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The Huron Signal, 1881-06-10, Page 2THE HURON SIGNAL, FRIDAY, JUNE 10, 1881. A A LIFE FOR A LIFE. aT MU aye soca justice sooner or Jater will bring yeeto punishment. But perhaps," etdag T bore with composure these aid tetany aimalar menta; atlas, they were only too laminar ! "periwig* 1 sig laburms under a strap vitiate:ea 1 Yuu do not look guilty, and I could as soon have be - bored in my own sea's being *criminal, as you. lou God's sake break this re- serve and tell m• all." "It is not possible. " There was • long pause, and the old man ,rid, sighing: "Well, 1 will urge no more. Your sin, whatever it be, rests between you and the Judge of sinners. Yon say the law has no hold over you 1" "I said I was not afraid of the law." "Therefore it must have been a moral rarher than a legal crime, if crime it was."' And again I had to bear that searching look, so dreadful because it was so eager and kind. "On my soul, Dr. Urquhart, I believe you to be en- tirely innooeat.' "Sir," 1 cried out, and stopped; then asked him, it he did not believe it possible fora than to have sinned and yet repeated l Mr. Thorley started back-eu greatly ehaaiail that I pereetved at once what • imgiimles m I had made. But it was too iarb new; aur. perhaps. would I have Matt it asses► "As a 'album --1-I— • He gni "IIT m ems sirs a on which is fat wee laths" Tee know the rest •'W demi is aim whisks unto death; i i mai stag! Nat Ise shall pray for it' Kat ewe int we shall not pray for it," Jud `k deem os his kisses beside M. t s ell Main repeated in a bro- llies mise: "'llamaphar mot the sans uf my youth Me a+ 1MNISasRScme; according to thy fa@mry. think thou upon me. O Lord, for thy geedem► Not ours, whish is but filthy raga: for Thy goodnem, through Jesus Christ. 0 t Lord. " "Lissa. Mr Thorley rose, tuck the chair I gave ham, and we sat silent. Presently he asked rue d I had any plans 1 Had I considered what exceeding difficulty I should find in establishing myself any- where professionally after what had I happened this day ? , I said I was full aware that, so far as ray future prospects were concerned, I was a ruined man. "And yet you take it so calmly "Ay "Doctor," said he, after again watch- ing me, "you must either be innocent, or your error must have been caused by strong temptation, and long ago retriev- ed. I will never believe but that you are now as honorable and worthy a man as any living." "Thank you." An uncontrollable weakness came over me; Mr. Thorley, too, was much affect- ed. "I'11 tell you what it is, my dear fel- low," said he, as he wrung my hand, you must start afresh in some other part of the world. You are no older than my son-in-law was when he married and went to Canada, in your own profession too. By the way, I have an idea." The idea was worthy of this excellent man, and of his behavior to me. He explained that his son-in-law, a physician in good practice, wanted a partner - some one from the Old Country, if possible. "If you went out, with an introduction from me, he would be sure to like you, and all might be settled in no time. Besides, you Scotch hang together so - my son-in-law is a Fife man -and did you not say you were born or educatei'd at St. Andrew's 1 The very thing r" And he urged me to start by nett Saturday's American mail. A sharp struggle went on within my mind. Mr. Thorley evidently thought it sprang from another cause, and, with much delicacy, gave me to understand that in the promised introduction, he did not consider there was the slighted ne- cessity to state more than that I had been an army surgeon, and was his valued friend; that no reporta against me were likely to reach the far Canadian settlement, whither I should carry, both to his Mon -in-law and the world at large, a perfectly unknown and unblemished name. If I had ever wavered, this decided me. The hope must go. So I let it go, in all probability, forever. Was I right 1 1 can hear you say, "Yes, Max." In bidding the chaplain farewell, I tried to explain to him that in this gen- erous offer he had given to me more than he guessed -faith not only in heaven, but in mankind, and strength to do with- out shrinking what I am bound to do - trusting that there are other good Chris- tians in this world heaids himself who dare believe that a than ratty sin and re- pent -that the dogma even of an abso- lute bs.lute creme is not hopeless nor eternal - His own opinion *incensing my pres- ent conduek, or the fads of my past history, 1 did not seek; it was of little moment; he will shortly kern all. My love, I have resolved se the only thing possible to my future poses, the roe thing exacted by the laws of God and roan -to do what I Dight