Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-07-14
CONFESSION
ITO MY cousin, Hercules Fox, sheriff
nf peokIon6 Written from the

ITO MY cousin, Hercules Fox, sheriff
of Peakland. Written from the
Shepherds cabin on Lords Tor, nigh
against, the cross where, in bygone
times, stood the chapel of the White
Monk
Sir: Report, doubtless, hath it that l
am driven lunatic by the untimely
death of her whom / loved heart and
soul. | speak of my mistress, Euphra-
STA, your daughter and one eve lamb;
of her who seemed the true phoenix
and the star of womanhood. There is
little need to eXpatiate on the merits
of one so kind and so beautiful; let it
suffice that her untimely ending hath
drawn black cloud from east to west,
from north to south. have wandered
day after day, night after night, on
these barren moors, craving for the
last pang. But. Death will have none of
me yet awhile, and must abide and
endure.
Tomorrow, long ere the carrier de-
livers this epistle-perchance it may
not reach Aldon-in-the-Wate till Fri
day shall have left the hill country
for ever. On Thursday 1 embark on
my pilgrimage. My own land shall
know me no more; all my future days
must be spent wandering in search of
peace. Call to your minds eye the pic
ture of a tattered beggar-I take
naught with me save the captains fee.
! shall live as the friars did, pleading
for my bread from door to door.
My estate | leave with you to use
as you will. If after this recital your
breast holds one spark of pity, pray
take upon yourself the duties of mas
ter. There are servants for whom l
fain would have made provision; and
the roam mare, which was my fathers,
let her feed upon the sweetest grass
in summer, and in winter lie in the
warmest shed.
1t was 1 who destroyed Jervase
Nottingham.
You have not forgotten that on one
day year ago he and came to you,
at separate hours, each to ask leave
to pay court to your daughter; and
that to both you made answer that,
having suffered in your youth from
your parents interference, you had
vowed that Euphrasia should choose
of herself. To me you expressed pref
erence; it had long been desire of
yours that the divided estates might
be joined again; Notwithstanding, you
forbore to move in favor of either. If
-Jervase were the fortunate lover, you
declared you would acquiesce without
unwillingness. So was fain to be con-
tent with this poor comfort. On the
following day l pleaded with Euphra-
STA, and received neither aye nor nay.
l babe her tell if her affections were
given elsewhere. She was silent, and
n sudden gladness filed me, and l
would have embraced her, but she
withdrew from the chamber.
That night could not rest, for my
braiu teemed with rich pictures of
cOnjugal happiness. After midnight
/ rose and dressed, and went privately
from my house to taste the fresh air
of the moorlands and to watch the
breaking of the day. Ihad not walked
far ere in the moonlight beheld Jer
vase on the bank of the river, beside
the rotten bridge. A flood had risen
in the uplands and the current swirled
madly in it's loamy bed. Jervase was
talking to himself; l could hear him
speaking of me-of me who had been
his lifelong friend-in words of con-
tumely. Amazed, 1 stole to his side
and laid my hand on his arm.
what hath distressed you, Jerry?"
I said, all my fondness being yet alive.
''Why speak so harshly of me?"
He leaped toward me, struck me
with all his might above the heart. l
fell, half senseless, to my knees. When
/ recovered, he was on the further
bank, and the bridge, torn from it's
creaking piers, was floating down the
river. / stood trembling with impo-
tent fury on the brink, while he MIN
licked my every gesture. There was
wicked leer in his eye, and his thin lips
were pouted as those of fish.
81 have spared you this time," he
cried. 1.-THE next, by heaven, if ever
you touch me again, I'll tear you limb
from limb"
AS l gazed upon him, still half be-
wildered, the moon clouded, and for a
short space it seemed as if great
ribbed wings had sprouted from his
shoulders and horns had budded on his
forehead. Yet important issues were