The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-05-26

he waited for me to say something to answer
what he said did not think OF the imprudence
OF it at all. / only asked him earnestly II his
chivalry and generous impulse to assist wo-
man in trouble had not led him to mistake this
for warmer feeling He laughed at this, and
Richardson, and Of my whole unhappy position.
Mr. Richardson blamed himself afterWard, and
our friends blamed Us for this declaration on his
part and my acceptance OF it, as an act most rash
and tmprudent but know we neither OF US
meant to do anything either immoral or even
improper; He counseled me to tell my friends
all he said and take their counsel. Our talk at
most was not very long one, and within lew
days he went to Hartford, and did not expect
to see him again for an indefinite time. -,
After his departure went back TO my olu
room in Amity-st., where my trunks and ward
robe still remained. II was convenient 70 90
this, and some one my la9y Ilenas went 70
spend the nights with me. Two nights after
Went there, Mr.. Richardson unexpedly came
from Hartford, intending to go to Washington
FOR day or two. lie had written me several
letters during his stay al Hartford, which had
received and answered. lie arrived in New York
on the 18th OF March, and on the evening Of the
18th when went out Of the theater found him
there waiting for me. He was asked to call for
me by the friends who usually took me home,
and who, on that night, were gone to the opera
After walking few yards from the theater, Mr.
Mcfarland came up behind US and shot Mr.
Richardson. INJECTING a severe but not dangerous
wound In the thigh As soon as he had done
thls he fired two shots In quick succession at
me, but without woundlng me, as Mr.. Richard
son had told me to run as soon as he felt himself
hurt. On this evening, after he had been at the
Station House with the policeman who arrested
Mr. Mcfarland, Mr. Richardson went with me
to the house OF our friends, and remained in
New York till he was out of danger, and then
returned to my fathers in Massachusetts,.
At this time heard first of the intercepted
letter from Mr. Richardson to me, which he had
written from Hartford after the conversation
which had taken place between US. Inever saw
the letter or knew its contents till 1t appeared in
print The letter was mixture OF Jest and of
sentiment, which any one who knew Mr. Rich
ardson would understand. shall not go on to
explain 1t point by point but the allusion to his
simply sentimental expression, as Ia point OF
fact had known him only q few months, and
had been acquainted with him not more than
Just after the shooting, while was in the great
distress OF mind following such q horrible occur
renee, Mr.. Mcfarland went to my rooms In
such representations as poisoned the minds OF the
landlady and the servants against me Ito whom,
OF course, / had said nothing about my AFFAIRS,
he broke open my trunks, took out all the pri-
Vate correspondence had preserved during my
whole life, rined my writing-desk and portfolio,
and even searched the pockets Of my dresses.
He took not only my letters, but all my accounts
and receipts by which could show what money
had earned, the notices and advertisements
which had preserved OF my dramatic readings,
and even robbed me Of all the MSS, and odds
and ends OF literary labora, some Of which had
q long time had on hand, and from that day to
this have never seen any Of my private papers
OF oil kinds. He also succeeded In intercepting
two or three more letters from friends out OF
town. This Ii the history Of the private letters
he has been able to introduce into the case
and feel compelled to add, as was proved In q
measure at the trial. that all these letters except
those two Intercepted from Mrs. Sinclair and
Mrs. Calhoun, he had previously read that the
letters from Mrs Calhoun to me about the stage
had been read by aim months before loft him,
and that all her Efforts TO get me an engagement
were rs well known TO him as to me- While
lived with Mr. Mcfarland never had letter
which In any sense could be called private. He
never that remember. brought me letter Of
which he had not broken the seal and gone over
the contents. And am glad to feel that few
peoples private letters tthings susceptible Of
being misunderstood or put under false con-
struction) could have borne so we'll the test OF
publicity, and the most malicious attempt at
Misrepresentation as tho letters OF which was
robbed In the manner have described.
