New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-10

| try Il again. eo, crossing huy1iedly in tn
neighbOrhood Of tho Herald 0Gce, l drew
out nv pocket handkerchief, aud with al
emotion Of relief lalt that the uncann,
little missive had fallen upon Ghe mud
covered pavement amid thick coming hoof
and wheels. But I had congratulated my
self too quickly. Agentaeman who crossed
the street Just after me saw it saw it fall
and in the mistaken kindness of his heart
followed half block to restore the docu.
ment I'm afraid he thought my ackn0ul
Judgments very ungracious, yet tried e
best to dissemble. Two more efforts to m
myself of the letter met with no better sue
fetch the mud-discolered epistle back with
me, and that evening, as my cousin had
other engagements and Mrs. 4orray has
gone ont, had nothing to hinder me ffom
reflection on its contents.
Iwould not allow myself to Aink that
believed in the genuineness Of the COM
munication, yet the more thought about
it the more unaccountable it became Still,
/ was strongly fixed in the opinion that
even if the communication were what it
purported to be, there was no step that
I could or ought to take IN re<erd to it.
For few moments thought a handing
the letter to my cousin to read and 90
shifting whatever responsibilkN there
might be over to bis broad shoul3aR But
that, reAsctsd, would be but . csulardly
thing TO do. Even if he shoula <now
laugh ct the warning-as doubtles1 he
would do-yet, II on his homeward voy-
ago an sccident should happen to the
steamer on which he was, the memory of
the despised waning would then be sue
to awaken, - people always think of the
things they should not; and perhaps, by
disturbing the GOODNESS of his judgment,
and arousing the notion of fatality which
slumbers in us all, the prophecy might
help to it's own fulfillment. That was q
responsibility / would not take.
The letter continued q dreadful plague
to me. I burnt this second one, and the
next days mail brought third nearly
literal copy. This tried to hide, but
every evening, when unlocked my door.
the letter appeared in some new and con-
spicuous place pinned to the head
of nay bedstead, then to a window cur
tain; now on the pillow, now on the sofa,
or again stuck in the frame of the look
ing-glass-once tied to the gas-fxture,
and twice to the door handle. I could
not get rid of its ever reproachful face,
silently saying, Il warn, and you will not
heed"
As far as could without exciting sus-
picion as to my motives in making the
inquiries-for dreaded the sort of noto-
riety which would surely attach to one
who was supposed to have received su-
pernatural communications satisfied
myself that the landlady and servants had,
and could have had, nothing to do with
this letter and its mysterious migrations.
It was ascertained that there had once
been duplicate key to my bureau, but
not, as far as was known, to the hall
door. The other doors were bolted on
both sides.
Now, whether it was altogether owing
to the effect on nay imagination Of this
agility Of an inanimate thing,
or whether it was that the vexatious and
troublesome nature of the business which |
detained me in town, and the physical |
and mental WEAKNESS it induced, COM
bined with the undeniably poisonous
cookery of the fashionable clearinghouse,
had together seriously affected my nerv-
GUS system, do not know, but certain it |
is that day and night I could not escape |
from the haunting refrain: II have |
but you will not heed, and you
will be responsible for life. For his
life-the life of the father of the beauti-
ful children you are SO fond of,
he husband of the woman who
is dear to you, the friend whom you love
for his own sake. It is for his life that
you will be responsible.
During the daytime my work smoth-
ered this refrain, SO that only heard it
Is disturbing echo; but when evening
came with its relaxations could not shut
t out. At the theatre, the brilliant stage
where Reignold played Henry ", or
where Wallack personated the jaunty
youth of fashion, seemed written over
With the flaming words. When dined
With friends, and one said in laughing
way about some trifing thing: "You will
oe responsible for that" I felt as if had
eceived judicial condemnation. When
ny cousin stood on the rug in front Of
Yrs. Murray's sitting-room fire, telling
n eloquent words about Old World won
lers which had burnt themselves into his
.rtist heart, heard them only as through
din of surging waters, in which I saw
lis noble head uselessly struggling, or I
leard his voice as through the sobs of
wife and children lamenting for husband
nd father.
l had maturely reflected and decided
pom my course, and I would not permit
eason to be overridden by imagination
o far as to let the latter influence my &C
ions; yet many night woke to find
lyself bitterly weeping and praying the
ardon Of G-'s wife that / had not at
,ast tried the effect of giving him the
'arning.
was glad when my business was at
.ngth dispatched and could leave the
ity; but it was not until several weeks
fter this that my cousin started for
rance. The twelve days that elapsed
etween the sailing of his steamer
nd that on which its safe arrival was
sported in the New York papers were
cry long. And when it was all over,
ow angry was at myself that / should
ave paid any heed to such a vague and,
3 1t now seemed, transparency spurious
ort of warning! i
My next thought was to send to
lend the letter of which still held the
1ird copy Gts power of self-movement
,rsook it when left New York;, with
le request that he would ascertain for
le if there were any such person as
. B. Sears protesting to be a spiritual
ledium." After some weeks the an
wer was returned: Eyes, A. B. Sears
the nom de guerre of Abiathar Par
ons, who, under his proper name, boards
l the same house where you boarded last
pring." Ii
Abiathar Parsons Then remem-
cred. In the days when Annie h
nd /, as recently-separated schoolmates,
ere carving on an active correspond. |