News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-11-08

were most likely to discover the other.
Yet this friendship was n peculiarly
strange one, as our tastes, disposition
and characters were entirely dIssimilar,
and | can only account for it on the the
Ory that each one does not like the coun-
terpart of himself, but seeks that of an
opposite nature.
q had always been noted for having q
quiet, even-tempered and easy going
disposition.
Tom was q regular ''fash in the pan, ="
had temper akin to red pepper, and
often said things which, in a calmer
frame of mind, he would never have
been guilty of uttering, and which he
was often ashamed of having uttered,
when he had returned to his sober senses.
L often thought, that some day or 9TH
er, one of these passionate speeches
might bring him into serious trouble
That was something of true prophet,
the sequel to this story will bear witness.
had always been brought up in the
belief of hereafter, and had implicit
faith in the same. Tom had been educa-
ted in the same belief, but had lost his
faith in it.
And on this subject We had held many
a long and solemn conversation. Moth
ing he could say could alter my belief,
and none of my arguments could change
his disbelief.
One evening Tom remarked: "We
might as well drop the subject, as neither
of us can convince the other. / have
been reading of q similar case between
two friends, and they made a solemn
compact that whichever died first should
visit the other and thus prove that there
was another world than this, and
this one did not end all. Suppose
we make the same compact here and
then let the subject be tabooed one be-
tw, en- US.
1 did not think to ask if either of the
friends had died since, and if the COM
pact had been fulfilled. l was young
and impressible at the time and entered
into the arrangement with the keenest
delight. Had there been others present,
they must have been strangely impress
ed with the grim solemnity of the scene.
Two young fellows kneeling in thick
dark forest, two hands clasped In the
others, two hands raised to heaven, and
two voices making the strange compact:
eff there is another life after this, and
our spirit is permitted to visit this
sphere again, we do sOlmnIy swear that
whichever one of US ceases to exist first
will visit the other the nightof his death,
and explain to him the mysteries of the
great unknown" And then there was
a pause OF a few seconds, while fash of
lightninga and peal of thunder followed,
as though they were intended as seal
of the solemn compact.
As we grew older we had our own for
tunes to seek in different spheres of
action. and as the village in which we
fod hfrt1
tie pecuniary influence for US to remain
in it, we sought work in other places,
and so we drifted apart.
Tom changed about so from place to
place that l could scarcely keep track
of his whereabouts; until finally he van
ished from me entirely, just as though
the earth had swallowed him.
While l was wondering what could
possibly have become of my friend,
tidings came of him that startled me and
shocked me as much rs though had
been struck by lightning.
One morning, IN looking over one OF
the great daily papers, my attention was
called TO an account of a thrilling MUIR
der recently committed, while my brain
reeled as I read the name of the murderer
to be no other than the friend of my boy
hoods days, Tom Ewing. Clrcum-
stantial evidence was so strong that his
dearest friends could not believe him
guilty.
The whole story, as it came out in
the trial. [ have tried to cOndense as far
as possible, so as to relate the main facts
and not infiict too much Of the ''horrlble'
on you.
Tom and another Young fellow were
f~,- hn Of hn
lady, so you may we'll believe there was
but little good feeling between them,
while the maiden, who appeared to have
been something of coquette, encour-
aged both without showing preference
to either Between the young men
harsh words had often passed; and once,
when they had parted, Tom had been
heard to say to the maiden's maid and
others who were present: 81 shall muir
der that fe low some day."
Words, which at the time of their ut
terance we're considered no more than
an idle threat by n man consumed by
jealousy. but.which were keenly remem-
bered at the time of the murder and told
fearfully against my friend when his
trial took place.
On the evening the murder was com
mitted. the rivals were seen to enter a
piece of woods together, in ali excited
manner and in high tones, as though in
great controversy. Another witness de-
elared he had seen Tom coming from
another part of the woods, looking
around in a somewhat excited way and
ns if fearful of being noticed, and re
turned to the woods again. This wit
ness had let this matter slip from his