The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-05-14


LETT him with heart almost dead.
esL, ened, Dut with spirit to dare anything
m order to discover the real murderer.
ana set my brother free. But what
could l, a helpless girl, do? The world
Deneyed my brother guilty, and no one
| would look with announcement on any
enorts might make to prove him inno-
cent HowevefssT made up NV mind to
/. secure @ the services of an able lawyer, and
| icy MN watch, In a quiet, unobtrusive
manner, for some c1ew by which to dis
/ cover the real murderer.
90; one evening I went to see MIR.
| F1neh, shrewd little man, who saw
everything in minute, when he chose,
and who could observe without being
observed. I talked with him an hour,
| ana at the end of that time, 7 believe,
convinced him of Philips innocence,
ana mad hlm thoroughly interested in
my case.
But we were not to be known to be in
communication. If either discovered
anything, the other was to be informed
py letter. So we parted, my heart
strangely buoyant Yet there seemed to
be dead weight within me, dragging
me back, and voice duly Whispering
that all my labor would in the end come
to naught. I had to force this feeling
back, and summon all the resolution Of
my nature to drive away despair. Yes,
had an end In life now, an object to be
accomplished, in which my whole being
was enlisted.
I used to walk often on the lake
shore, and wander about on the gravelly
beach where the dreadful scene was
enacted. Through cold weather and
chilly winds Z would venture, and
watch the waves as they rolled high, and
seemed to be trying to wash off the stain
left by the blood of my fGeofrey. Oh,
poor boy, to be struck and cut till you
were dead
The beach was two or three rods wide,
and then the land rose abruptly and was
thickly covered with trees and bushes.
Among these would sit, in o measure
protected from the wind, and watch and
think. I knew not what the charm was
that drew me there. Sometimes went
me frequently, and never was glad to
see him. But he would come, and he
often opened anew the wounds which
had been inflicted on my spirit
One evening was sitting in large
easychair, by the fire, feeling tired, III
and drowsy. was almost asleep; when,
by sudden impulse, I rose and wan
dered down to the shore, and was soon
seated among some bushes, looking out
musing, I heard footstep on the gravel;
and looking around, I saw John Rivers
approaching. My heart gave a leap, for
thought he had come to seek me. But
he soon stopped and looked out over the
water; and as / became certain that I
was not what had brought him there,
gave subduedfsight of relief
He had stopped on the exact spot
where the murder was committed. After
for a few moments, he looked
around in all directions, as if to be salts
ned that he was alone. He then stepped
back, and appeared to be looking at some |
imaginary object. Then he stepped |
stealthily forward; and looking at a par |
hcular spot, made violent motion. as if |
striking some object. Then, springing |
back, he gesticulated wildly, as if fight |
ng with a phantom. Finally, he ex-
ended his arm, with sudden lunge.
md turned, and ran about rod from the
'pOt. Then he covered his face with his
lands for moment; and after q minute
u two, approached the spot of his singu-
ar pantOmime, and bent over, as If ex-
ming some object on the ground. He
emained In this position, as If trans
ixed; and L, drawn by a mysterious and
sres1hble impulse, approached the spot
$50. He did not hear or see me; vet
TODD close by him. Horror of horrors
here lay, ON the ground, in a dim.
hantom-hke shape, a human form, COW
red with ghastly wounds. From one
eep wound In the breast projected q
ing knife. looked at the face. There, ,
Pturned and pale, with death-throes
gitating the features, was the counte-
ance of Geofrey Armstrong AT that
loment Rivers looked up. His eyes
let mine.
" Murderer I" I cried eyt,,1 are NOT I
one ~
Suddenly, new sensation came over
e. A bright light was before nv ewes. I
warm fire beside me, and / was sitting !,
my chair, waking from doze into !
hich I had fallen. s
ID arose just In time to receive Mr.. Riy- 9
8, whom the servant was ushering into n
e room.
:" Pardon me, Miss Esther" he said y
thought heard you scream lust as L
tered. Are you i1I9" 8.
l was agitated, the dream having af- T
ted me strongly. =
$ Good evening, Mr.. Rivers said. r
Did scream2 had such a dreadful -
eam." ~ ~
't Indeed ~ said he and may ask - =,
at was its nature r. ~
: Oh, yes, /" Irepled ss I am so used p
AAO4AA(A0 eAAOu&Sng<s tdlz16 Il Hk1 very SGO-
! about such things. The dream was bo
very singular and q very terrible -
); but viii tell il to you, If you
do not know what spirit came over wi
!, for I was not only willing, but alb
utely itching to tell that dream to 4
IN Rivers. I would paint it in glow
colofs, and tell it to him with ali my Bu
quence. But did not mention his en-
ne. told it all but that, and then alb
! .,.ss {s:s.,sss an
It was terrible, Mr.. Rivers. All. els
' distinctly the face of that man is
tured TO my mind, as he looked up do.
"a the phantom body and his eyes met inn
le. His face was pale, his eyes small yoi
dark, his eyebrows heavy, bis NOUS
be Jet black and lnxuriant. his Blu
ehs rather sunken, with small !
wn mole ON the upper part of the 4
one" me
[e sprang from his chair. His
eks were paler,. If possible, than Ri,
Al he looked at me steadily for
loments his eyes darling lightning Blu
hes. ssts did
You have described mel,' he said. at he1