to Have dome twenty years sgcy-te deliver my- self up to cultic* CHAPTRR XXX \' Ma @TWIT. Alio! I was not mad; I saw all that was vanishing from me -inevitably, ir- redeemably -my good name, any chance of earning a livelihood, my sweet hope of a home and wife. And I might save everything, and keep my promise lo your father also, by just one little lie. Would you have had me utter it 1 No, love; I know you would tether have had me die. The sensation was like dying, for one minute, and then it passed away. I looked steadily at my accusers; for accu- sation, at all eventa strong suspicion, was in every countenance now; and told them that though I had nut perpetrated a single one of the atrocious crimes Laid to my charge, still the events of my life had been peculiar; and circumstances left me no option but the course I bad hitherto pursued, namely, total salines. That if my good character were Maw, w sustain me through it, 1 would wil- lingly retain my post at the jail. smii weather the storm aa best I obukL N this course were tmpasacbie--- "It s impossible. ra,d the geeeaaer, decisively "Then I have n. a.torsauve. Md Se tender say rte it was accepted as ono& 1 went out frac- the board -ream m dile.' craned man, with a eserampre eiw- acter which wall int far WIN sal hew ine wherever I pima may lea Ifs honest Urquhart nese, sihid cep Wier bore, and Dance--- which I cash 1s bra given stainless to my wife, sad kA -d 1 could leave nothing .Le ---to Bq sial dress -ay, it was Bute. Gem, favover and ever. I stole up Into my own rooms, W libel myself down on my bed, as motieelum aa if it had been my coffin_ Fear not my lose; one sin was saved me, perhaps, by your letter (if that morn- ing. The wretchede.t, most hopeless, most guilty of men would never dare to pray for death so long as he knew that a good woman loved him. When daylight failed, I bestirred my- self, lit my lamp, and began to make a few preparationsand arrangements about my rooms -it being clear that, where - ever I went, I must quit this place as soon as possible. My mind was almost made up as to the course I ought to pursue; and that of itself calmed me. I was soon able to sit down, and begin this letter to you; but got no farther than the fist three words, which, often as I have written them, look as new, strange and precious as ever: "My dear Theodora." Dear - God knows how infinitely ! and mine - altogether and everlastingly mine. I felt this, even now. In the resolution I had made, no doubts shook me with re- spect to you; for you would bid me to do exactly what conscience urged -ay, even if you differed from me. You said once, with your arms round my neck, and your sweet eyes looking up steadfastly in mine: "Max, whatever happens, always do what you think to be right, without reference to me. I would love you all the better for doing it, even if you broke my heart." I was pondering thus, planning how beat to tell you of things so sore; when there came a knock to my room door. Expecting no one but a servant, I said "Come in," and not even looking up -for every creature in the jail must be fami- liar with my disgrace by this time. "Dr. Urquhart, do 1 intrude 1" It was the chaplain. Theodora, if I have ever in my letters implied a word against him -for the narrowness and formality of his religious belief sometimes annoyed and was a hindrance to me -remember it not: Set down his name, the Reverend James Thorley, on the list of those I wish to be kept always in your tender memory, as those whom I sincerely honored, and who have been most kind to me of all my friends. The old man spoke with great hesita- tion, and when I thanked him for com- ing, replied in the manner which I had many a time heard him use in convict cell: "I came, sir, because I felt it to be my duty." "Mr. Thorley, whatever was yonr mo- tive, I respect it, and thank you." And we remained silent -both stand- ing -for ha declined my offer of a chair. Noticing my preparations, he said, with some agitation, "Am I hindering your pleb' for departure 1 Are you afraid of elle 1rw r .Na'•+ He seemed relieved; then after • long examining look at me, quite broke down. O, Doctor, Doctor, what a terrible thing this is ! who would have believed it of you !" it was very bitter, Theodora. Wham be saw that I attempted wither amwer mor defenee, the chaplain me- tinued sMraly, "i come here, sir, not to pry histo your secrets, but to fulfill my duty es a minister of God; to urge you to make a cial asion. not unto ase, tart unto Hiro WWI you hare dreaded, .pose ye you eaa=N wasps, sod whose Now 1 have told you; but I cannot tell yen the infinite calm which this re - soh dot& bee brought to me. To be free to M► dopa this bang load at lies, whicb hes