Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-08-27
New SerieS-VOl. IA, No. 81

indicated that 1 had committed tn
document in trust to Moulton, and
signed the line thus written by me.
A few words more as to its furthel
fate. Mr.. MOultOn, of his own accord
said that after using it be would, il
two or three days, bring the memoran
dunn back to me, and he cautioned m,
about disclosing in any way that Their
was difficulty between Tilton anC
me, as it would be injurious to Tiltol
to have it known that had quarreleC
with him, as well as to me to have ru
mors set afioat. / did not trouble my
self about it until more than a yea
afterward, when Tilton began to write
up his case (of which ereafter) anC
was looking up documents. / wonder
ed what was in the old memorandum
and desired to see it for greater certain
ty; so one day 1 suddenly asked Moul-
ton for that memorandum, and said
"YOu promised to return it to me. )"
He seemed confused for a moment
said ''Did I?" Certainly" i answer.
ed. He replied that the paper had
been destroyed. On my putting the
question again, "That paper was burn
ed up long ago." and during the next
two years, in various conversations, ol
his own accord he spoke of it as destroy.
ed. had never asked for, nor;author-
lied, the destruction of this paper. But
/ was not allowed to konw that the
document was in existence until dis
tinguished editor in New York, within
few weeks past, assured me that Mr..
MoultOn had shown him the original,
and that he had examined my sigma
ture to be sure of its genuineness.
know that there was a copy of it since
this statement was in preparation.
While l reject this memorandum as
my work, or an accurate condensation
of my statement, it does, undoubtedly
correctly represented that 1 was in pro-
found sorrow, and that I blame myself
with great severity for the disaster of
the Tilton family. 1 had not then the
light that L. now have. There was
much then that weighed heavily upon
my heart and conscience, which now
weighs only on my heart. I have not
the light which analyses and dissent
mates things. By one blow there open
ed before me q revelation full of an
guish; an agonized family, whose in
mates had been my friends, greatly be-
loved; the husband minded in worldly
the household cruinbling to
pieces, the woman, by long sickness
and suffering either corrupted to de-
ceit, as her husband alleged, or so brok-
en- in mind as to be irresponsible; and
either way it was her enthusiasm for
her pastor, as was made to believe,
that was the germ and beginning of
the trouble. 1t was for me to have
and prevented that mis-
chief. My age and experience in the
world should have put me more on my
guard. 1 could not at that time tell
what was true and what not true of all
The considerations urged upon me by
Tilton and Moulton. There was q
grief before me in which lay those who
had been warm friends, and they al
eyed that I had helped to plunge them
therein. That seemed enough to fill
my soul with'sorrow and anguish. No
mother who has lost child but will
understand the wild self-accusation
hat grief produced, against all reason,
blaming herself for what things she did
10 and for what she neglected to do,
and charging upon herself hei neglect
)r heedlessness, the death of the child,
while ordinarily every one knows that
'he had worn herself out with her as
'iduitieS.
CONVERSATIONS WITH MR. TILTON.
Soon after this / met Mr.. TiIton at
MOuitOn's house. Either MOultOn was
'ick or was very late in rising, for he
was in bed. The subject of my feelings
md conduct toward Tilton was intro
iuced. made a statement of the mo-
ives under which had acted in coun-
selling Bowen, of my feelings in regard
20 Mr.. Tilton's family, discIaiming
with horror the thought of wrong, and
desire to do whatever lay In
human power to remedy any evil 1
lad OccasiOned, and to reunite his fam
ly. Tilton was silent and suller. He
played the part of an injured man, but
said to Mr.. Tilton, with in
ense emphasis, "Thatis all that gen.
leman can say, and you ought to ac-
,ept; as our honorable basis of reconcil-
ation." This he repeated two or three
lines, and Tilton's countenance cheer
ID up under MOulton's strong talk. We
hook hands and parted in friendly
way. Not very long afterward Tilton
Isked me to his house, and said that he
hOuld be glad to have good old times
1 do not remember whether
ever took a meal after this under his
oof, but 1 certainly was invited by
lin to renew my visits as formerly.
lever resumed my intimacy with the |
amily; but once or twice / went there |
Oon after my reconciliation with Mr.. |
'iltOn and at his request. / particu- !
arly remember scene which took |
lace at his house when he talked about |
lis wife and me in very gracious
mood. He began by mourning his
OrrOws; he was very desolate; the fu-
ure seemed quite dark. After i'm
ressing us with his great patience, he
rev generous, praised me to his wife;
aging that I had taken upon myself all
lame of past troubles and had honor
bly, exculpated her, and telling me
hat his wife likewise had behaved
cry magnanimously, had blamed her.
elf and declared that was blameless,
nd he closed his homily with increas-
1g hope and cheer, saying that deep
; was his misery he did not know but
nat it would work out fn the future q
lore cheerful home than he had be-
re. restrained my smiles at the
bsurdity of the thing, we'll content to
ave it evaporate 80, and even think
lg he was generous in his way. This
'emed to me the end of trouble. With
sensitive and honorable man, who
ad no ulteri0r designs to accomplish.
would have been the burial of the
/ suDpOsed Mr.. TiltOn had :
ven up the idea of intentional wrong ,,
1 my part and forgiven my uninten- ,
Onal wrong. plainly understand
)w, what did not then suspect, that !
y trouble of mind was to be kept .
i've and nourished so that / might be ,,
Ied to act on my friend in securing ,
ON Mr.. Bowen the money which Mr.. :
lton claimed to be due as c0mpensa-
On for his expulsion from the two :