on the prompt use
Of the lancet. Ny heart beat
quickly. / rose-hesitated-re-
seated myself-rose again--listen-
ed--again sat down--pressed my
fingers on my ears that l might
hear nothing, and leaned my head
upon the table. l continued in
this posture for. a time, and then
started up and listened. All was
silent. ] rang the bell violently,
opened the door, and cried out,
"Call the doctor instantly" l re-
turned to the chamber and seated
myself, feeling that the last obsta-
Gle to fortune had been removed,
and knowing that l was a second
time a murderer!
'In a few moments the doctor
entered. He approached the bed,
bent over it, and said, 4 fear it is
too latep
"Perhaps not" 1 answered. "At
all events, make every possible ef-
fort"
"He did, OF course, everything in
his power; but in a few minutes he
desisted, saying, as he shook his
head, GA little, and have reason
to believe, only little too late"
"Since that time," st. Glare re-
sumed, 81 have never known a mo-
ment's peace. My wife's tears for
her father fell on my heart like
drops of fire. Each look she gave
me seemed to read my inmost
thoughts. She never spoke that l
did not imagine she was about to
accuse me of my crimes. Her
presence became oppressive. l
withdrew from her and from her
society. l fancied men looked sus-
piciously upon me. l had no COM
panionship but with conscience!
At length Agnes sickened and
died. She left me the whole of
her fortune, and I married again.
But the curse of a double murder
was upon me. The evening on the
river, and the old mans death
chamber, are eternally present to
my fancy, and leave me no rest.
"You have now heard all and
now, may l ask, are you ready to
frame my will as l have directed9
am possessed of quarter of a
million, and it rightly belongs to
the heirs of those originally enti-
tied to it."
l could not but admit the justice
of the proposed restitution; but,
with some difficulty, prevailed on
the wretched man to secure a mod
crate competency to his wife and
children. -
1t grew late.
"Henry St. Clare" said I,rising to
take my leave, "let this subject
now drop forever. There are rem
edies for the stings of conscience;