Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-09

TAE CLERGYMAN'S CONFESSION.
FIRST PART
~ WiLkIE COLLINS.

FIRST PART
Ny brother, the clergyman, looked over
my shoulder before was aware of him,
and discovered that the volume which
completely absorbed my attention was a
collection of famous trials, published in a
popular form.
He laid his finger on the trial which
happened to be reading at the moment.
looked up at him; his face startled me.
He had turned pale. His eyes were fixed
on the open page of the book with an ex-
preston which puzzled and alarmed me.
"My dear fellow" said, "what in the
world is the matter with you?''
He answered in an odd, absent manner,
still keeping his finger on the open page.
IL had almost forgotten he said. ''And
this reminds me-"
Reminds you of what ~ l asked. you
don't mean to say you know anything
about the trial.
II know this he said. The prisoner
was guilty"
"Guilty?' repeated. why, the man
by acquitted by the jury, with the full ap-
proval of the Judge! What can you pos
sibly mean %
"Ihere are circumstances connected
with that trial. my brother answered,
(which were never communicated to the
Judge or the jury-which were never so
much as limited or whispered in court.
know them-of my own knowledge. by my
own personal experience. They are very
sad, very strange, very terrible. / have
mentioned them to no mortal creature.
have done my best to forget them. You
quite innocently-have brought them
back to my mind. They oppress, they
distress me. wish l had found you read
ing any book in your library, except that
book"
My curiosity was now strongly excited.
| spoke out plainly.
might it not relieve your mind,n sug-
gested. '.if you admitted some one into
your confidenceo You might surely tell
your brother what you are unwilling to
mention to persons less nearly related to
you. We have followed different profess
ions, and have lived in different countries,
since we were boys at school. But you
know you can trust me-
He considered little with himself.
Yes" he said. Il know can trust
you lie waited a moment; and then
he surprised me by strange question.
''Do you believe" he asked. "that the
spirits of the dead can return to earth and
show themselves to the livingP'
| answered cautiously-adoptin as my
own the words OF a great English writer,
touching the subject of ghosts.
"lou ask me question" l said. which,
after 5000 years, is yet undecided. On
that account alone, il is a question not to
be trifled with
My reply seemed to satisfy him.
"You suggested just now" he resumed ),
''that it might relieve my mind if took
you into my confidence. You may be
right-and, as my nearest living relative,
you are certainly the fittest person whom
| can trust. Promise me that you will
keep what tell you secret as long as !
live. After my death care little what
happens. Let the story of my strange
experience be added to the published ex-
perencc of those other men who have
seen what have seen, and believe what
have believed. The world will not be the
worse, and may be the better. for know
ing one day what | am now about to con-
to your ear alone
lie began hi. narrative, aS can can re-
member in these words
since, left my chambers in the Temple
to meet fellow-student. who had pro-
posed to me nights amusement in the
public gardens at Cremone.
You had then gone out to India, and
had lust taken my degree at Oxford.
had sadly disappointed NV father by
choosing the law as my profession in pref
erence to the church. At that time, to
own the truth. had no serious intention
of following any special vocation. | SIM
ply wanted an excuse for enjoying the
pleasures of London life. The study of
the law supplied me with that excuse.
And chose the law as my profession ac-
cordingly.
On reaching the place at which we had
arranged to meet, | found that my friend
had not kept his appointment. After wait
ing vainly for ten minutes my patience
gave way, and ] went into the Gardens by
myself.
took two or three turns round the plat
form devoted to the dancers without dis
covering my fellow-student. and without
seeing any other person with whom hap
pened to be acquainted at that time.
For some reason which | cannot now
remember, | was not in my usual good
spirits that evening. The noisy music
ljarred on my nerves, the sight of the gasp
ing crowd round the platform irritated
me, the Establishments of the painted la
dies Of the profession OF pleasure saddened
and disguised me. l opened my cigar
case and turned aside into one of the quiet
bywalks Of the gardens.
A man who is habltually careful in
choosing his cigar has this advantage over
a man who is habitually careless. He can
always count on smoking the best cigar
in his case, down to the last. was still
absorbed in choosing my cigar, when
heard these words behind me-spoken in
4 foreign accent and in womans voice
Leave me directly, Sir wish to have
nothing to say to you
turned round and discovered a little
lady very simply and tasteiully dressed
who looked both angry and alarmed a:
she rapidly passed me on her way to the
more frequented part of the gardens. A
man (evidently the worse for the wine hi
had drunk In the course of the evening,
was following her, and was pressing hi
tipsy attentions on her with The cOarsas