bung shout sae for twenty years; to speak the whole truth Weis Ood and assn-oontesa all, and take my punish - meat --any lees, a kis, if yeti knew what the tboagb of We is to one, you would assithes hepble nor weep, but rather rejoice! My Theodora, I take you is my arias, I hold you to my heart, and love you with a love that is dearer than life and stronger than death, and 1 ask you to let me do this In the inclosed letter to your father, I have, after relating all the circum- stances of which I here inform you, im- plores him to release me from a pledge which I ought never to have given. Never, for it was putting the fear of man before the fear of God; it was binding myself to an eternal hypocrisy, an in- ward gnawing of shame, which paralysed my very soul. I must escape it; you must try to release me from it -my lave who loves me better than herself, better than myself -I mean this poor worthless self, battered and old, which I have often thought was more fit to go down into the grave than live to be my dear girl's hus- band. Forgive me if I wound you. By the intolerable agony of this hour, I feel that the sacrifice is just and right. You must help me, you must urge your father to set me free. Tell him - indeed I have told him -that he need dread no disgrace to the family, or to him who is no more. I shall state no- thing of Henry Johnston excepting his name, and my confession will be suffici- ent and sole evidence against me. As to the possible result of my trial, I have not overlooked it. It was just, if only for my dear love's sake, that 1 should gain some idea of the chances against me. Little as I understand of the law, and especially English law, it seems to me very unlikely that the ver- dict will be wilful murder, nor shall I plead guilty to that. God and my own conscience are witnesses that I did not commit murder, but unpremediated man- slaughter. The punishment for this is, I believe, sometimes transportation, sometimes im- prisonment for a long term of years If it were death -which perhaps it might as well be to a man of my age -I must fact it. The remainder of my days, be they few or many, must be s,oent in peace. IfI do not hear within two days' post from Rockmount, I shall conclude your tether makes no opposition to my deter- mination, and go at once to surrender myself at Salisbury. You need not write; it might compromise you; it would be almost a relief to me to hear nothing of or from you until all was over. And now, farewell ! My personal effects here I leave in charge of the chap- lain with a sealed envelope containing the name and address of the friend to whom they are to be sent in case of my death, or any other emergency. This i yourself. In my will I have given you as near as the law allows, ever right the you would have had as my wife. My wife -my wife, in the sight of God, farewell !-that is, until such time as I dare write again. Take good care of yourself; be patient, and have hope. In whatever he commands -he is too just a man to command an injustice -obey your father. Forget me not -but you never will. If I could have seen you once mere, have felt you close to my heart -but perbap it is better as it is. Only a week's suspense for you, and i will be over. Let us trust in God, and farewell ! Remember how I loved you my child. Therefore, my love, I dared not have wen yuu, even had you i mediately Dope to me. You have acted• in all this. as my dear girl was sure ao act -wise, thoughtful, self controlled, cel oh ! how infinitely loving. I had to stop her, for wait of day- light; but, they have now brought me my allowance bf oaadis-slender enough, so I must maks `este. I with yon to have this full account as soon as possible after the brief telegrtatn which 1 know Mr. Granton sent you the instant my trial was over. A trial, however, it was not: in my ignorance of any law, I imagined much that never happened- What did happen I will here set down. You must not expect me to give many details; my head .was rather confused, and my health has been a good deal shaken, though du not take heed uf any- thing Granton may tell yuu about me or my looks. I shall recover now. Fortunately. the four days of impris- onment gave me time to recover myself in • measure, and 1 was able to write out the statement i meant to read at sly trial. I preferred reading it, lest env physical weakness might sake ase con- fused or,inaccsrste. Yoe see 1 took all rational precautions for fay own safety. I was as Just to myself p. I would have been to another men- Than for raw sake, and also fur the sake 4 these NOW dead, Spon whose fair nese I hue brought the first lid But I mast sot Mask of that --its tee late- What best leseemem ase s honali- ty, and gratitude