Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-08-20

! W.
ronld maintain former relations with Mr.. Tlton.
The substance of the full conversation that
Tilton's inordnate vanity, his fatal facility for
ostentatious independence in HIS own opinions
and general impracticabcness would keep the
linton at disagreement with the political
marty for whose service II was published, and
how added TO all the revelations of these pro-
mscuous immoralities, would make his con-
nection with either paper fatal to its interests.
spoke strongly and emphatically under the
great provocation of his threatening to
me and the revelation | had just had
ne At letter. Of on whsS se
had brought to me, and said earnestly that II
trouble came Of 1t ! might rely on his friend
ship. learned afterward, In further quarrel,
ending in Tilton's, peremptory expulsion from
Bowers service, this conversation was told to
Mr. Triton. believe that Bowen had an inter
view and received some further informa-
ton ton about Mr.. Tilton from my wife, to
whom had referred him. Although l have no
doubt that Mr. Tilton would have lost
doubt that my influence was decisive, and
precipjtated his final overthrow. When l
came to think It all over. felt very unhappy. at
disaster. l had loved him much, and at one
time he seemed like son to me. My influence
had come just at the time of his first unfolding
and had much to do with his early development.
had aided him externally to bring him before
the public. We had been together in the great
controversies OF the day. until afterward our
social intercourse had been intimate. 1t is true
that his nature always exaggerated his own ex-
cellcnces, but as a boy he looked up to me with
afectionate admiration. After some years he
felt himself my equal and was very companiona-
BILE and when he had outgrown me and reached
the position of the first man of the age he still
was kind and patronizing had always smiled
at these weaknesses OF vanity, and had believed
that with larger experience some knocks among
strong men, and by sorrows that temper the soul,
he would yet fulfil a useful and brilliant career
But now all looked dark. He to be cast forth
from his eminent position, and his affairs did not
promise That sympathy and strength which makes
ones house, as mine has been in times of adj
versity. a refuge from the storm and u tower of
defense.
Besides generous suffering should have had
selfish reason for such, If had recalled that
was about TO become an instrument by which Mr.
Tilton meant to fight his way back to the pros
perty which he had forfeited. 1t now appears
that on the goth of December 1870 Mr.. Tilton,
having learned that had replied to his threaten
ing letter by expressing such an opinion as to
set Mr. Bowen finally against him, and bring him
face to face with immediate ruin, eXtorted from
document eliminating me. and prepared an elab-
crate attack upon me- On Tuesday evening,
December, 1870, about O'Clock, Francis ID.
Mouton called at my house, and with intense
eagerness said: II wish you to go with me to
Mr.. Tilton." l replied that could not then,
as was just going to my prayer-meeting With
90. Somebody else will take care of the meet
ing | went with him, not knowing what
trouble had agitated him. but vaguely thinking
the recent threatening letter. On the
way l asked what was the reason of
this visit, to which he replied that Mr..
Tilton would inform me- or words TO that
effect. On entering his house, Mr.. Moulton
locked the door, saying something about not be-
ing interrupted. He requested me to go into the
impression that Mr.. Tlton was going to pour out
upon me his anger for colleaguing with Bowen,
and for tie advice of separation given to his wife,
wished Mr.. Mouton to be with us as witness.
but he insisted that should go by myself. Mr..
Tilton received me coldly but calmly. After
word or two, standing in front of me with mem
orandum in his hand, he began an Grafton. He
declared in an unlrendly spirit that had sought
his downfall had spread injurious rumors about
him; was using my place and influence to under
mine him; had advised Mr.. Bowen to dismiss
him. and much more that cannot remember. He
then declared that had injured him in his fami-
ly relations; had Joined with his mother-in-law
in producing discord in his house: had advised a
separation; had alienated his wiies affections
from him; had led her to love me more
moral nature, and taught her to be insncere, ly-
ing, and hypocritical and ended by charging that
had made wicked proposals to her. Until he
reached this had listened with some contempt,
under the impression that he was attempting to
bully me- but with the last charge he produced
previous confession made to him by his wife of
her love for me, and that had made proposals to
her OF an improper nature. He said that this con-
iession had been made to him in j uly six months
previous; that his sense of honor and affection
would not permit any such document to remain
in existence; that he had burned the original,
then tore the paper into small pieces. If had
been shocked Mt such statement, was abso-
lutely thunderstruck when he closed the in
terview by requesting me to repair at once to his
house, where he said Elizabeth was waiting for
me, and learn from her lips the truth of his
stories in 80 far as they concerned her. This fell
like Il thunderbolt ON me. Could ii be possible
that 'i' wife, whom / regarded as the type of
mora GOODNESS, should have made such false and
atrocious statementsy And yet if she had not
how would he dare to send me to her for con-
frmation Of his chargess ! went forth like a
sleep walker, while the clouds were flying in the
sky. There had been snow-storm. which was
breaking away The winds were out and whistling
through leatiess trees, but all this was peace
compared to the mood within. believe that
houlton went with me to the door of Tilton's
house. The honsekeeper, the same woman of
whom Mrs Tlton had complained, seemed to
have been instructed by him. for she evidently
expected me and showed me at once to Mrs Til.
TONS room. Mrs.. Tilton lay upon her bed, white
a. marble, with closed eyes, as in trance, and
with her hands upon her bosom, palm to palm,
picture is like some form carved in marble that
l had seen upon monuments In Europe. She
made no motion, and gave no sign of
her and said: " Elizabeth, Theodore has been
making very serious charges against me and
sends me to You for confirmation She made no
scious and listening. | repeated some Of his
statements: that l had bought dscord to the
family had alienated her from him; had sought
to break up the family and usurped his influence
and then, well could, added that he
SAID that made improper suggestions to her and
that she had admitted this fact to him last July.
l said, Elizabeth, have you made such state
ment to him," She made no answer. ! repeat
ed the question. Tears ran down her cheeks
and she very slightly bowed her head in acquies-
cence. said, - You cannot mean that you have
stated all he has chargedy' She opened her eyes
Ia began in slow and feeble way TO explain
how sick she had been; how weared out with i'm
portunity; that he had confessed his alien
loves, and said that he could not bear to think
that she was better than he; that she might win
him to reformation if she would confess that she
had loved than m nd hart havx