The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1875-11-11


moiieFiy old lady that she would Dot
only 80 and keep bis wife company, bni
20 a once, thai be ooatinaed bis tourpey.
Then be rode swiftly. resolving 10 saf-
prise hate by bis sudden reiara-to be
home BY midnight.
Bat, notwithstanding ell bis Efforts, Il
was past sunrise before the elatter OF bis
horses feet rang again through the one
street OF the village. tie bad 70 pass hii
warehouse onthe way, and was surprised
that il was not yet opened.
For once, bis faithful clerk must have
oyerslept himself, and be resolved TO dis
mount and awaken him. In an instant
his hand was upon the latch, aud
strange fear took possession OF him. The
door was not fastened!
What could 1t meani lie pushed for.
ward, calling bis clerk by name, but no
answer was returned--saw that the goods
bad been torn down from the shelves,
the safe was standing open, aud be knew
that foul deed bad been done-knew,
10 moment, rs he came upon the dead
body Of the young man and pile Of half.
burned wood aud shsvihgs, that murder
aud attempted arson bad been added TO
burglary.
To arouse sone OF the nearest neigh.
bors, burriedly relate what he had seen,
and tell them to take charge OF the ware
house, was short work; and be was re-
mounting TO proceed home, when his eye
CHANGED 10 rest on Mrs. Eaton, who had
been attracted thither by the unusual
/ commotion.
How is Kates How is my wifef he
gasped.
/ was just going TO tell you, answered
the woman, that one Of my grand-chil-
dren was taken sick, and
You didn't go? Great heaven!
lie waited to hear no more. He sprAng
upon his horse, and rode like one sud-
denly gone mad, until he reached the
vlne-eoyered door Of the cottage, where
this young wife was accustomed to wait
aud watch for his coming. But she was
net there! lie sprsug to the ground as
he saw the door standing open. and rush.
ed within, calling loudly. But az 1t had
been at the warehouse, there was no an
swer, and his heart sank within him.
| lie passed the little parlor and entered
the bedroom, to find marks of severe
struggle on every side--the bed torn and
pillows stained with blood. Then, In
deed, the heart OF the strong man grew
faint, his knees trembled like one with
the palsy, be sank into chair, and for
few minutes was incapable Of action, al
most of thought. Bnt he could not long
remain in such terrible suspense. The
worst could not be worse than that; and
wild with fear, he started up, and began
searching through the house for what be
expected to find-the maDgled remains Of
her he worshipped.
In the far corner of the cellar he found
her lying insensible. He lifted and car
ried her up stairs, placed her 10 bed, and
sought restoratives-saw,a as he was bath
ing the pallid face, upon which were
stamped both intense fear and agony,
that her beautiful throat was sadly
bruised, aud there still remained upon 1t
the marks of heavy fingers, where she
had been brutally choked. But, after .
time, she was sufficiently restored TO re-
cognize him; and the instant she did 90 q
cry of horror burst from her lips-she
wildly struggled 10 escape, and again
lapsed into insensibility.
Thus the day passed, and night of
torture, the most the mind can conceive,
followed. But as the gray light of an
other morning came, the wretched woman
was restored TO herself, and remained so
until death put an end to her sufferings.
She felt that she was dying; aud drawing
her husband close TO her, whispered 10
his ear such q tale of horror as well might
have driven him mad. But ii did not.
He sat as one deprived Of volition--
scarcely answering her parting kiss
scarcely hearing her parting blessing
scarcely knowing when she died; "a.
gazing upon the loved one until he was
iorcibly removed. And thus be remained
until after the coffin had been 10 Tered
into the grave, and the last sod piled up
on IL. Then be appeared TO awaken as
; from q terrible dream.
OF what his wife had told him no one
never knew-neyer would, and dared moi
ask. lie held counsel with none, repulsed
all attempts at sympathy, talked with but
Que man, and that Que particular friend
aud lawyer, who at once took posses.
sion and the management OF the property
Then he took a favorite horse, one his
dead wife had always ridden, and was
, seen leaving the village. But be paused
, for a moment at the tavern, and asked
the landlord where be could dnd noted
Indian hunter and trailer, received The
directions, aud buried away.
1 This was the last seen or heard o.
3 George Foster for many months.
Wiihina fes weeks after the departure
. Of George Foster, the slocum family re
E turned 10 The neighborhood, purchased I
> farm, aud settled down into their iorrneI
a lives, They appeared regardless Of th'
= suspicion they could not but have knows
!. was attached 10 them for the murder o
the clerk, the robbery Of the shop 40,
h house, aud. worse than all. the bruta
a treatment that resulted in the death 0
A bis wife.