Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-07-30

effect. | had never been so fearless
nor seen so clearly before with whom
/ was dealing. Coming to me little
later, he said: 81 want you to read it;
you will find it vindication of your
self; you have not stood before the
community for five years as you do
now.' Reused still further by the
wickedness hid behind so false mask,
/ replied: ''Theodore, understand
me; this is the last time you cell me
publicly to walk through this filth. =
My character needs no vindication at
this late hour from you. There was a
time, had you spoken out clearly,
truthfully, and manfulIy for me, / had
been grateful, but now shall speak
and act for myself. Know, also, that
if in the future | see scrap of paper
referring to any human being, howev-
err remote, which it seems to me you
might use or pervert for your own end,
/ will destroy it," "This means bat
tie on your part, them" said he
"Just SO far" | replied. | write this
because these words of mine he has
since used to my harm.
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
The next morning | went to my
brother and told him that now | had
decided to act in this matter; that |
had been treated by my husband as a
nonentity from beginning to end; a
plaything, to be used or let alone at
will; that it had always seemed to me
| was party not little concerned.
| then showed him card | had made
for publication. He respected the mo-
tive, but still advised silence on my
part. | yielded to him thus far as to
appearing in the public prints; but
connseling with myself and no other,
it occurred to me that among brethren
of my own communion | might be
heard. Not knowing of any church
committee, I 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 heard for the first time that the
Committee would meet that night, land
advised me to see those gentlemen, as
perhaps the COOLEST persons | could
select. This I accordingly did,
There alone / pleaded the cause o.
my husband and my children; the re
suit being that their hearts were moved
in sympathy for my family, a feeling
their pastor had shared for years, and
for which he was now suffering. On
going home ! found my husband read
ing in bed.
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;
said no more; rose, dressed himself
and babe me good bye forever. The
midnight following / was awakened
by my husband standing by my bed
In very tender, kind voice, he said
he wished to see me. Irose instantly.
followed him into his room, and sitting
on the bedside, he drew me into his
lap, said: He was proud of me, loved
me; that nothing ever gave him such
real peace and satisfaction as to hear
me well spoken Of; that, meeting a
member Of the Committee, he had
learned that he had been mistaken as
an had n sdfet u aha ne 9nas
had been thoroughly wretched since
his rash treatment of me the night be
fore, etc. Then and there we coven
anted sacredly our hearts and lives; |
most utterly renewing my 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 l heartily acceed-
ed. This document, God knows, was
a true history of the affair, completely
vindicating my honor and the honor OF
my pastor. In the afternoon he left
me to show it to his friends. He re-
turned home early iii the evening,
passing the happiest hours had
known for years; renewedly assuring
me that there was no rest for him
away from me. So, in grateful love
to the dear Father, | slept. Oh, that
the end had then come! | would not
then receive the cruel blow (which
made a woman mad outright" The
next morning he called upon our
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. Ovington, and
there, with shocking bravado, began
a wicked TRADE, adding with an oath
and violence
THE SHAMELESS ISLANDER
against Mr.. Beecher, of which | now
believe him to be the author. This
fearful scene | learned next day. In
the afternoon he showed me his invi-
tation from the Committee to meet
them that evening. did not then
show my hurt, but carried it heavily
within, calmly without all night till
early morning. Reflection upon this
scene at Mr.. Overton's convinced me
that, Notwithstanding my husbands
recent professions to me, his former
spirit was unchanged; that his decla-
rations of repentance and affection
were only for the purpose of gaining
ASSISTANCE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS ENDS
in his warfare upon Mr.. Beecher. In
the light of these conclusions, my duty
appeared plain. rose quietly, and,
having dressed, reused him, only to
say, "rheodore, | viii never take an
other step by your side; the end has
indeed come!" He followed me to
Mrs. Overton's to breakfast, saying l
was unduly excited, and that he had
been misrepresented perhaps, but
leaving me determined as before. =
How to account for the change which
twenty.four hours have been capable
of working in his mind, then many
years past, | leave for eternities with
their mysteries to reveal. That he is
an unreliable and unsafe guide whose
idea of truth-.oving is self-loving, it is
my misfortune at this late sad hour to
discover.
(Signed) ELIZABETH r. Triton.
July 81. 1874.