The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-04-13

suggestion that the babe had been killed
in the fall. The charge of murder had
been abandoned, but Oliver was foun |
guilty of manslaughter, and condemned
to seven years transportation.
"I tried to shut my eyes on the
future-to hope we might remain undis-
turbed, and to train my boy to better
things. Meanwhile my father died. He
had secured shop for me, and left me
small annuity, to be paid quarterly.
"Eight years passed away. Launce-
lot, my pride and joy, was fifteen-a
frank, good natured, and high-spirited
youth, whose mother was all in all to
him.
Suddenly the avalanche camo down
upon us. A fierce, dark, scowling
reprobate came in at our door, and
claimed as my husband right to share
my means. My heart sunk. This was
not the man had sworn to love and
obey.
4"I was powerless to resist, and he
stayed. Goaded by the thought that
whilst he had been in captivity we had
prospered, he tortured me in every way
he could devise, and Launcelot became
my champion. Then he made the boy
his butt to wound me surest.
"At last Launcelot, seeing only shame
and disgrace before him, conceiving
that he was only a cause of outrage on
me, as many good son has done before,
ran off to sea, and was left to cope
with Oliver Marbury alone.
"One night-shall ever forget it
q man clambered over the outhousing in
IL. la
haggard, footsore, bloody. He had
wounded a man and sought conceal
ment. He threatened to kill me if l
spoke a word. What money I had he
took, ate greedily some bread and
cheese, changed his clothes, and then
fed as he came.
"Men were on the watch and he was
taken. His blood-stained clothes were
found in my room, where 1 sat white
with terror.
"I was told that, in an affray with
poachers on his premises, Captain
Thornton and keeper had been killed,
and 1 was questioned until my very
brain begun to reel.
"I thought should be called upon
to give evidence against him. I had
loved him once. He was the father of
my children. To avoid such contin-
gency l fled, whittier I neither knew
nor cared.
81 had no money-never thought OF
it. 1 went along lanes, through fields,
avoiding the highroads, excitement keep
ing me up, though had no food. The
first night took shelterin a barn, stealing
off like culprit at daybreak. I must
have looked hungry, for lad swinging
ON O gate, with great hunch of bread
in his hand, broke it in two and offered
half to me.
"That night dropped on stone by
the wayside and fell asleep. 1 was
reused by some one calling to me. A
gentleman in gig offered me a seat il
full on his face and in my surprise
calculated: Mr.. Smithson!' My father
had dealt with him for years. My
troubles were not unknown to him.
told him all. He took mo home tC
Redditch, to his wife and there I re
mained.
"My husbands sentence was now fol-
life. There was no fear of his breaking
in upon me, they said ; but, ah though
and memory did that
Mr.. Smithson would have me change
my name, but I dared not destroy thu
only clue by which IIaunce might seel
his mother. From time to time / hearC
of him through Mrs. Matthews. One,
went to meet him in Liverpool-only
once. expected him home from Cali
fornia last Christmas.
"When went home from tho shop
Mrs. Chappell, last November, bough
newspaper to read over my tea.
read that the Rosicrucian had foundercC
off Cape Verde, and all hands gon'
down with her. 1t was my sons ship
"Mrs. Chappell, my last hope wen
down in the Rosicrucian. It matter
nothing now who knows my story, U
who does not"