The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-28

tion, giving detailed account of her intimacy
with Major Henry, but still not making full
confession:
''Nov. 10, 1888
'My Dear Husband-Yonr letter of the 10th
came this morning Just in time to save the last
act in the scene OF life with me. 1 have every
thing prepared, and tonight would have been
the sleep which knows no waking on earth with
me. The only consideration which has deferred
me before was that then all would be known,
and for Grlfflth's sake more than anything else,
L waited to see If there was no alternative, not
TO save my life; no, never for one moment. l
would have been willing to endure an eternity
OF woe If could have saved you and him. The
reason have implored you to let me you all
the time, was that thought that to you alone
1 could tell the truth. The most unaccountable
part OF the power possessed over Inc
in G. could not see, and
feel this as knew should. 1 reproached and
miDation NJ ade seemed of no avail. 1 was
poweress. l will tell you the truth as know
way, by word or deed, any improper advance
made to me until you ami Griffith had gone to
North CaIoIlna. HIS manner and conversation
were kind and such as TO gain my confidence,
such as would feel toward one so much Older
than myself and in position, as 1 thought. to
make any improprteties impossible. After you
left, he constituted himself my guardian, coming
to take me to meals, and various other atten-
tions, which I did not receive without some pro-
test as Mrs g. and others could attest if
they would. He said you had left me
in, his care, and answered l did not
of myself. Still, he persevered. I was too con-
hdent One day, after you had been gone some
days, in the afternoon, he came into my room. !
| sat on the sofa, and he was in chair near the
bureau. was occupied in some way, not look !
ing up there had been nothing said to alarm
mel, when felt an influence, and looking up,
met his eyes fixed on me aud his lips moving. |
When looked up he moved on the sofa took
my hand and stroked It. said: Don't, Major.
You can't mesmerize me: it has been tried be-
FORE" and he merely said ''not," and kept my
hand, and put the other on my head and drew it
I a NV will rixvf md
begged him to desst but he kept ME, and, |
though the door was wide open, and knew any
not help it, but there was no act Of
pollution. Soon he left me, and determined l
would not allow such an opportunity again, and
thought what should tell him when saw him, |
and that should be the end of our intercourse.
When he came again, found he had power |
never thought possible, and that what he willed
die not love him, yet he had a strange fascina-
ton, and was quieted and my fears subdued !
when in his embrace-never more thar that.
never thought of anyone else. or of its being
wrong. My love for you and c. was the same.
l never felt was iniuriDg you, and he seemed
satisfied to have me ever near him. He said his
love for me was Platonic-that he was satisfied
just to be near me-just to take my hand and
press 1t to his face OF SMOOTH my hair that sat-
1shed him, as he was seldom passionate. And
now will tell you hat is, perhaps, not my own
secret, but it may have much TO do with the
desire yet do not believe he was capable of
really committing lasting injury
tits as incom prehepsible to me to anyone else;
but as long as was near him and saw him he
power ~ . fp,s. n vain, When ne said como
could not resist. Sometimes he would say
when heswould go to the parlor. and would 90
there, not knoHing he was there, sent you a
message to come; and, though / saw him there
and in my room, 1t is false that was ever with
him in anY of the other rooms, and much that
has been told you is false l would have told
you the truth long ago II could have seen you.
No tongue can tell what have injured or how
have longed to unburden. my SOUL AS soon as
was removed from his influence began to
have realization OF the truth. 1 never in
tended you any wrong. You know how L have
always rissted advances of that kind, and
have not been without temptation. But relied
too much on my own strength. I thought it was
impossible to overcome me. cannot even now
realize that ain not true. 1t seems to me a
dream and that shall awake and be myself
again. I have struggled and prayed, Oh, so
earnestly, and do believe God will do some
thing for me: as said to you before, can't tell
how, but He will I could tell you much to ex-
tenuate, but will not now. When he came
here feared might see him. feared the in
fluence might return, but do not think now it
would But will never see him again voun-
tarily. If you had sent me home last summer,
nearly all might have been avoided, be-
cause at that time his influence had
not been used as IL was afterward, the time in
my room and the time walked up the road to
meet you being the only times was with him,
except in general way, on the porch or with
more, for fear, suppose, that it might be lost.
He also used every argument TO hold me- excit-
ing my fears OF condemn alton. j do not confess
to the truth of all that is charged, because I
know much has been falsely charged, and be-
cause much of it do not know Again, know
often app earances were against me, and acts
were imputed when Twas Innocent. His desire
to be near me influenced him beyond all bounds.
could see it and yet could not prevent it. His
power over me was great, yet his seif-control
very littls. / have Thought since he intended
to compromise me SO completely that should
be entirely In his power His note
written here from the hotel seemed to prove 1t.
He never dared anything like 1t before, but
then, If [ had been5entirely alone, shOuld have
refused to see him. i had determined to do what
was right, no matter what the consequences
were to me. 1 might, possibly, have prevented
his coming here, but [ had put 10 into your
hands and determined not TO have any COM
mnnicatiOn with him in any other way Now, l
will not write more. Let me know from you all
that has been, but do not, for your own sake and
Grifhths, commit any violence. Oh, my poor
husband, how my heart bleeds for you. God
fifth, my Door child, would die to save him;
save him with me. L cannot give him
up and live. on! papa: spare me-: I am not
bad it was not an evil heart. did not intend
to do wrong. God only knows why it was al
lowed, why such an evil was placed IN my path.
have never been afraid of you harming me. l
could have died at your feet at any moment.
Now, / know even all L have said is no real ex-
cuse; that should have overcome my tempta-
tons or resisted the influence; that no one will
believe or give credence TO it. But it is true. I
lost my will; it was not passion. Write me, and
have Griffith write. Give him love. Save me,
papa, aud let me see you some way. Answer
this as soon as possible.
"Yours, MARIETTE."
THE SCARLET LETTER.
Following this, under date of November %,
came the most important letter of them all, in
which Mrs. johnson made full and free con-
fession of her adulterous relations with Major
Henry. giving specific instances and Incidental
circumstances. For obvious reasons this cam
not be published, and it is sufficient to say that
in it Mrs. johnson kept nothing back from her
husband. She still attributed her downfall to
that mysterious influence exerred by Henry
aud gave graphic account of how she tried to-
cast it off. Throughout there were piteous APP
peals for mercy, not so much for her own sake
as for her sons In conclusion it reads:
81 have tried to answer your letter fully III
! could see you l would tell you every little