Year: 1859




school, at college had gained the same honors
and were at the time of which 1 write, botl
struggling for livelihood.


"It happened one day that man came tt
my Office to abuse me for something that had
said or done in case in which l had been en-
gagged. I did not pay much attention to hi:
words, believing them to be the rawlings of al
angry man, and of not much importance Fl
nally, when nothing else could move me- he
taunted me with my obscure birth and poverty
he even struck me contemporary. Then
could bear it no longer, but rising suddenly
felled him like an OK to the ground The blow
killed him, though, Heaven knows, l did not
mean it should-the next instant would have
given worlds if l had had them, to have
brought my victim back to life. But he was
dead-even my slight medical skill told me
that and in agony I turned away from the
CLASSY, staring eyes which seemed to reproach
me for the deed had committed A thousand
thoughts rushed through my brain with the RAJ
pidity of lightning. l saw myself dishonored
lying in prison cell, while my wife and child
were dying a horrible death of starvation /
saw my name common by-word all over my
native land-and last of all, I saw myself dy-





way of safety suggested itself to me, but by
taking it l should commit another great wrong
of parallel enormity with this my first crime
But | could not resist the temptation and con-
sequently at an hour when | knew Frederick
was absent from his Office, | removed the body
from my apartment into his. wished to fix
the suspicion of the murder upon him, and !
succeeded admirably. He was arrested, but
owing to the absence of some link in the
chain of evidence, he was acquitted, without
the real murderers being brought to light
But though Frederick went forth free man,
the faint of murder hung about him. Peo-
pie Stunned him, he became terribly poor, his
wife died of broken heart, his own health failed
and he became a miserable broken down man.


a. on the other hand grew rich and famous,
without a single effort on my part. But
wealth and fame brought me no happiness
the contrary, suffered the most exquisite ag-
ony. declare before Heaven, that no pun
shment that | may suffer hereafter can equal
that which I have already endured.


TO my daughter, who learns my crime for
the first time from the perusal of this paper 1
leave the soltmn duty of making to those who
| have wronged, all the reparation that lies in
my power To the dead l can make no repair
ation but the living [ may yet benefit by the adj
mission of my crime. Every year since the IA
tai event, ] have sent onymously to Frederick
Vale sum of money-this has kept him above
want but has not placed him in comfort


Il do therefore pray and beseech of my
slaughter, to seek out the residence of the said
Frederick Vale and to acquaint him with all
the particulars which have enumerated, that
he may remove from himself the stain of mur-
derer, and fix it upon the rightful ones. l do
moreover desire that my daughter, having re-
served for herself a sufficient competence, shall
eor13eY TO the said Frederick Vale and his eirs,
all the residue of my property, as a small
atonement for the years of misery which my
crime has brought on him. In conclusion, 1
would humbly ask his forgiveness, and pray
him to be merciful to my innocent child.


" And my daughter, my good, kind, faithful
daughter, may she also forgive ME for the doom
when I have brought upon her. know she
will not falter in the right path, but will pur-
!, sue it unshrinkingly to the end. But let her
remember, whatever is her portion, that Heav-
, en- is merciful, even though men are not.
, Milly could not tell how long she sat with
the letter before her, learning the words by
heart, and endeavoring to comprehend the ex-
tent of her wretchedness- ut she was aroused
! by the voice of her old nurse, saying something
about the storm.


"What did you say?" asked Milly, vacant
f ly.


I" I said that it stormed badly now, anG that
q there were some poor unfortunate men in the
water, that they are trying to save. They are
the crew of that schooner that went upon the
rceks.''


g I will go down upon the beach, said Milly
rising with sudden energy.


:" But it storms hard, dear!"


Il don't care for the storm, I must go."-
: And as Milly spoke she carefully locked u
: the fatal letter, and put on her shawl and bon
, net.


p "Then let me go with you," said the old lady
hurrying after her.


q There was miscellaneous crowd upon th'
! beach-one stern group of fishermen stoo'
! close down to the water, which came rolling III
with terrific sound. There was a look il
> their faces, as they glanced intently off upol
! the water, which told how thoroughly the
If were wrapped up in the scene before them
- The flaming torches which they bore, Wills
they revealed the expression of the faces, ais
= showed one man with a rope twisted abou
v him, evidently watching favorable moment t
il go out to the assistance of the poor wretche
- clinging to the spars. The various fires on til
= beaGh showed other groups Of men and womer
3 all attracted hither by the horror and anxiet
il which human life in jeopardy spontaneous
!. calls FORTH Away from the fires and the torcf
10 es, an intense gloom prevailed, and in th
l. gloom, a few yards from the cottage, stoo
,t Miy and her companion, regardless of I'll
:, rain drops and the wind, which threatened
q sweep them away The man with the ROY
,,r about him was struggling with the wave
when there came suddenly from the lien on Il
ut spars long despairing wall.


% They are perishing, will no one save them
h cried Milly, starting forward, with vague idt
II of throwing herself into the sea.
10 Some one came rushing from the gloom b
ON hind them, and in moment more, Milly sa


by the light of the torches on the waters edg
No. an athletic looking stranger, wildly snatchir
ii from one Of the fishermen rope, and plungil
oh into the surf.


ep- A time of awful suspense followed, and tn
me two dripping men were drawn upon the bea
~. then others who had battled with the wave
sad some with and some without a burden, We


cast from the surf


nd, But the stranger was gone-a shout arc
my that he was drowned. Five minutes passed
to time which seemed an eternity to Milly, W
the had taken a strange interest in the fate Of t
yer, missing man, and then another shout arose
vas shout of triumph, for the stranger had gain
my the shore, bearing in his arms old gray-he'
,od ed man. The young man soon recovered fr'
me. his exhaustion, but he whom he had saved,
eld apparently lifeless. A rumor went arou
ing among the various groups, that the two W,