The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-11

than the mother and sister had been
but | could see that she was glad clear
ldoWn in tue very depths OF her.soul; and
4 tell you my conscience did reproye me
lawfully for the cheat Twas putting upon
such constant, loving heart. But l
had got too far, then, TO back out; and l
determined, to stick to the lie clear
through, come what might.
"Well, sir, it went on smoothly
enough. l had money enough to pur-
chase a house and little farm; and |
thought would marry Katie, aud settle
down, to live, out my life as
another. Perhaps you can fancy
what queer sensation it is
to give up your own seIf-your indi-
viduality-and to be somebody else.
THAT'S what proposed to do, forever
"Katie agreed with Inc in my plans
and ideas of the future; so l got her to
name the day,and we made all the prep
afatiOns for the wedding.
Shortly before the appointed time, l
had an offer for my house and land at
a very tidy advance on the cost; and,
thinking that / had better turn a fair
penny where could, Isold out, intehd-
ing TO buy another place as soon as L
could find one.
'On the night of the wedding, as was
about to leave 'motner's' house, where L
had been dressing, 1t struck me that the
money L had received for my property
was all that l had in the world, and 1
should. be careful Of it. 1t was in an old
money belt, lying in the trunk, with a.
broken lock; and there had been one or
two robberies committed in that region
within a week.
II bueked on the belt, then, next my
n n hn hri1 1A5 n
with all my earthly wealth around my.
waist.
at was a warm night, and naturally
felt little nervous at that moment; SO.
| left the room where the guests were,
assembling, and went out for a minute.
upon the piazza to cool and collect my
self before taking the decisive step.
Everything was quiet and peaceful out
side. Nobody was in sight, and the only
noise l heard was made by the horses of
the guests, tied in a long row. to the
fence.
"Here another extraordinary impulse
came over me; and the devil tempted
me to undo all that he had tempted me
TO do. Without knowing Row, or why,
OF wherefore, | ran down to the gate,
bareheaded, and springing on TO the
finest horse l saw, rode off at spank
ing gallop, as if the fiend was after me
"a thunderstorm came on and
drenched me to the skin; but rode on,
ior miles and miles, past villages, and
parks, ana bridges, and pastures, to-
ward Liverpool, TIL my horse gave signs
of failing. In urging him on he stun-
| bled, fell. and dashed me against stone
wall, injuring my head very badly, and
stretching me- out as cold as o deau man.
81 lay there for an hour or two in the
rain, Lill a teamster came along and took
me TO the nearest house. There | told
them that l was travelling in haste TO
| take a packet for America from Liver
pool, on important business, and offered
| 10 pay them well if they would take me
| through that night.
"a kind-hearLed woman, however, re.
| fused 70 listen to this proposition, and
made me stay several days, while she
cured the wound on my mead, and did
not let me 90 tlll was we'll rested and
recovered from the terrible nervousness S
that troubled me. Then 1 lett her hos.
pilable roof, took the first vessel tor
New York, under an assumed name,
and-here l am, settled down quietly
enough, with a wife and family"
"And did you never hear" l asked,
anything further OF the people with
\ whom your life was SO strangely min
gled"
"Not a word. That was nigh Oh to
! twenty years ago, and L have never
heard the first whisper about any of
them. Nor have l ever forgiven myself.
The only satisfaction | have in thinking
of the whole business, is that faithfully
gave the, poor old widow her sons kit,
and Bible, and money, untouched, not
as a bequest from dead son, but pres
ent from living one"