The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-03

AS I take my pen to write this. / have
feeling that am on the witness stand
for or against myself which? The
place of the criminal in the dock 1 will
not voluntarily take I will neither af-
firm my innocence nor deny my guilt. I
will present the facts of the case as i'm
partially and as coolly as If had moth
ing at stake. will let all who may read
judge me as they will.
This am bound to do, since am con-
demned to something infinitely worse
than the life-cell or the gallows. I will
try my own self in lieu of Judge and jury;
my guilt or my innocence / will prove to
you all. If it be in mortal power. In my
despair / am tempted to say 1 care not
which it may be, so something be proved.
Open condemnation could not overwhelm
me like universal suspicion.
Now. first, as have heard is the GUS
tom in courts of law, I will present the
case. I am Sarah Fairbanks, a country
schoolteacher, twenty-nine years of age.
My mother died when 1 was twenty
three. Since then. while have been
away teaching at Digbv a cousin of my
fathers, Rufus Bennett, and his wife
have lived with my father. During the
long summer vacations they returned to
their little farm in Vermont, and I kept
house for my father.
For five years / have been engaged to
be married to Henry Ellis, young man
whom 1 met in Digby. My father was
very much opposed to the match and has
Il IT, o r
marrying him in his lifetime he would
disinherit me. On this account Henry
has never visited me at my own home.
While could not bring myself to break
off finally my engagement, / wished to
avoid an open rupture with my father.
He was quite an old man, and L was the
only one he had left Of large family.
/ believed that parents should honor
their children, as we'll as children their
parents, but / had arrivedsat this con-
clusion: In nine-tenthS of the cases
wherein children marry against their
parents wishes, even when parents have
no just grounds for opposition, the mar
riages are unhappy, rf.
1 sometimes felt that / was unjust tc
Henry, and resolved that If ever 1 sus-
pected that his fancy turned toward any
other girl would not hinder 1t, especial
ly as 1 was getting older, and, thought,
losing my good looks.
A little while ago a young and pretty
girl came to Digby to teach the school in
the south district. She boarded in the
same house with Henry. i heard that he
was somewhat attentive to her, and l
made up my mind would not interfere.
At the same time it seemed TO me my
heart was breaking. / heard her people
had money, too, and she was an only
child / had always felt that Henry
ought to marry wife with money. be-
cause he had nothing himself, and was
not very strong.
School closed five weeks ago, and
came home for the summer vacation.
me, and urged me TO marry him. 1 re-
fused again; but l. never before had
felt that my father was so hard and
cruel as 1 did that night. Henry SAID
that he should certainly see me during
the vacation, and when replied that he
must not come he was angry, and said
but such foolish things are not worth
repeating. Henry has really a very sweet
temper and would not hurt fly.
The very night OF my return home
Rufus Bennett and my father
had some words about some
Vermont farm and sold to my father.
who made good trade TO some people in
Boston That was fathers business. He
had once kept a store, but had given 1t
up, and sold few articles that he could
make large profit on here and there at
wholesale He used to send to New
Hampshire and Vermont for butter, eggs
and cheese. Cousin Rufus thought IA
Their did not allow him enough OF his
profit on the maple sugar and in the
dispute father lost his temper and said
that Rufus had given him under
weight At that Rufus swore an oath
and seized father by the throat. Rufus's
wife screamed. 'Oh. don't. Don't. Oh.
he'll kill him." ~
1 went up to Rufus and took hold of
his arm.
Rufus Bennett" said I, you let my
father 60" ssn
mans, and he would not let go. Then l
went to the desk drawer where father
had kept pistol since some houses in
the village were broken into; got out
the pistol. laid hold. of Rufus again.
and held the muzzle against his fore
head. 49,
You let go my father" said 1. ''or I'll
fire." 5net
Then Rufus let go. and father dropped
like log. He was purple in tho face.
Rufuss wife and worked long time
over him to bring him to.
Rufus Bennett" said L, ego to the
we'll and get a pitcher of water" He
went. but when father had revived and
got up Rufus gave him look that
showed he was not oyer his rage.
"Ill get even with you yet, Martin
Fairbanks, old man as you aree he
shouted out, and went into the outer
room.
We got father to bed soon. He slept
in the bedroom downstairs, out of the
sitting-room. Rufus and his wife had
the north chamber, and had the south
one left my door open that night, and
did not sleep any. i listened; no one
stirred In the night. Rufus and his
wife were up very early in the morning
and before 8 o'clock left for Vermont.
They had a days journey and would
reach home about in the evening. Ru-
| fuss wife babe father good-by, crying
while Rufus was getting their trunks
down stairs. but Rufus did not go near
| father nor me. He ate no breakfast: his
very back looked ugly when he went out
| of the yard. rt
| That very day about o'clock in the
evening, after tea, had just washed the
dishes and put them away and went Out
| on the north doorstep, where father was
| sitting, and sat down on the west step
| There was cool breeze there; II nae
| been a very hot day.
| II want to know If that Ellis fellow has
been to see you lately" said father al
| at once.
Not a great DEAL" / answered.
| Did he come to see you the last night
| you were there?" said father.
Yes. SIR said I, The did come.
| IF you ever have another word TO say
| to that fellow while I live I'll kick yot
| out of this house like a dog, daughter o.
| mine though you be-" said he. Then n,
| swore a great oath and called God t.