The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-17
A TERRIBLE SECRET.

This is my last nightl-aud standing
as do on the brink Of eternity, l will
fill up the few hours that will intervene
before my execution takes place, in wri-
| ting down the history OF my progress in
crime, and how step by step l reached
this dungeon. May it be acce pied asan
act Of atonement on my part, and at the
same time serve as warning to others.
| was forward child, OF sullen, sus-
| picious character, and l afterward be-
| came rough soldier during couple of
campaigns, at the close Of which, peace
having succeeded TO war, lsft the serv-
Ice to farm small estate which my wife
had inherited. Soon ter my return
from the army, my brother sickened and
died. He was an open-hearteu, noble
fellow, far better looking than myself,
and universally beloved. All those who
ever sought my acquaintance, whether
at home Oh abroad, from being his friend,
seldom took kindly to me, aud generally
observed, the first time they saw me,
that never were two brothers more un-
like, both in person and manners.
We had married two sisters; and this
circumstance, which ought to have been
an additional bond between US, only
contributed to estrange us still more.
LIS vile saw through my character but
100 well, and l always lelt, whenever l
gave way to any bad impulse Of envy or
hatred in her presence, as if she read
my thoughts like an open book. 1t was
a relief TO me when the GOODNESS be-
tween US ended in an open rupture, and
a still greater relief when l received the
news OF her death, while l was with my
regiment abroad. 1t now seems to me
as though L had a presenCiment OF the
trlghllul tragedy that was TO take place!
dreaded her, and she seemed to pur.
sue me-ayel even now l see her re-
proachiul eyes glaring upon me, and
reezng up my bloodl she died shortly
alter giving birth to child. When my
brother III turn fell ill, and his life was
despalred OF, he summoned my wife to
his bedside, and entrusted his little Or
phan, a BOY four years old, TO her pro-
tectlng care. He bequeathed all his
property to him, stating in mis- will, that
should the chlld die, his fortune was to
ueFolVe on my wife, as the only return
he couIu make for her affectiouate kind
ness ISen, after exchanging a few fra
tefhai Wofus with me, and regretting
f our long estraDgement, ne fell back, ex-
hausted, INTO deep slumber, from
which he never aw0ke.
AS we had no children, and the TWO
, sisters had always been very united,
my wife loved this boy as ii he had been
her own. lie was passiouately fond OF
ner; but, being tue true picture of his
: mother, both In mind and person, could
never, somehow, take kindly to me. L
can not Tx any particular period at
} which first became aware OF this kind
of antipathy on his part, but soon be-
gan to feel uneasy whenever ne was
, present. AS often as L aWoke out OF a
train OF gloomy Thoughts, there was that
child staring at me, not merely with the
inQulring gaze OF childhood, but with
the piercing look, SO luIl OF IN Gaming, that
used to annoy me in his mother. IL was
not merely an empty fancy OF mine, at
tributaDle to his strong likeness 10 his
: deceased parent, for l never could stare
HIM down, Let me look as fierce as
might. He was evidently afraid OF me.
in spite OF which he seemed to have i'm
blbed hereditary contempt of me.
l may deceive ny selt-and yet do
not think that L Intended at that period
to do him any harm. 1t might, perhaps,
occur TO me how advantageous 1T wouli
be iof US 10 inherit the boys property.
| and L might secretly wish him to die.
still L do not think | had the least i'd a
OF taking away his lite. The idea came
very slowly at hrst, and merely in the
dim and distant outline in which we seL
vision OF an impending earthquake, or
day of the Last Judgment-tnen it an
preached nearer and nearer still, and
began TO lose portion oil its horror aud
lmprobabillty: and alter assuming a
more definite shape, it became the con-
stant theme OF my speculations. When
these foul phantoms crossed my BRAIN.
L could not bear that the boy should per-
ceive l was staring at him, yet, by a kind
OF fascination, lcould not heip gazing on
his fragile form, aud thinking how
easy the work OF destruction would be.
Sometimes 1 watched him in his sleep,
but oitener still from the garden, as |
crUuched behind the bushes, glariug like
a tiger on his prey, into the parlor,
where he sat learning his lesson ON a
low stool, beside my wlfa's knee.
. Close 10 our country house lay deep
pOol, but it was not Wis bic from our
window. Ispent several days in cary
ing rough model OF Il boat with my pen
khIte, ana when 1t was completed | pur-
posely lett 1t III the cnilu's way. l then
MD myself near the pool III a spot that
he must pass by in case he came to set
The little boat atioat in the water, But
he came neither on that nor the follow
ing day. Stiil l felt certain he was in
my tolls, Tor l. Lad heard him prate about
his toy, which he hal even taken to bed
with MIN. L waited patiently, and on
the third day cou,d see him from my
hidiug-p!ace come running along joyous
ly with his silken looks streaming In the
wind, ana slnglng-poor Child Ia merry
tune, though he could scarcely lisp the
words. L stole behind him beneath some
bushes that grew near the bank, and the
Evil One Knows hoN |, strong, grow u
man, Lrembled in every limb as | fol-
lowed the footsteps of th.s little CHILD,
while he approached the waters brink.
| WAS close behind him, crouchlug on my
knees, and was raising my hand 70 pus Il
MN in, when he saw my shadow III Une
water ami turned rouuu.
HIS mothers spirit CLEANED from his
leyes. The sun now burst forth from
behind a cloud, turning the water into a
sheet OF molten gUld. Everything
sparkled as il all nature had eyes, ]
DON'T know what the boy said-Lnougn
50 young he did not faWn upon me, noI
try to soothe me; all recollect, that be
screamed OUT, not that he loved me, bui
that he "would Try 70 love me-" and then
he ran back TO the house as last as be
could.
The next time I saw him my sworC
was IN my hand, and he was lying stiff
and cold at my feet. l took HIM up il
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