The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-06-23

furltanlc pOpulaJlOn OF Darnam anu lLS
vicinity inclined more and more toward
the presumption Of his guilt.
For this there were two reasons. In
the first place, who but he had any
cause of spite against Mercy Lauson,
or could hope to draw any profit from
her deathi There had been no rob-
berry there was not sign that the VIC
TINS clothing had been searched the
murder had clearly not been the work
OF q burglar or thief. But Foster, if
he indeed assassinated this woman,
had thereby removed an obstacle to his
marriage, and had secured to his future
wife considerable fortune.
In the second place, FOAter was ucb
man as the narrowly scrupulouS and
orthodox world of Barham would natu-
rally regard with suspicion. Graduate
Of a German university, be had brought
back TO America, not only superb Sci
enti6c education, but also what passed,
in the region where he had settled, for
laxity Of Ofmorals. Professor as he was
in the austere college Of Hampstead,
and expected, therefore, to set lumin-
ously correct example in both theoret-
ical and practical ethics, he held theo-
logical opinions which were too modern
to be considered sound, and he even
neglected church to an extent which
his position rendered scandalous. In
spite of the strict prohibitOFy law of
Massachusetts, he made use of lager
beer and other still stronger fluids and,
although he was never known to drink
to excess, the mere fact of breaking the
statute was sufficient offence to rouse
prejudice. 1t was also reported of him,
to the honest horror of many serious
minds, that he had been detected in ge-
olOgizing on Sunday, and that he was
fond Of whist.
How apt we are to infer that man
who violates our code of morals will
also violate his own code! Of course
this Germanized American could not
believe that murder was right but then
he played cards and drank beer, which
we OF Barhsm knew to be wrong; and
if he would do one wrong thing, why
not another?
Meantime how was it with Bessie 7
How is it always with women when
those whom they love are charged with
uuworthiness Do they exhibit the
''iudicial mind"i Do they cautiously
weigh the evidence and decide accord
ing to iti The girl did not entertain
the faintest suppOSition that her lover
could be guilty; che was no more ca
pable of blackening his character than
she was capable Of taking his life. She
would not speak to people who showed
by word or look that they doubted bis
innocence. She ragged at world which
could be so stupid, 40 unjust, and so
wicked as to slander the good fame and
threaten the life of one whom her heart
had crowned with more than human
perfectiOnS.
But what availed all her confidence
in his purityi There was the finger Of
public suspicion pointed at him, and
there was the hangman lying in wait
for his precious life. She was almost
mad with shame, indignation, grief
and terror. She rose as pale as ghost
from sleepless nights, during which she
had striven in vain to unravel this ter
rible mystery, and prayed in vain that
Heaven would revoke this unbearabl'
calamity. Day by day she visited bel
betrothed 10 his cell, and cheered hin
with the sympathy of her trusting and
a loving soul. The conversations which
took place on these occasions were sc
1 naive and childlike in their honest
utteranCe of emotion that almost dreaC
: to record them, lest the deliberate, un
palpitating. sense of criticism shoulC
. pronounce them sickening, and mar
g them for ridicule.
!: "Darline," she once said to him
s "we must be married. Whether yol
are to live or die, must be your wife
! He knelt down aud kissed the her
!. of her dress in adOration OF such sell
It Cacrifce.
a "Ah, my love, I never before kne'
!. what you were," he whispered, as sh
leaned forward, caught his head in he
e hands, dragged it into her lap, and COY
# cred it With kisses and tears "Ah, IN
Q love, you are too good. ! cannot &C
10 cept such sacrifice. When am cleal
7 ed publicly OF this horrible charge, the
10 | will ask you once more If you dare I
be my wife"
r, "Dare! o, how can you say sue
j things!" she sobbed. ''Don't yo
q know that you are more to me than II
j. whole universe Don't you know th'
AZ would marry you, even if ] knew 70
'. were guilyT
q There is no reasoning with this sui
h. lime passion of love, when it is tru
/, itself There is no reasoning with it
q, and Heaven be thanked That 1t is &C
a. 1t ia we'll to have one impulse in Il
,h world which has no egotism, which r
ioices in self.immolation for the sake
n, its object, which is among emotiO
III what a martyr is among men. .
at Fosters response was worthy OF u
girls declaration. "My love,"he viii
~ pered, ~ have been bemoaning my r
i. ined life, but I must bemoan it no moi
q It is success enough for any man to
NJ. loved by you, as you love me-"
d, "No. no !" protested Bessie, at
ny not success enough for you. No 81
ar cess is enough for you. You deser
on everything that ever man did deserT