Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-30

towards me. moved aside to let him
pass, when he pulled Up N asked me Il
this road was rot short cut 70 ~.
This moon sbone ont then clear an bright,
an, I seen his face an heard his voice, an
rnew II was him. In an instant he was
on the ground at my feet. One blow from
the stout stick / carried had felled him
from the saddle. lie never stirred afther !!
The frightened horse rushed away, an !
dragged the body inside low ditch.
took bis watch, purse an some papers that
were on him, an left him, as If he had
been murdered tor robbery's sake. was
unknown in them parts. None would
ever suspect me in my own place. If they
searched for me, never knew it. / got
away from Queenstown by ship which
was short OF hands, an as l had at one
time lived by the sea. an been used to
boats. they were glad to get me. Over
the vessels side flung, as we left Cork
Iarbor behind us, the watch and purse,
but the papers kept. They were in one
small packet. put them up. | don't
know why, but did net like to destroy
them. They are now in my pocket. /
went 10 San Francisco. an went all
around the world, but never back TO Ire
land. Ichanged my name, an none who
once knew me would have recognized me,
became SO changed in looks. But, as it
happened, never met one from my own
place. My revenge brought me no com
fort,
Here his voice quivered, and he uttered
some wild ordinations. He was evident
~ laboring under a terrible sense of re-
morse, and his mind was wandering. l
could see he was dying. He lay quite
still, but for the deep heaving Of the chest.
softly wiped away the death dews. The
eyes seemed to see nothing; the face was
still and fixed. The rafting became
fainter; be breathed at longer intervals.
Suddenly he put out one of his hands
feebly. and touched mine; a smile stole
over the mouth that had not smiled for
years. II shall see Mary" he said, and
died. Just then. when all was over with
this miserable being. there was loud
knocking at the door, and with rapture
heard the voice of my husband: "Hollo |!
Nell Let me in child Where are
your"
dew TO the door, and. in the agitated
state Of my feelings, tainted away in his
arms. When came to myself, was in
the kitchen, and Jack beside me !; his dear
face looked pale with anxiety. and he held
me close to his heart, as told him what
had occurred, as soon as could find voice
at all, and did not forget to mention the
packet. @s~
Jack had been unable to leave D.
until late the preceding day. and had been
overtaken by the darkness. The fog in
creasing, he had consented to accept a
friends hospitality for the night. but be-
ing miserably uneasy about it. he had
started long before dawn, and, arriving
home, beheld the strange scene related.
was Ill, and was good while before
l got well. In the interval my baby was
attended to by an English settlers wife.
who lived next to us. Having lost her
own child, she nursed mine with care and
love until 1t could be restored to my care
During this dismal period escaped any
concern as to the removal and burial OF
the stranger who had died in the distract
ing circumstances ! have recorded.
On returning to everyday life, aud sit
ting one day with little Willie in my arms,
Jack ps0posed to tell me story. "If you
are able TO bear it, . he said, II will tell
YOU = story full of interest, but also little
painful. think you should hear it,"
requested him to proceed. He then went
on as follows: Ten years ago, in a Ger
tain county in Ireland, lived gentleman
who had two sons. He had been married
twice, and the brothers had different
mothers. The first wife's son was great
deal older than his half-brother, and was
married, with son reaching manhood
when the younger came home to his father
from the English college where he had
been educated The mother of the young.
er brother had died in giving him birth.
The elder brothers wife was an in
triguing woman. The younger son had
awilf Of his own, and was too, proud and
TOO honest to hatter. Things did not GO
on well between him and his brothers fam.
ily who disliked him and were Jealous OF
the fathers affection for his younger son.
The fortune OF the father was in his own
power, with the exception of small EN-
tailed property. Gradually an estrange-
ment crept between the old man and his IA
vorite son. which was not wholly the sons
fault. And there was no lack Of malice
to widen the breach on the part of the
others. At last serious quarrel occurred
between the young man and his father on
the subject OF the formers marriage with
lady of large fortune. The father and
son parted In anger. The father sent for
his lawyer and made his will leaving his
whole fortune to his elder son, cutting off
the younger son with one shilling. The
father and son did not meet again until
Just before the old mans death. The son,
hearing one day Of his fathers wish to see
him, fastened to him, The meeting gave
happiness to both, and they parted recon-
ciled. The old man had not been very
we'll Tor some time. but after his sons de-
parture rallied wonderfully. and seemed
likely to live for years. One day he start
ed on journey, telling no one his mission.
The same evening he returned, apparent
lyin good health. The next morning he
was found dead in his bed! Heart disease
was the verdict of the physicians. The
night before, or the morning Of his death,
.tkterrible murder had been committed
near town not twenty miles distant from
the old mans home, the victim being a
solicitor and land agent from neighbor-
ing country. This gentleman had come
to K on business and had accepted
the invitation Of friend to dinner.
On returning to his hotel from his
friends house. he was attacked on the
public road. His body was not discovered
for several hours after the deed was per