The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1874-07-30

| Suily VI adultery WIFI henry
W ard Beecher in thought or deed.
NOR has he ever offered me indeco-
roos or improper proposals.
10 the further charge that was
led away from my home by Mr..
Beecher's friend and by the advice
OF lawyer whom Mr.. Beecher had
sent to me, who in advance of nv
appearing before the committee, had
arranged with me questions and an.
swers which were to constitute my
testimony in Mr.. Beecher's behalf.
| answer that this is again untrue, l
having never seen the lawyer until
introduced to him a few moments be.
fore the arrival of the Committee, by
my step-father, Judge Nourse. And
In further reply submit the follow
ing statement of my acting before
the committee, and of my separation
from my husband:
The publication of Mr.. Tilton's let
ter in answer to DIR. Bacon had not
known, nor suspected, when, on
Wednesday evening, he brought
home the Golden Age, handing it to
me to read. Looking down it's col
umns l saw, well nigh with binding
eyes, that he had put into execution
the almost daily threats of his life
that he lived to crush out Mr.. Beech.
er, "that Gods battles were in him
he had always been Mr.. Beecher's
superior, and all that lay in his path
was his children and his reputation.
If need be they should fall
before this purpose" l did
not read it. l saw enough with
out reading. My spirit rose within
me as never before. Theodore" l
said, "tell me what means this quo
tation from Mr.. Beecher -? Two
years ago you came to me at mid
night, saying elizabeth, all let.
ters and papers concerning my diff
culties with Mr.. Beecher and MIR.
Bowen are burned and destroyed.
Now don't you betray me, for l have
nothing to defend myself with"
"Did you believe that ?" said he.
81 certainly did implicitly" l said.
."Well, let me tell you they all
live not one is destroyed"
If this was said to intimidate me
it had quite contrary effect. Ihad
never been so fearless nor seen so
clearly with whom / was dealing.
Coming to me little later he said,
81 want you to read it. You will
find it vindication of yourself. You
have not stood before the community
tor five years as you now do"
Reused still further by wickedness
hid behind so false mask, Ireplied
"This is the last time you call me
publicly to walk through this filth.
My character needs no vindication
at this late hour from you. There
was time, had you spoken out
clearly, truthfully and manfully for
me, had been grateful but I shall
now speak and act for myself. Know
also, that if in the future l see scrap
of paper referring to any human be-
ing however remote, which it seems
to me you might use or pervert for
your own ends l will destroy it,"
"This means battle on your part
then," he said. "Just 80 far" l re-
piled. I write this because these
words of mine he has since used to
my harm. Next morning | went to
my brother and told him how 1 had
decided to act in this matter, that l
had been treated by my husband
as a nonentity from the beginning,
was plaything to be used or to be
let alone at will. That il always
seemed to me l was party not a lit
tie concerned. / then showed him
a card l had made for publication.
He respected the motive but still
advised silence on my part. l
yielded thus far as to appearing in
public prints. But counseling with
myself and no other, it occurred to
to me that among the brethren OF
my own communion / might be
heard. Not knowing Of any church
committee / asked the privilege Of
such an interview in the parlors OF
those who had always been our mu
tual friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Ovington,
then learned for the first time that
committee would meet that night,
and they advised me to see those
gentlemen as perhaps the godlies1
persons / could select. This / ac-
cordingly did. There, alone, ]
pleaded the cause Of my husband
and children, the result being that
their hearts were moved in sympa-
thy for my family-a feeling their
pastor had shared for years, and for
which he was now suffering. On
going home 1 found my husband
reading in bed. l told him where
had been, and I did not conceal
anything from him, as his habit was
from me. He asked who the gen
tlemen were. He said no more,
dressed himself, and bade me good.
bye forever.
The midnight following l was
awakened by my husband standing
at my bedside. In very tender,
kind voice he said he wished to see
me. / rose instantly and followed
him to his room and sitting on the
bedside he drew me into his lap.
He was proud of me--loved me SO
that nothing ever gave him such
real pleasure and satisfaction as to
hear mo we'll spoken of. That on
meeting member of the committee
he had learned that he had been mis-.
taken as to my motive in seeing the
committee, and had hastened to as.
sure me that he had been thoroughly
wretched since his r lsh treatment OF
me the night before, etc. Then and
there we covenanted sacredly oul
hearts and lives, most utterly re.
newing my trust in the one human
heart loved. The next day how
happy we were. Theodore wrote a
statement to present to the commit.
tee when they should call upon him,
to all of which | heartily acceded.
This document, God knows, was a
true history of the affair, complete
ly vindicating my honor and the
honor of my pastor. In the after
noon he left me to show it to his
friends. He returned home early in
the evening, passing the happiest
hours had known for years, assur-
ing me there was no rest for him
| away from me. So, in grateful love
to the Father, slept. Oh, that the
end had then come. l would not
then have receiyed the crnal blou