to Gad end soma lied I known in my washed ys , why, absorbed in termer of hems maim. 1 forgot Justice divine --kind I bet kmws there were su many nussile howls iia this world After Cosa Greases lint me kir night I slept quietly. for I frit quest amid at rest Oh, the peace dem swherdemet conscience, the freedmen at a seed et ease, which, the Thula truth helms tsiM, hes no longer anytime. to dread, and w prepared for everytkiag I rose calm and refreshed, sad could see through my cell window that it was a lovely spring morning. I was glad my Theodora did not know what parti- cular day of the masses was fixed for my trial. It would Hake things a little eas- ier for her. It was noun before the case came un; a long time to wait. Do not suppoee•me braver than I was. When I found myself standing in the prisoner's dock, the whole mass of staring faces seemed to whirl round and round before my eyes; I felt sick and cold; I had lost more strength than I thought. Everything present melted away into a sort of dream through which I fancied I heard you speaking, but could not distinguish any worda-except these, the soft, still tendernes of which haunted me as freshly as if they had been only just uttered; My dear Max ! my dear Max !" By this I perceived that my mind was wandering, and must be recalled; so I forced myself to look round at the judge, jury, witness -box, in which was one per- son sitting with his white head resting t on his hand. I felt who it was. Did you know your father was sub- poenaed here 1 If eo, what a day this must have been for my poor child ! Think not, though, that the eight of him added to my suffering. I had no fear of him or of anything now. Even 'public shame was les terrible than I thought; those scores of inquisitive eyes hardly stabbed so deep as in days past did many a kind look of your fathers, many s la loving glance of yours. The formalities of the court began, but I scarcely listened to them. They you, in a great crinis my mind always re- covers its balance and becomes quiet. Besidea, sickness makes us both clear- sighted- wonderfully so, sometimes. Do not suppose trom this admission that my health as goes or gulag, but simply that 1 as., as I see in the look- iug-glass, • somewhat older and feebler man than any dear love remembers me a year ego. But I must hasten on. The plea of guilty being recorded, no trial was neoessary; the judge had vuly to pass sentence. I was asked whether, by counsel for otherwise, I wished to say anything in my own defence 1 And then I rose and told the whole truth. Do not grieve fur me, Theodora. The truth is never really terrible. What sakes it so is the fear of tuatt, and that was over with me; the torment of guilty shame, and that was gone too. I have lied many • moment of far sharper an- guish, more grinding humiliation than this, when 1 stood up and publicly con- fessed the sin of my youth, with the years of suffering which had followed, I dared say, explsted it 'I There is a sense in which no .in ever can be expiated except in One Blessed Way . yet an so far as a man can atone to man, I behoved I had awned for mine; 1 had tried to give • We fur a life, mor- ally speaking --say, 1 had given it. But it was sot enough; it could not be. Nothing les them the troth was requir- ed free MS, and I Isere offered it. Tins, u one short half hour, the bur- ies d a Wefts was laid down for- ever The Judge- he was not unmoved, so they told se afterward -maid he must take tame to amender the easuanca. Had the prisoner any wowing' as to charac- tert tlevwsal came • forward. Amine the rest, the geed ..id chaplain, who had teaseled all night from Liverpool, in order, he mid, Just to shake lands with ase coaly -whisk he din, an open court -God blues kiss ' There was eleo Colonel Turton, with Cohn Gunton -who had never left me since daylight this morning -but they all held beck when they saw rise and come forward, as if with the intention of being sworn, your father. Have no fear, my love, for his health. I watched him.closely all this day. He bore it well -it will have no ill result, I feel sure. From my observation of him, I should say that a great and salu- tary change had come over him, both body and mind, and that he is as likely to enjoy a green old age as any one I know. When he spoke, his voice was as steady and clear as before his accident it used to be in the pulpit. "My lords and gentlemen, I was sub- poenaed to this trial. Not being called upon to give evidence, I wiah to make a statement upon oath. There must have been a "sensation in the court," as newspapers say, for I saw Granton look anxiously at me. But I had no fears. Your father, whatever he had to say, was sure to speak the truth, not a syllable