The record-union., 1895-03-30

time druggist under circumstances which
warranted the belief that he had committed
suicide. He was found dead in his bed, with
q bottle of poison by his side, and the Coro
ner's Jury found that he had taken his own
life. Bv his bedside was also found roll of
manuscript written in pencil, and with the
appearance of having been well handled, bear
ing the title "a Strange Story-By c. NJ.
Cornell" Through the courtesy of Coroner
Miller the RECORD MON is permitted to
publish the story, which is clevery written.
The author had evidently contemplated sui
eide when the narrativeaw was begun, for its
''hero" died by his own hand, just as did
Cornell
1t was late in the year 1882, in Philadel-
phia, when [ received a note on one
stormy evening, which, upon opening, L
found to be from a former class mate IN
the University of Pennsylvania. request
ing my Immediate presence in Camden, a
town in New Jersey opposite the city, in
the capacity of a friend and lawyer. 1t
was from Charles Horton. The note
read:
"Do not delay an instant; the matter is
of the utmost Importance to me, and
Others and will be fully explained upon
your arrival"
had known Horton ir early manhood,
but although friendly, and in the same
class, we had not been intimate. His
habits and mine were very opposite.
Mine had been very studious, his rather
erratic: mine home inclined. his fond of
gay life; and, as l then thought, given to
frivolity. At the close of our university
life our ways in the journey OF life dl-
yerged. In later years had met him but
seldom. Once in long time l was called
upon by him for some tritiing service, or
opinion, but the old friendly feeling
seemed to exist.
| knew from general report that he
had married, and that wealthily; that is,
that his fatherin-law had died, and had
left his whole estate to his daughter,
and that his wife had died, and he had
become heir to the estate, which had
made him very wealthy. Then the news
reached me that he had married again,
and in course of time had become the
father of two children.
From the tone OF the note received, l
imagined that he was seized with some
dangerous illness, and wanted to settle
his earthly affairs. My old acquaintance
with Horton, and the natural desire OF
struggling lawyer to acquire business,
naturally led me to comply with his be-
hest. Early the next morning, after
hearty breakfast, l took the first boat
across the river to Camden, and about
o'clock | was ushered into his residence
on Washington street. l took hasty
view OF the premises as | approached. 1t
was an old, square New Jersey house
OF the olden type. situated in the midst
OF extensive grounds, which showed that
they were well kept and cultivated in
that system which was partly English
and partly aboriginal American.
When called into his apartments [ was
prepared to see sick man, but one not so
altered as he was. He was not more than
little over 80 years of age, but his APP
pearance was very haggard. His hair
was well sprinkled with gray; his form,
from being well-rounded, as l had seen
him last, was attenuaued, and he had the
appearance of man at least 90 years Old.
The change astonished me greatly, and
but from peculiar expression OF his
eyes l would not have recognized him as
being the Charles Horton that | had
known IN the time past. His restlessness
that want of direct look into my eyes
struck me at once that the mind, or some
hidden trouble Of conscience, was the
worm that was eating into his frame and
making the wreck that he appeared before
me. All this flashed before my mind in
an instant, and IN some measure prepared
me to some extent for what followed.
He received me with apparent frank
ness and kindness, thanking me for my
ready compliance with his desire, ana
after kindly inquiring after myself and
family, informed me that he required my
professional services in disposIng of his
properly. From his manner and my first
impressions / quickly came TO the con-
cluslon that something more weighty was
the cause of my services being required
ut once observed to him that l hoped his
desire tor my professional services did
not arise from morbid apprehension of
aS hQf tn Ia
good. He replied that his health was as
good as usual, but that his tenure of life
was htful and precarious, and that to be
forewarned was TO be torearmed. He
then rather abruptly said
'Come, Llenroc, let US TO come to busi-
ness"
We started upon his proposition, and
how startled l was before we got through
the reader will hereafter know. AT his
dictation l rapidly sketched an outline Of
a viii, the substance OF which was as fol-
lows:
The use of the homestead and liberal
provision for his second wife during her
life, and the reversion TO her children,
upon their arrival at the age of q years,
providing that she had not survived
them"
Great was my surprise when Horton,
after mentioning a few tritling legacies,
named as the sole Successors to his i'm
mense property two individuals totally
unknown to me, and OF whose connection
with the testator l was entirely ignorant.
1 dropped my pen and looked at him and
said: MIR. Horton, you have wife and
two children"
Il have children" said he, "but God
preserve them from the curse OF wealth
that does not belong to them ~
"Horton-Charles HOrton-you are too
scrupulous. | know that this fortune
has come to you through your first wife,
but 1t was hers to give. She became the
sole heiress of her father when his three
sons by former marriage were unfortu-
nately drowned in the Delaware River"
Hush, Llenroc u he interrupted
hastily, and in tones so altered and so
singular that it would have startled me if
had not at that moment been looking
him in the face and seen the conflict be-
tween fear aud horror that for moment
passed over il, and of which | got but q
glimpse, and the convulsiye shudder that
immediately passed through his body.
saw that there was some great mystery,
and resolved to unfathom It.
Horton" / said. rising and taking him
by the hand, which quivered in my
grasp, I'VE were for long time COM
panlons-almost friends. l know you
want friend as well as a lawyer. You
have sent for me as lawyer, and / want
TO act for you in a dual capacity-that of