Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-05-05

| VNNui OltSh~-NOo lSC-
sides, when | first heard him mutter
in his sleep these horrible things l
mentioned the matter to him in the
morning at our breakfast, and laughed
at it; but he grew much agitated, and
telling me to pay no attention to such
things 'as he sometimes talked non
sense. he knew in his Sleep he rose
and went away. leaving his meal un-
finished indeed scarcely touched. |
am sure he does not know how often
he speaks in his sleep, for | have
never mentioned it again-though my
rest is destroyed BY it. And then his
fits Of sadness at ordinary moments !!
Hannah, Hannah !, there is some
mystery under it Yet continued
the wife. 'he is so good. so kind. so
dutiiul to God and to man. Tie has
too much tenderness end feeling to
harm hy. H,nnah, what am to
think or to do. for | am wretch at
present
Ii was long ere the old dame replied
to this question. She muscd greatly
on what had been told her. and in the
end said to Catherine-'.Mv poor
child. cannot believe that William
is guilty OF what these circumstances
lay seemingly at his door But if
the worst be true, it is better for YOU
to know it, than to be in this killing
suspense forever. Go and gain his
confidence, Catherine tell him all
that has come to your ear, and say
that YOU do 50 by my advice" Ham
nah continued to use pcrsuasions of the
same kind for some time longer and
at length sent Catherine home, firmly
resolved To follow the counsel given
TO her.
On the following day Catherine
once more presented herself at the
abode Of Hannah. and az soon a, she
entered. exclaimed; Dear mother,
have told him all lIc will be here
soon 10 explain everything to Us both.
The old woman did not exactly
comprehend this. Has he not. said
she. given an explanation, then. to
you/
10 Hannah said Catherine but
. he i. not guilty When | had spo-
ken 10 him. as YOU desired me, he was
silent for a long time, and he then took
me in his arms, Hannah and kissed
me saying .My darling Caiherine.
| ought to have coniided in YOU long
before. have been unfortunate. not
guilty. Go to kind Hannah's and |
will soon follow you. and set your
mind at ease. as far as IT can be done.
Had / known how much you have
been suffering, l would have done this
long before These were his last
words. Hannah, o, he may be un-
fortunate but not ( lily
Hannah and Catherine said but lit
tie to each other, until the husband
of the latter came to the cottage.
William sat down gravely by the side
of hi, wife. and after kindly inquiring
for the old woman, at once commcnc-
ed his story. The reason Of the un-
happy exclamations in sleep said he.
which have weighed 50 much upon
my mind. dear Catherine, may be very
soon told They arose from circum-
stance which has embittered my own
peace, but which, | hope, is to be re-
garded as sad calamity rather than
a crime. When | entered the army,
which did at the age Of nineteen,
the recruiting party to which l attach
ed myself was sent to Scotland, where
we remained but few months, being
ordered again to England, in order
to be transported to the continent.
One unhappy morning. as we were
passing out of the town where we had
rested on our march southwark, my
companions and | CHANGED to see a
girl apparently about fifteen years of
age. washing clothes in tub. Being
the ,post light-hearted among the
light-hearted, | took up large stone
with the intention of splashing water
against the girl. She stopped hastily
and shocking to tell, when l threw
the stone it struck her on the head
and she fell to the ground, with,
fear, her skull fractured. Stupefied
by what l had done, l stood gazing
on the stream Of blood rushing from
my poor victims head, when my com.
panions observing that no one hat
seen us, for it was then early in thu
morning-hurried me off. We were
not pursued, and in few weeks were
on the continent but the image o
that bleeding girl followed me every
, where; and since l came home | have
, never dared to inquire into the result
lest suspicion should be excited, anG
, | should suffer for murder! For
fear, from the dreadful nature OF tn
blow, that the death of that poor crea
, ture lies at my door!
8 While Hutton was relating thi
: story, be had turned his eyes to tn
window, but what was his astonish
e ment, as be was concluding. to hea
!, old Hannah cry aloud; Thank God
: while his wife broke into hysteric:
Y passion of tears and smiles, and thre'
e herself into his arms.
t MY dear husband cried she, .
r soon as her voice found utteranct