Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-03-07
Tho Embrace of Death.

Tho Embrace OIL Death
A domestic tragedy of more than or
binary interest occurred month or two
since at Glens Falls, n. Y. 1t seems
that for over five years two sisters by
the names of Eliza and Annie Brighton,
have been in domestic antagonism to
each other, by reason of the attentions
paid them by a mutual lover, Charles
Thompson, who first proposed marriage
TO the eldest daughter, and subsequently
to the youngest. Their mother, who is
aperson of hard working and generally
good character, disapproved of the at
tentions of young Thompson, but was
powerless to prevent them. She had
previously warned her eldest daughter,
Eliza, not to have anything to do with
him; but to her surprise, the neighbors
were constantly bringing her news of
clandestine meetings between them.
When taxed with one of these meetings
the eldest daughter denied them alto
gether, and declared that she did not
care for Thompson at all. The mother,
thus perpleXed, resolved to keep a watch
upon her daughters conduct. At last
she surprised them in the act of meet
Ing. Bitter reproaches followed,
during which Thompson de-
clared that he loved Eliza Bright
on, and would marry her whether
her mother liked it not. The mother de-
clared he should not, and so ended
scene of mutual elimination and reCrimi-
nation, in the course of which the daugh-
ter tainted in her mothers arms. Young
Thompson, who is declared to be a young
man of good parts and education, left
Glens Falls for time and disappeared
} from the view of the Brighton family.
Some three months after, however, he
raappeared and called at the house of
the BrightOns, inquired for Eliza. He
was denied admission, the door being
shut in his face but it appears that
shortly afterwards he succeeded in gain
ing admission to the eldest daughters
room, where he pleaded his love in such
strong terms as to enlist once more the
sympathies of the fair Eliza in his be-
half. The two agreed to elOpe, but be-
fore their jejune plans could be put into
execution, they were discovered by the
maternal Brighton, who declared that
haever Thompson were found about the
neighborbood again it would be 1.-The
Oworse for him."
Here begins the tragical part of the
narrative. The younger girl, Annie,
who had secretly loved Thompson for
several months came to the rescue of
her elder sister. She declared that she
. would aid them in their plan of escape.
Accordingly upon night agreed upon,
the young lovers planned an elOpement
by means of the old fashioned and rO-
mantle ladder, which was to convey
young Eliza Brighton into her ardent
lovers arms
The night arrived, but instead of the
arrival of Annie who had agreed to
. hold them, there came messenger who
told young Thompson that Annie was
waiting for him some mile and a half
away, where she had something of the
utmost importance to communicate to
him. The young man, though consider
ably taken aback by the untOward result
of his elopement scheme, started out for
pthe place at which he was to meet An
ME.
The most remarkable fact of this sin
gular history occurs here. Arriving at
tEe spot Indicated by the messenger,
Thompson was Informed by Annie her
self"that she had secretly loved him for
some time, and would never consent to
union between him and her elder sis
ter The young man, loyal to his first
that was opposed to the interests of her
sister. Upon this, the younger girl de-
parted, after q narrowing scene, during
which she vowed vengeance upon the
young man.
Meanwhile, Eliza, the eldest sister, had
been waiting for over two hours at the
trysting place appointed by her lover
Desparing and doubling the truth of
har 1Ovnr sbn Xyog IN tho DOiOt Of lpoy
ing her window, when the approach Of
her sister, fresh from the meeting with
young Thompson, deferred her TOhcr
was poured out a long tale of his trcaCh-
cry and deceit, and the result was, that
believing herself deceived and betrayed,
she consented to a step to which her sis
ter was impelled by a morbid feeling of
revenge and jealousy. In a word, the
falls, locked in each others arms 1t
will be remembered that Glens Falls are
situated in Warren County, New York,
and are over sixty feet high. The two
sisters started out on the morning Of
Nov 10, and locked in each others arms
threw themselves over the bridge above
the falls, into the boiling waters beneath.
This was, indeed, an embrace of death,
as both young girls were swept away
with the current, and hOpclessly enGulf-
ed.
The village was at first disposed to aC-
suse young Thompson of the disaster.
but upon the facts being known, cor
oner's jury decided that it was a case of
, suicide, and absOlved him and all the
members of the family from blame in
the transaction.