The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1868-10-15
EBENsBURG, PA, THURSDAY OCTOBER IS, 1868

muSL speak, OK IL VIII Ofeak.
''PoOr girl what is the wretclIed man
to you q said the judge, deeply moved.
'What is he to me? True, true, eve
rybody will ask that question. You are
the first, and am here only to answer it.
Listen, Sir, listen. Since was old enough
to know what love was l loved that man
you understandable man whom YOU
are trying for the murder of his wife. He
loved me too, and though poverty kept
down his secret, and wealth pampered my
pride, love such as ours could not be
hushed or smothered by such base nurses.
Those who love passionately act passion
ately. l was ardent, impulsive, some
times arrogant. He would not endure
these things in me, because I was said to
have intellect, and was rich. Had been
poor, like himself, and selfshly weak, he
would have yielded up his pride to my
great love. We quarreled. 1t matters
not why or wherefore, and he went away
For months / never wrote. He shall
make the first advances, | said, week after
week, until my pride was quenched in keen
anxiety. l wrote then, and his answer
was that he was married. He thought
did not love him-that my exactions and
naughty will arose from lack of affection.
He should never love any woman Jas he
loved me, his letter said, but 1 had cast
him from my heart, and while his soul
was thirsting for sympathy and tenderness,
she, the woman he had married, was
thrown in his way. He was in the whirl
of society, and fancying that excitement
was the second birth of love, that his first
passion had perished, when it was only in
resentful sleep, he pledged himself irre~
vocably to another.
'Oh, how had loved that man ? how
truly had suffered but no human crea-
ture dreamt of it why SHOULD they! 1
had nothing but pride left, and that shield
ed me from pity, though it did not from
the anguish which sympathy would have
made more bitter. This was two years
ago. He did not return to the city for
months, and when he did come with his
bride, it was long before we met. saw
her often, though, for she was frequently
in public; but it was always with a
burning at the heart, and something of
naughty scorp, that one who could love
me could love her, for she was an inferior
woman in intellect and person. My pride
as well as my affection, was outraged in
his choice.
''We met at length-oh, how changed
he was The whole truth had not yet
reached his heart, but his energies were
broken, his self-respect was diminished ;
he was the most pitiable of all objects, a
man of strong energies suddenly rendered
hopeless. Jealous affection made me
keen sighted, and knew all this before
we had spoken word together. 1t was
bitter JOY to me when was first con-
vinced that he did not love the woman he
had married. My pride was appeased by
this knowledge, but as that gave way the
passionate love SO long held in check grew
into strength again. 1t was unpremedita-
ted-we never should have sought each
other-but after two years separation we
were thrown together accid6 ntally, and
alone. 1t was terrible meeting for US
bOth-terrible in itself, most terrible in It's
consequences. For the first time in out
lives we poured out our whole hearts each
to the other. All thoughts of pride or
prudence were swept away by tie strong
! feelings of the moment. cannot tell
| you all that was said in that last interview
the expressions of sorrow and bitter
regret on both sides. You have seen him
in the court, and know that even in this
| terrible trial he seems calm and unimpas-
sionate. It is only the curb of a strong
will on burning nature. That day be
seemed equally immovable, and this made
my grief more eloquent. 1 did not dream
of the struggle that was going on under
that cold exterior, and thinking that he
did not suffer equally with myself, aban-
doned myselfto reproaches and expressions
of regret that geaded his already frenzied
feelings on to madness.
"'Oh, if she were but dea6.' re-
member saying this more than once. Il
was wild, sinful, but only an expression
of agony. Heaven is my judge had nc
deeper meaning. The last time uttered
this sinful wish my hands were both
clasped within his, and as he bent over
me saw that his features were convulsed
and dreadfully pale. He wrung my
knitted hands, and laughed,-I say. You
are judge used to the tortured passions oi
men-the throes Of broken heart, the
Wuu CIIcS Vi dH upEOOtcu AhCChOCts arr
your study. Tell me if this man would
have laughed if my words had not mad
| dened him, if he had not been insane.
sOh, that che were dead = / uttered in
the anguish Of my heart. I had my evil
wish-the next morning she was dead"
The stranger sank on chair as she
ceased speaking, covering her face and
shuddering; but when the small hands
were removed from over her eyes they
were dry and painfully brilliant as before.
ssWhat can do for you7 How can ]
help you ?' said the judge, deeply moved
by her fearless agony.
"Ten me-" she said, f'was he not in
sane ?" Her lips partly opened, and her
breath was held back with intense agony
| for his answer.
''lt is but charity to believe that all
great crimes are committed in a species
of insanity said the kind judge, anxious