Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-05-06


"Ah, Hannah" said Catherine, sadly.
,"thcsc dreadful sayings are not the result
OF one nightmare slumber. They occur
oflen-.too often. Besides, when first
heard him multer in his sleep these horri.
bic things 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 nonsense,
he knew in his Sleep" he arose and went
away. leaving his meal unfinished. 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 mo-
ments, Hannah, Hannah! there is some
mystery under it. Yes" continued the
wife. "he is so good. SO kind, so dutiiul
to God and man! He has too much ten
dcrness and feeling to harm fly Han
nah, what am to think or TO do, for am
a wretch at present"
1t was long ore the old dame replied to
this question. She muscd greatly on
what had been told her. and in the end
said TO Cathcrine-"M poor child, | can
not believe that William is guilty of what
these circumstance lay seemingly at his
door. But il the worst be true, It's better
for YOU to know il, 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 so by my advice" Hannah 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 ut the abode OF
Hannah, and rs soon rs she entered, ex-
claimed: Dear mother. have told him
all, He will be here soon to explain
everything to US both.
The old woman did not exactly compre-
hend this. HAS he not. said she "givon
an explanation. then, to you?'
"No Hannah" said Catherine; but .
he is not guilty. When had spoken to
| him, rs you desired me, he was silent tor
long time. and he then took me in his
arms. Hannah and kissed me saying :
"My darling Catherine. ought to have
contided in you long before. have been
unfortunate. not guilty. Go TO kind
| Haunah's and will soon follow you, and
set your mind AT ease, rs far as it can be
done. Had knOwn how much you have
been suffering. would have done this
long before These were his last words.
! Hannah, o. he may be unfortunate but
not guilty
| Hannah and Catherine said but little to
each other. until the husband OF the latter
came to the cottage William sat down
gravely by the side of his wife, and ate /
kindly inquiring for the old woman. AT
once commenced his story. The reason
of the unhappy exclamations in sleep
said he, (Which have weighed so much
upon my mind, dear Catherine, may be
very soon told They arose from n cir
cnmstancc which has embttered my own
peace, but which | hope, is 10 be re
gar,led as II sad calamity rather than a
crime. When | entered the army which
| did at the age OF nineteen, the recruiting
party to which | attached myself was
sent TO Scotland where wo remained but
n few months. being ordered again to
England. in order TO be transported To
the continent One unhappy morning,
AS we were passing ont ofthe town where
we had rested on our march southward,
my companions and | chanced to see
girl apparently abont fifteen years OF age
washing clothes in tub. Being the
most light hearted, | took up a large stone
with the intention OF splashing water
agains, the girl. She stopped hastily,
nnd shocking TO tell, when threw the
stone it struck her on the head, and she
fell to the ground, with, | fear, her skull
fractured Stupctied by what had done,
| slood gazing on the stream of blood
rushing from my poor victims head,
when my companions observing that no
one had seen us, Tor it was then early in
the morning-hnried me off. We were
not pursued, and in few weeks were
OH the continent; but the image OF that
bleeding girl followed me everywhere
and since | come home | have never
dared to inquire into tho result, lest
suspicion should be excited, and | should
suffer for murder! For | fear, from the
dreadful nature of the blow, that the
death of that poor creature lies nj my
door"
While Hutton was relating this story,
he had turned his eyes to the window,
but what was his astonishment, rs he was
concluding, to hear old Hannah cry aloud
..Thank God" while his wife broke into
hysterical passion of tears and smiles
and threw herself into his arms.
"My dear husband" cried she. as soon
as her voice found utterance, THAT town
was Morpeth."
1T was" said he.
Dear William" the wife then cried
Il am that girl"