After went back to Massachusetts, terribly
hurt by scandal which had been caused by the
shooting OF Mr.. Richardson In the open street,
wrote TO Mr. Richardson telling him that fear
ed-and that the thought grieved me inex preasI-
bly-that in moment OF romantic generosity he
had offered me his love, and that the events had
proved that such an offer on his part becoming
known had made an enemy Of Mcfarland, who
had proved more dangerous man than should
ever have believed him, and that released him
from any alleglence or fancied alleglence to mo
In my misfortune, which at best would only be
sacrifice on his part. To this letter OF mine, OF
which can only remember the substance, not
the words, Mr.. Richardson wrote me In answer
ehivalrous nature OF the man, and the rare traits
which won me TO love him so deeply as do,
that print 1t without reserve because believe
II will bear 10 candid mind his vindicatOn, as
well a. corroborate my story:
"MARcHa,'G.
"MY LOVE; II Heaven shall ever grant mo the
last blessing Of calling you mine, by the most
ali Taittnn ava ~, wiz, sr,., ~ wa "a me ior
one of us go hence by unalterable destiny before
that blessed hour come, It would still be blessed
and full compensation to know that you had
loved me; that you had found In my poor ma.
that.
And, precious about our immediate situation.
about It on my part. Once J0r all, remember
that. Partly from my own rashness, partly from
things neither OF us could control, you and are
In little boat on high and somewhat perllous
sea. III had had any sense you would not have
boon there. But believed Idevoutly In the prov
erb that a man who y MT fool part OF the time
Is one oil the time. 1t was foolish, imprudent
cruel in mo to let you be on such craft with me
when paticnco could have avoided II. hut /
loved you and took no counsel OF reason.
"Welli darling, here we are In the little boat
II Is nothing. have faced oil peTils In life and
death before, and their familiar faces don't dis
turb me; And am not afraid TO die; SO am
not afraid ofanything in lifo, But, precious, for
You my heart reproaches me. am so sorry
when should have been your helper and COM
forter and shield, to have brought you into such
see you safely out OF It. II should not live to
get into hArbor with you the Father will take
care OF your sunny head.
"But, precious, let us take our chances. Ihayo
been In rougher waves before, and ridden them
safely. Let us exercise the best seamenshlp we
can, provide for all contingencies as far poss-
Bile, and then keep the serene mind which dehes
fate and fears nothing but guilt, and knows how
infnitesimal all these pretty things OF life arc
and feels sure that infinite love aud absolute
Justice rule the world.
"My darling, in all that am or do, or have or
hope for, in life or death, you are lrrevocaby
interviewer. ] regret nothing that have DONE |
save lust 70 tho extent that It has affected or
marrcd your happiness My whole heart my |
whole life, go out to you. think | see happy
iuture, sunny days, loves Of children, loves OF |
home, good to others. ! knoi0 see loyalty no
that Is utter and vital"
This letter Is the keynote OF the absolute love
and trust in which Mr., Richardson held me for
the three years which passed until his death. |
loyalty to me, and the gratitude felt for the |
chivalry with which he tried to avert as far as |
possible, All the misfortuncs which seemed des- |
tined TO fall on my helpless head, have no word |
to speak. saw him rarely aud our meetings |
were always guarded by the strlctOst regard for
propriety,. and were either under my fathers
sentences Of tho letter have just quoted was in
my heart always. II l do not expect my story TO
be understood or to bo believed by public
which nk seeks mt It's appropriate food IN the vile
Ihat 1t will understand hiFai To such public
ne does not belong. The age of Sidney or OF
BayaTd should claim him as Its own.
Aner my return to Massachusetts, In March,
1867, Mr. Mcfarland commenced proceedings to
get possession OF my children in O suit OF habeaH
corpus. Not satisfied with these proceedlngs,hs
lssailed me In every way possible to hRFrass q
woman. hardly have ono friend In New-York
Dr. New England into whose house he did not
enter TO force them to listen 10 his story. He
lssailed my character with vile eplthets, which
should blush 10 repeat, and which he knew, in
ais own consciousness, would die ton thousand
ieaths rather than deserve. l am glad and
proud TO say that none OF my friends fell on
rom me, ana that among all my friends and
only one door has been shut
lgainst me, in spite OF. oil the heavy ISLANDERS