The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-02-11

marks he had been making about the pleas
ures of a seashore residence and toward Mr..
Ogden Haight, Miriam once more turned
her attention.
Zones spirits are filled with buoyancy,
Miss Leigh, that scarcely anything else eau
produce, by watching this ever-restless tur
bulence Of pillows and by"
At this moment, Miriam's polite atten-
ton to her companions fine conversational
periods, was again interrupted by. her in
corrigible nephew. He had not pulled her
sleeve this time; he gave something at
tached to her dress a violent and dislodging
jerk, and was crying out gleefully moment
after.
They match, aunty This gentleman's
got the other piece Of your cameo on his
watch-chain. J"
Similarly pulled in Miriam's direction, as
Miriam had been pulled in his, the gentle
man bent a glance of keen scrutiny upon
Arthur'S aunt and Arthur's aunt, in her
turn, searched his face with wild, devouring
eyes, uttered low, faint sob, when she had
at last recognized Maitland Morse, the man
for whose death she had mourned five weary
years, and would have fallen senseless at
his feet, but for the strong arms which
caught her.
Two hours afterwards they were alone
together, and Miriam was listening with
oh, such blissful-throbbing heart to all
Maitland Morse had to tell. And wild
story it was-a story Of shipwreck and aw-
full famine at sea, and final landing upon
lonely, alf-civilized island in the Pacific,
that ships hardly ever touched upon. Here
he dwelt during the five years that followed,
until deliverance came at last. He had only
reached his native soil three days before,
and had stopped at the Hotel where they
had met, for a single day, on his journey
from Boston to New York. This delay in
reaching the latter city had been caused by
overmastering dread and uncertainty He
feared to discover that Miriam Leigh, if
living, was Miriam Leigh no longer.
But she is Miriam Morse, now that the
lost is found, the dead is alive, and the split
cameo is joined.
AS for Arthur, he vehemently asserts
himself to be the bringer-about of Aunt
Miriam's present happiness.
The Fitchburg Wife Poisoning.
The Boston Traveller Of last week pub
lished the following particulars of the re-
cent tragedy in Fitchburg:
Further developments in the case of Rob-
ert D. Pyke and Adelaide Evans, arrested
for the poisoning Of Mrs Hannah Pyke, go
to show the case to be one of the bIackest
crimes on record in the State Of Massachu-
setts. Mr.. Pyke is man about 40 years
Of age, rather stout built, Of medium height,
dark complexion, has fine black eye, a
very intelligent expression of countenance,
keen perception, and is man of more
than ordinary ability. He is native of
Prince Edwards Island. He formerly re-
sided in Boston, working at the cabinet
makers trade, but for the last twelve Or
fifteen years has lived ia Fitchburg, and
has been employed in Pages piano manu-
factory as a veneerer, previous to July last.
In August last, after the piano shop was sold
and the business changed, he Went to Bos-
ton, engaging in business with his nephew,
on Haverhill street, in the manufacture OF
bed lounges. His family remained in Fitch
burg, he visiting them as often as once a
fortnight, and spending the Sabbath with
them. Your correspondent can say, from
an acquaintance of twelve years, that he has
always been considered a sober, honest and
industrious man, a good proyider for his
family, good neighbor, and a good citizen.
Miss Adelaide Evans, who is arrested as
accessory, is about twenty-seven years of
age, of very nervous temperament, and is a
daughter of Mrs. Pyke by former hus-
band. She was educated at the grammar
and high schools in Fitchburg, and has
taught school little in the town. For year
or two past she has been employed in the
Fitchburg Sentinel office. Her acquantan-
member Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and has lived with her mother, in her step
fathers family, since they have resided in
Fitchburg. It is generally believed that
Mr.. Pyke prepared the poison, and that she
administered it in lemonade sometime on
Tuesday. She confesses criminal intimacy
with her stepfather, which has been secretly
carried On for the last twelve or fifteen
years, and is in an advanced state Of preg-
macy. She succeeded until last Wednesday
in deceiving her most intimate acquaintan-
ces and some physicians as to her real con-
dltion by her uniform and brazen-faced de-
nial Of the truth when told of the suspicious
of others.
Pyke was brought before Judge Ware,
of the Police Court on Saturday morning,
and plead guilty to the charge of criminal
intercourse, but not guilty to the charge of
poisoning his wife. The Court adjourned
to Thursday next. Both parties are now
confined in the Jail at Fitchburg. A nephew
Of Pyke's called at the Jail Saturday after
noon, and was allowed to see his uncle
few moments. Pyke sat upon his bed,
calmly reading book. He told his nephew
to procure a good coffin for his aunt, and
asked who would conduct the funeral.
He appears confident Of acquittal, and is
not aware of the overwhelming evidence
against him, relying on the known sagacity
OF the girl, and contiding to her. But the
double crime proved too much for her, and
before the awful odds against her she broke
down and confessed the whole. Had Pyke
kept the poisoning business in his own hands
the proof of his guilt would be next to an
impossibility. But the very skill that his