The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-07-30

in the paflOrs OF those who had always
been our mutual friends. Mr.. and Mrs.
Ovington then learned for the first time
that the committee would meet that
night, and advised me to see those gen.
tlemen as perhaps the COOLEST persons I
could select. This / accordingly did.
There alone / pleaded the cause of my
husband and my children, the result be-
ing that their hearts were moved in sym
pathy for my family, feeling their pas
tor had shared for years and for which
he was now suffering On going home l
found my husband reading in bed. l
told him where had been and that did
not conceal anything from him, as his
habit was from me. He asked who the
gentlemen were. He said no more, rose,
dressed himself, and babe me good-by
forever.
8. The midnight following was awak-
ened by my husband standing by my bed.
side. In a very tender, kind voice he said
he wished to see me.
| rose instantly, 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 peace and salts.
faction as to hear me well spoken Of"
At that meeting, from a member of the
committee, ne had learned that he had
been mistaken as to my motive IN seeing
the committee, and had fastened to as
sure me that he had been thoroughly
wretched since his rash treatment of me
the night before, etc. Then and there we
covenanted sacredly our hearts and lives,
most utterly renewing the trust in the
one human heart loved. The next day
how happy we were! Theodore wrote a
statement to present to the committee
when they should call upon him, to all
of which heartily acceded. This docu-
ment, God knows, was true history OF
this affair, completely indicating my
honor and the honor Of my pastor. IN
the afternoon he left me to show it to
his friends. He returned home early in
the evening, passing the happiest hours
had known for years, assuring me that
there was no rest for him away from me.
So in grateful love to the dear Father I
slept Oh! that the end had then come
would not then have received the cruel
blow (which made woman mad out.
right"
The next morning he called upon Mr..
and Mrs. Ovington, and there, with a
shocking bravado, began wicked TRADE,
adding, with oaths and violence, the
shameful ISLANDERS against Mr.. Beecher
of which / now believe him to he the
author. This fearful scene / learned
next day. In the afternoon he showed
me his invitation from the committee to
meet them that evening; did not show
my hurt but carried it heavily within,
but calmly without, all night till early
morning. Reflection upon this scene at
Mr.. Ovington's convinced me that, not
withstanding my husbands recent pro-
fession to me, his former spirit was un-
changed, that his declarations of repent
ance and affection were only for the
purpose of gaining my assistance to ac-
complish his ends in his warfare upon
| Beecher.
In the light of these conclusions my
| duty appeared plain. rose quietly, and
having dressed, reused him only to say
Theodore, l will never take another
step by your side. The end has indeed
come"
He followed me to Mrs. Ovington's to
breakfast, saying that was unduly ex
cited, and that he had been misrepre
sented, perhaps, but leaving me as de-
| termined as before. How to account fol
the change which twenty-four hours have
been capable of working in his mind
then fixed for many years past, leave
for the eternities, with their mysteries
to reveal. That he is an unreliable and
unsafe guide, whose idea Of truth loving
is self-loving, it is my misfortune, in this
late, sad hour, to discover.
| ELIZABETH r. TILTON
| BROOKLYN, July %, 1874.