The union Democrat., 1870-10-22

4
TO weigh It, when our attention was attracted
BY noise in the kitchen. left the room to
discover the cause. and found that the cat in
jumping of the table had upset cup. I've
had no cupboards in those days and so left
the dishes on the table.
On returning, detected j. in the act
| Ct drawing his hand from his pocket, aad
running my eyes over the table, saw some Of
the dust scattered around, in all sufficient
evidence to convince me that be had stolen
some of the preciods mineral. This was a
great shock tome. Here the man l had trust
ed a. implicitly as one could another. the
very instant he got my back turned proving
thief-perEaps he was ordinarily honest.
| The temptation | admit was exceedingly
strong. There lay the glittering geld. In q
few days he would be far away, aud 60 much
richer ny the theft. Once before, had
suspected him of taking some gold out of
the Long Tom." but not finding any grounds
for my suspicious never breathed them, and
in time felt ashamed of myself for allowing
any snch mistrust to get possession of me,
and considered had done him an injustice;
hut now that felt convinced that he had
stolen some, could not restrain my tongue,
and so accused him of the theft. He added
falsehood to dishonesty by denying strongly
to have ever laid his hand on the table. went
on cursing and swearing in frightful man.
ner, and finally became so enraged that he
hured the scales at my head. Owing to his
being excited, luckily for me, he missed his
aim. whereupon he took out large pocket
knife. opening it and swearing to have my
life, be rushed wildly at me. There was a
small Ratchet lying on bench near the
table, with which we had been breaking
1 a. - - L.
dealt him powerful blow on the head. and
laid him corpse at my feet. dropped into
q chair, and like one deprived of his senses,
gazed at the work of my hand. felt the
cold sweat oozing from my pores. My brain
became dull, and oil at once feeling left me.
There must have remained about two hours,
and when consciousness returned did not
know what to do. My first impression was
10 rush into town, acknowledge what had
done. and commit myself to the custody of the
authorities; but upon further consideration
deemed that not very wise way of proceed
ing; for lynch law was in force then, the
people thinking that robbery had been the
motive that urged my numbering him, might
take and hang me that night without trial.
Of course l would ever afterwards be consid-
cred murderer, and my name connected
with that epithet would go home to my rela-
tives. That thought proved more than /
could endure, for ms God is my Judge, am
no murderer. What did, did in self de-
| fence. then came to the conclusion that
the best way would be to bury him quietly.
and as he had made known bis intention OF
leaving, l could say he had gore, and thus
the matter be settled.
went and dug grave, and wrapping him
up in his blankets and clothes, dragged him
out, and there, all alone with the moon and
stars my only witnesses. laid his poor body
in the cold clay. ! returned to the cabin and
gathered up the gold, PIT it away, and then
sat down to think where / should go or what
should do. was not long in forming my
resolutions. l determined to sell cut and
proceed to Vermont in search of his relatives,
and give them his share of the dearly earned
treasure. fer had no intention of keeping as
much as one cent of his money.
The following week | disposed of my pro-
perry to 49,. and started en- my
journey, I delayed in New York during which
time married worthy lady to whom | had
been engaged before my visit to California.
1 l could not marry however without coniding
to her my secret, and also offering to release
her from her promise, for did not consider
my self worthy of her. This she would not
listen to, for she was we'll aware that there
was no one who, under the same circumstan-
ces would not do precisely what l did. /
made known to her my intention of making
the only retribution in my power, that Of re-
funding the money to his friends, and she
cheerfully offered to accompany me to Yer
mont for that purpose. On arriving there the
! first step took was to place the money in
bank, and advertise for all or any of its right.
full owners. This / did because I wished
them to get it without my being questioned
With regard to his death.
We lived happy there two years, my wife
doing all in her power to cheer me, and di.
vert my attention from that distressing
thought. She had succeeded in doing so al.
most entirely, for while she lived | did NO.
feel troubled at all, in comparison to what ]
have suffered since her death. She was con.
eumpt:ve and during the winter Of s'54
caught severe cold and after lingering for
two months. babe farewell to this world and
left me alone again with the image of him
continually before me. Now that I had nc
enc to console me in my lonely hours though,
[ would 60 distracted. On the street. If
only saw man look me straight in the face,
trembled and feared he might be detective
sent on my track. could never see a hatch
ct but Immediately the scene in which tina,
weapon bore SO CONSPICUOUS part flashed be-
fore me.
One day, while passing through the ball OIL
my boarding house, observed a Ratchet ".
ing on the floor, and on looking a second
time at it imagined I saw il covered with
blood. and near me lay the form of nv muir
dered partner. My sight grew dim, my head
dizzy, and uttering piercing cry staggered
against the wall. The household aroused
BY the scream, came to my assistance. &C
counted for it by saying was troubled with
a violent pain in the head. and it was more
acute then ever before.
At another time wac lying in bed abou,
twelve o'clock in the night. my mind being
haunted by the remembrance of nv deed, &C
that sleep was impossible, when I imagined ]
heard voices at great distance, and listening
found them to be fast approaching, and seem.
ingly growing stronger and more numerous,
tili they swelled to sound that seemed the
cries of an excited multitude; finally they
were at my very window, shouting like per-
sons bent on vengence. With one bound
sprang out If bed to make my escape.
locked out ofthe window. The streets were de-
serted. 1t was only the bowling of the wind ,