Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-05

Now, with Q sad, keen sight that treasures
My often sinking soul, with longing eyes
Averted from the path that still ailures,
I<st, seeing that for which my sore heart sighs
seet my own good at the cost Of yours,
TX ,ow ct last that love means sacrifice.
-Cariotta Perry In Chicago Journal.
LADWELL'S LANDING.
It seemed as II for once the malignant
spell which hsd rested upon me for years
has been transferred to the one of an other
beings that would have shielded from it,
if any sacrifice on my part could have
purchased her immunity.
Had my love cursed herf' l asked
myself over and over again, wishing, as
had often wished, that my dark and fatal
silhouette had never crossed the happy
path of one so innocent and beautiful.
How, then, must / be cursed, that upon
those loved that curse must also falli
Tortures Of the n.ther region, with
which we are supposed To be punished
after the lash Of human destiny has tired
of dealing us its stripes, can your misery
ont Herod what some Of us, when God
Abandoned, SulIer neres
But let me cease these frenzied utter
ances. for my story must be told.
Those who have never heard OF Lad.
wells Landing will scarcely be open to
the accusation Of geographical ignorance
1t il lone western Settlements from.
tier point of civilization which few bold
pioneers have established, from the most
prominent of whom the settlement takes
its name. Ladwell was the doctor and
druggist-the medicine man of the CON-
manity-snd next to him in point Of i'm
portance ranked the groceryman, Norris,
who was the wealthier of the two. A
few other stores, some residences, a
church and postoffice composed the
place, the total population being about a
couple of hundred.
A freak Of fancy had led me to settle
there, and for the sake Of a livelihood
dispensed medicines and patched up broken
shins for Ladwell.
Ii was not the charm Of this occupation
which kept my restless spirit at I.adwell's Is
Landing, however, but the beauty of
Edith Norris, who was the ouly daughter
of the groceryman.
My record, however, was not one which
impressed old Norris very favorably, and,
although Edith and had fully satisfied
ourselves that we could be satisfied with
one another, he set his heel upon the affair
in such q determined manner that ont
wardly it had to terminate.
Ladwel's business had grown to be
rather profitable one, and his success
had tempted another young Philadelphia
graduate to migrate to the place and put
out his shingle.
The young fellow was fine looking and
of very good family, with little money
of his own, and, as he made himself popu-
lar in the place, a small connection was
soon guaranteed him.
1t leaked out that q good deal of his
success was attributable to the fact that
Norris had taken him up, and people were
not long in discovering that the old man
had determined, if possible, to make him
his son-in-law.
This proved to be correct, and as soon as
a new house had been built for the young
doctor the forthcoming nuptials were an
nounced.
My disappointment and chagrin availed
me little, and partly from spirit of pride
I kept aloof from every one as much as
possible, leaving things to work them
selves out as they might.
1t was not untfl the day Of the wedding
arrived that seemed to awake from this
comatose condition; then grew suddenly
desperate and seemed to realize that q
brutal sacrifice was going to be enacted
before my very eyes, for despite her acqui-
escence in her fathers wishes knew that
Edith Norris loved me as she could love
no other.
To drown these feelings turned to that
most common antidote, drink.
But instead of calming or benumbing
my feelings on this occasion, the spirits
only seemed to increase my frenzy, and
when the bridal party started for the little
frame church I was prepared to commit
any outrageous act. Walking directly
into the place in the rear of the bridal
party took my place uuobserved among
the spectators. The pastor had barely
commenced the ceremony when stepped
boldly up to the rail and made q mild pro-
test against the proceedings.
Edith, trembling vita fright, seized the
arm Of her intended husband, who, with q
supercilious smile on his fnce, seemed to
view my interference with the utmost in
difference. This ironical indifference in
furiated me. Already several Of the men
present were preparing to forcibly eject
me from the place at the instigation of
Morris.
In an instant my two hands held two
revolvers, and 1 had ordered all hands
down.
At this instant Edith fell fainting in
one of the bystanders' arms, and 1 re-
placed my pistols and walked out of the
place.
An hour afterward learned that had
murdered the woman I loved. What had
been mistaken for a mere fainting fit
proved TO have been paralysis Of the
heart.
Sundry threats of vengeance reached
my ears, but as was callous to them,
suppose, nothing happened.
Three days afterward Edith was laid
away in the quiet burying ground Of Lad
wells Landing.
The night following that day l did
what for the last few days had not done,
owing TO nervous excitement; / slept.
Perhaps an hour had elapsed when I
commenced to dream. Ny sensations
were sn.b 9ssto defy description. l was
in some charnel house % Sr-a ,.ne uea" n Soi,
fins were ranged in grim order a. ~ oo ~
me. Some strange instinct guided me- -
one. l knelt beside it, when suddenly I
heard cry answering TO my own lamen-
tation. In an instant the thin deal shell
was severed by my ready knlts and into
my arms, clad in the sad trapplngs of the
grave, tell my lost love Edith.
Awaking from this strange dream
looked around me. A feverish perspira-
ton stood upon my forehead. A strange
fancy excited my brain. Looking at INV
watch l noticed that it was only II O'Clock.
Dragging ON my clothes mechanically, |
went down stairs to Ladwell's room.
The doctor was in and busy smoking and
reading the paper. He looked at me as I
the room and then continued
reading the paper
"Ladwell, said !. did you ever au.
thenticate case of ante -mortem buriaI,',
Il can't say that ever have personally,
out there have been plenty of Instances
/ ran t,a,-