Year: 1875

From among the experiences of a va
ried, may say tUmultuOus life, I re-
call with singular Yividness the season
of nv sojOurn in M, a pOpulous
and fourishing town in Central Penn
syIvania. I would gladly efface from
nv mind the recollection of either the
place or those who inhabited it, were it
in my power yet with ten-fOld strength
the scenes through which I was dragged
by the impulse of Fate, seem pictured
to me now more clearly, more startling
Iy, than ever.


There are moments of retrOspectiOn
in the lives of all men-mOments in
which the symBathies of the mind and
heart are dovetailed when one lives
anew the whirlwinds of the past, and
exhumes from the sepulchre the faded
images of the dead, with the memo
ries, be they glorious or bIood-curdlng,
that were buried with them.


look upon these visitatiOns of things
to be forgotten, with mysterious awe,
for I have heard it whispered that the
souls of the murdered rest not quietly
while the murderer tIeads the earth,
and that the black blood trickles from
the cash till dire retribution overtakes
the guilty one. Now [ do not mean to
have it inferred that ever committed
murder-far IRON it. But one there
Was-One I once knew, once dearly
loved, that did and 'tis with him my
thoughts are interviewer now. Betimes,
at night, I see him in my dreams, his
pale, haggard face, furrowed by the
bangs of remOrse, turned upon me
pleadingly, as though from the depths
of his wild despair a lurking phantom
bade him hope that I cOuld help him +;
and when I shudder at his near approach
he turns his back upon me and walks
rapidly away. He never halts for one
moment, but in the gnawing misery of
his desolation I see him flee to the tops
of mountains, thence into the deep
recesses of the far-off forests. Always
moving, now faster than before yet
whittier he flies his implacable pursuer
follows and when he turns about, a
ghastly image urges him onward.


It was his presence that disturbed
my sleep but a moment ago; and now
that I am broad awake, I'll tell you a
story that for many a year has lain the
closest secret of my heart.


It was IN the summer of 1857 that l
visited, by the advice of my physician,
many of the interior counties Of Penn
syIvania. I had been suffering for some
time from the effects of distressing
hemOrrhages, and 1t was thought that
the pure mountain air of the Keystone
state would affect me favorabiy, and
possibly restore me, in time, to renewed
health and vigOr.


I was then in my nineteenth year,
possessed of an income sufficiently large
to enable me to support the dignity of a
travelling gentleman, and of buoyant
spirits, rendered the more so, perhaps,
by the prospect of my speedy and last
ing recovery. After considerable shift
ing from one place to another, 1 arrived
at NJ. Its situatiOn was so exceed
ingIy pleasant in a sanitary point oi
view, and, besides, the town itself was
so daintily constructed, and the good
people VINO made up its population
proved so agreeable, intelligent and en-
terprising, and I resolved to acquire
more than a transient knowledge Oi
| them. Accordingly, I took up my resi-
| dence at the quaint old country Inn thai
| stood near the outskirts of the town, anC
prepared to make myself comfortable
for some time to come.


People in Pennsylvania towns did no
| differ IN those days from people IN Othel
! interior towns and it can be easily I'M
| agined how soon the queries concerning
my former residence, my business, place
of birth and pecuniary resources, Wer'
satisfactorily answered. Thus, wlthOu
any intervention on my part, was 1 IN
| trOduced, individually and morally, t
the worthy denizens !; and an exceeding
bother was I delivered from indeed.
They were a thrifty, enterprislnt
people, as I have said-busy folk, VIII


hustled about at day break, and per


formed a good half days work befor


breakfast. I soon learned to ike them


and liking them, to watching them, ant


comparing their industries, habits, anC


faces aglOw with health and vlgOr, t


the sleepy people in the great cities


who grumbled at the dread sound o


the breakfast bell.


In M, the merry songster OF tn


air heraIded the approach of morn, an


people awoke from beautiful slumbe


glad that they were awake.


occupied cozy little room IN tn


hotel which fronted upon the prlnclPa


street or thOroughfare of the town. 1t


position was sufficiently lofty 70 com


mand full view of the walks without


and ] remember taking advantage Of It


eligibility to review the busy people a


they hurried to and fro IN the earl


morning.


1 fear there was more than simpl