The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-07-07

OF our story,
The letter was written in feeble,
scrawling hand, with a pencil, but the
signature was quickly recognized by the
peculiar blending of initials forming a
monogram, peculiar to the writer only.
The letter was received in Baltimore,
the directions Of the writer given at No.
-, Walnut street, Philadelphia The
first train going eastward bore Horace
Weldon to the City of Brotherly Love.
Having arrived at the station, he took "a
carriage and was speedily driven to the
address indicated in the letter, and found
the writer on a bed IN comfortable apart
ments.
cannot describe the meeting, can
not picture the emaciated form of the
o1ce handsome Edward Manders as he
lay PROSTATE with his long, thin hands
beneath his head, and hair once the pride
and envy of his associates in struggling
confusion across his whiteped forehead,
Weldon approached his bedside, but no
hand was extended oy him. Their eyes
met in strange, Wild conflicting ex-
preston, with combination of pity, love,
hate and surprise. After moment Ed.
ward asked, Did you get my letter p
If had not received it should not
be here
Horace, will you listen to me, will you
reserve your condemnation until | have
finished? p
Weldon nodded his assent aud nvolun-
tarily, gazed out of the window, prepared
to hear what the dying man had to say.
Then, moving on his right side, facin G
the new comer,tho invalid spoke in feeble
tones
Horace, have wrouged you, deeply
injured you, and knowing my end is
near, wrote that you might come before
it was too late to hear my explanation,
and grant your forgiveness. | know you
were promised to Alice Mason, and joyed
at your prospective happiness, but often
when reading letters to me from her my
heart yearned for such wife, and when n
you introduced her to me | felt a strange
love had never dreamed of,and inward.
ly resolved to win her if in my power, no
matter what the source. Twas | that
caused the enlargement between you and
her, and rejoiced at the result. | paid
every attention to her in my power and
tried to poison her mind against you, that
| might further my object. Day by day
1 watched your friendship growing more
into colducss, and at last triumphed by
knowing you had ceased to visit her, and
felt that she had forgotten you, but fear.
ing the old love would come back and my
designs be thwarted, ] planned an elope.
ment with her, and left you to imagine
where we both had gone. took her to
her aunt's in this city and at ouce took
passage for London, calculating within
two months to return and make her my
wife, bnt the sea voyage was too much
for my nervous system, and | speedily
returned to my home in this city, from
which | have not left the house. Know
ing that | could not 1.-Two | wrote to you
thinking to make matters right. Alice
is the same as when you loved her. she
has not been outside the!house of relatives
has not mingled with the world, but re.
maincd in perfect secusion, with the cx.
ception fher visits to me since my return
am sure my time has como, and de-
sire to make all the reparation in my
power, and hope to see you and Alice
happy before | die Oh, how my heart
has accused me for my action. How Of.
ten when alone, far away from you and
Alice, have thought OF our wild life to
gether IN Australia Of the hardships we
have encountered unmurmuring togeth.
er; how we have shared the same mud
hut and blankets; how often we had lain
in each Others embrace and sworn fidelity
and eternal friendship, aud anticipated
how happy our wives would be in each
others society, knowing we were such
friends how We have anticipated for the
future in hopes our expectations would be
realized. But al. is past,all is gone, and
| know have but short time to stay
it is my last wish that you and Alice Ma
son become reconcilcd, for | know she
loves you as dearly as ever
The speaker stopped short exhausted
from the exertion he had passed through,
and gazed eagerly into the eyes of Ais
once dear friend. When Horace spoke
his voice was low, subdued, and ialtering.
for the mist was fast falling his eyes.
Edward, | have loved you ever since we
met-loved you not as brother, but as
myself No sacrifice, however great, but
what | would have submitted 10 for your
interest. My parse and house were ever
at your disposal; A; but this deep wrong
yon have Inflicted has given me untold
anguish, and hoped never TO meet you
again; but dying bed recopciIes all, and
subdues a ranking heart. | forgive Juu.
but hope aerer to see \ lice Mason uguia.
She has deeply wrougcd me, and lett a
wound in my heart that all time cannot
heal. forgive you-irom the bottom
of my soul-iorgive yoa'
The right hand Of each was extended
aud grasped with iervent pressure that
had uot been known for years Large
tear. drops fell on the cheeks of Horace
Weldon, aud the pale face of Edward
Manders was lit up with strange lustre,
only identified with the npproach of death,
Then you forgive me, Horace
Yes
And will see Alice ?
But before reply could be given the
door of an adjoining apartment opened.
Alice noiselessly entered and knel, by
the bedside of Mauders and looked up
into the tear.dimmed face Of Weldon.
Say that | am to you as in days gone
by | am as pure as when you loved
me, and ask Edward TO viudicate me.
Speak, Edward. Sp'ak, Edward Man.
ders, aud tell Horace Weldon the truth.
Speak, if it he the last words you ever
utter. You eaunot enter into eternity
until | am made right, then death may
claim you. Speak, for Heavens sake, or
| shall 90 mall
The sunkeu eyes OF Edward Mandcrs