Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-04-06
Select Sforp.
From Harper's Monthly.
THE. CRIME
OF
ABIGAIL TEMPEST
Seleff Sforp.

from Ms. found among the private fami.
ly papers of the late Conyers Beverly. Esq. Of
Williamsburg. in Virginia-l
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK..
He turned then. just as his hand
was upon the DIOR handle, and 1 saw
by he freight that his face was
white and stern. Yet never a word
spake he, but unlocked the door and
went in, and heard him grope and
stumble in the darkness. Then he
came back and took IA taper from the
chimney piece and lighted one of the
wax-candles, the rays whereof falling
full upon his face showed it all ghast
ly and changed, as the face of one
who hath been long ill and nigh unto
death. Yet, shocked though was,
said naught. seeing that he desired
not TO be spoken to; and in sooth his
appearances was as that of one that
walketh in. dream, neither seeing
nor hearing aught out OF his own
mind.
So waited some minutes. listen
ingt ne quick yet cautious step OF
Jo' Conyers, and wondering in
what manner he could have procured
the key wherewith he had unlocked
the door, knowing that the general
carried the same always about him,
and never suspecting duplicate.
And presently he called to me. but in
voice SO changed and so hard and
stern that / scarce knew it for his
own.
L went to the open door. The can
die was out, but the moonlight shone
/ throught the window, and in that
pale light l beheld standing the figure
of some person. Not John Conyers
surely, but rather-yes, /. must be,
of truth, General George Washing
ton himself whom 1 there beheld. 1t
was his tall, stately figure, his digni-
fled attitude, with the left hand in the
breast of his coat-nay, the coat it.
self was the generals, as were also
the wig and the high horseman's
boots and the cooked and braided
military hat. / started back bewil-
dered.
$50 you did not know me, Aggie
that is well,' then said the figure
and as it advanced into the light oil
the candle, which was burning on the
library table. L saw that it was in
truth John Conyers.
did you take me for the general
Agnes? Did / resemble him in the
moonlight" he inquired. hurriedly
and anxiously.
"Truly you did. But. John, CousiI
John, what is it that ails you? You
must be ill, or else something terri
ble has happened or is about tc
happen.
Not il 1 can avert it, please God,
he answered. in a low, earnest tone
"Good-by, Aggie; good-by, little
cousin"
He placed his hands upon m,
shoulders as before. and, whilst 1 feI
them tremble, he looked into my
face with strange burning eyes
eyes that. thinking OF that expression
long after. did convey to my min,
the idea of some deep and unspokeI
agony lurking within And theI
slowly bending his head, he kissed
me solemnly upon the brow, an'
turned away. He glanced once at hi,
watch. / heard him murmur, as il tC
him self, "Bet,Ceen ten and midnigh
-fooper's house" as one who seeks
to fix upon his own mind some i'm
portant matter. At that moment IN
was approaching the door, but be
fore he did reach thereunto it wa
opened, and Mistress Abigail stoo,
therein, facing us with look of sur
prise on her countenance. She ha,
not expected to find him there, as he
words made manifest.
"Johui can it be you? And in Gen
eraI Washington's dress! What doe
it mean?"