Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-08-25
CHAPTER Nv.
On my return, found the follow
ing letter from my father:-
TO V. FRANKENSTEIN.

On my return, | found the follow
ing letter from my father:-
TO V. FRANKENsTEIN.
"MY DEAR VICTOR,-You have
probably waited impatiently for a
letter to fix the date of your return
to us and l was at first tempted to
write only few lines, merely men,
tioning the day on which / should
expect you. But that would be
a cruel kindness, and l dare not do
it. But what would be your sur
prise, my son, when you expect "a
happy and gay welcome, to behold,
on the contrary, tears and wretch
edness And how, Victor, can
relate your misfortune? Absence
cannot have rendered you callOus to
our joys and griefs; and how shall
| lntlict pain on an absent child /; |
wish to prepare you for woful news,
but | know it is impossible even
now your eye skins over the page,
to seek the words which are to con-
vey to you the horrible tidings.
civilian is dead! that sweet
child, whose smiles delighted and
warmed my heart who Was so gen
tie yet so gay; Victor he is muir
dered!
Il will not attempt to console
YOU but | will simply relate the
circumstances of the transaction.
last Thursday May 7th) /, my
neice, and your two brothers, went
to walk in Piainpalais. The even
ing was warm and serene, and we
prolonged our walk further than
usual. 1t was already dusk before
we thought of returning and then
we discovered that William and
Ernest who had gone on before,
were not to be found. We accord.
ingly rested on seat until they
should return. Presently Ernest
came, and inquired if we had seen
his brother ; he said that they had
been playing together, that William
had run away to hide himself, and
that he vainly sought for him a
long time, but that he did not re-
turn. ..s.ts
"This account rather alarmed US,
and we continued to search for him
until night fell, when Elizabeth
conjectured that he might have re-
turno d to the house. lie was not
there. We returned again with
torches; for / could not rest when
thought that my sweet boy had lost
himself, and was exposed to all the
damps and dews of night; Eliza
beth also suffered extreme anguish.
About five in the morning | dis
covered my lovely boy, whom the
night before had seen blooming
and active in health, stretched. on
the grass llyid and mOtiOnlesS the
print OF the murderer's finger was
on his neck.
"He was conveyed home and
the anguish that WAS visible on my
countenance betrayed the secret to
Elizabeth. She was very earnest to
see the corpse. At first / ATTEMPTED
to prevent her; but she persisted,
and entering The room where it lay,
hastily examined the heck of the
victim, and clasplng her hands, ex-
claimed, so God, i have murdered
my darling infant"
"She tainted, and WAS restored
with extreme difficulty. When she
again lived, it was only to weep
and sigh. She told me that that
same evening William had teased
her to let him wear "a very valuable
miniature that she possessed sI your
mother. The picture is gone, and
WAS doubtless the temptation which
urged the murderer to the deed.
We have no trace Of him at present,
although our exertions to discover
him are unremitting but they will
not restore my beloved William.
"Come, dearest Victor you alone
can console Elizabeth. She ~eeps
continually, and acuses herself un-
justly as the cause of his death her
words pierce my heart. We are all
unhappy but will not that be an ad-
ditional motive for you my son, to
return and be our comforter? Your
dear mother! Alas, Victor? / now
say, thank God she did not live to
witness the cruel, Inisegable death
of her youngest darling
"Gome, Victor; not brooding
thoughts Of vengeance against the
assassin, but with feelings, of peace
and gentleness, that will heal In
stead Of fostering the wound OF our
minds. Enter the house OF mourn