more or les, and the truth was all I wanted. The judge here interfered, observing that, there being no trial, he could re- ceive no legal evidence against the pris- oner. "Nor have I any such evidence to give: I wish only for justice. My lord, may I speak 7" Anent was given. Your father's words were brief and t seemed to me of little consequence. As I said to Granton when he urged me to employ counsel, a man who only wants to speak the truth can surely manage to do it, in spite of the encumbrances of the law. It came to an end -the long, unin- telligible indictment -and my first clear perception of my position was the judge s question: "How say you, prisoner guilty or not guilty 1" I pleaded •'guilty," as a matter id course. The judge asked several ques- tions, and held a long discussion with the counsel for the crown on what he termed "this very remarkable case." The purport of it was, I believe, to as- certain my amity, and whether any corroboration of my confession could be obtained. It could not. All possible witnesses were long since dead, except your father. Re- still kept his position, neither turning toward me nor yet 'from me -- nether songs iesate nor revengeful, het a wely eaaigesed, as if his long Dor- mows or@owe had obtained their solemn satis faction; and, even though the end was thus, be felt relieved that it had come. As if he, like me. had learned to sub- mit that our course should be shaped for us rather thee by us, being taaeht that even in this world's events the God of Troth will he justified before men - will prove that those who, under any pretence, diegniee or dein the truth, live not unto Him, but unto the father ef lira. Is it not strange that then and then I should have been cairn enough to think of these things t Ay, and should calmly write of them now Bot. as T have told Met I RQUHART. CHAPTER XXXVI. HIA PTORY. MY PEAR THsopoRA.--By this time you will have known all.' Thank Gird, it is over. My dear, dear love -my own faithful girl--- it is over. When I was brought hack to prison to -night, I found your letters; but 1 had heard of you the day before from Colin Granton. Do not regret the chance which made Mr. Johnston detain my letter to you, instead of forwarding it at once to the Cedars These sort of things never seem in me as accidental; all was for good in any cane I could not have done otherwise than I did: but it would have been painful to have done it in direct opposition to your father The only thing i regret is. that: my poor chid should have had the shock of first seeing these hard tidings of my surrender to the magistrate, and my public confession, in • newspaper. Granton told me how yeti bore it. Tell him I shall remember gratefully all my life his goodness to you, and his leaving kis young wife --whom be dearly lovas, I era see --to come to me here. Nor was he my only friend; do not think i was either eondemned or forsak- en- Sir William Treh.rne and several others offered any amount ..f hail for me; but it was better I should remain in prises daring the few days between my committal and the Meese& T need quiet and snlittide at the bar, him more than a radii or niaeieen was likely to bear. Bull) wee his statement to me, and kpowies kis charade and nzy cue's I have little doubt d iia per - fed eoouraoy• The judge looked up from his totes. "You seem, sir, strange to say, to be nut unfavorable toward the prisoner." "1 am just toward the pri@o nor. 1 wish to be, even though he has as his hands the blood of my ►,lay sun." Atter the pause which folluwd, the judge said ^Mr Johnston, the Court respects your feelings, and regrets to detain you longer or put yuu to any additional pain. But it may materially aid the decision of this very peculiar case if you will answer another question. You are aware that, all other evidence being wanting, the prisoner can only be judged by his own confession. Do yuu believe, un your oath, that this confession is true 7" "I do. I am bound to my, from my intimate knowledge of the prisoner, that I believe him to be now, whatever he may have been in his youth, a man of sterling honor and unblemished life; one wbo would not tell a he to save himself from the scaffold." ''The court is satisfied.'. But before he sat down, your father turned, and, fur the first time that day, he and I were face to face. "I stn a clergyman, as I said, and I never was in • court of justice before. Is it illegal for me to address a few words to the prisoner' r' Whether it was or not, nobody inter- rupted m. "Dr.hiUrquhart," he said, speaking loud enough for every one to hear, "what your sentence inay be, I know not, or whether you and 1 shall ever meet again until the day of judgment. If not, I believe that if we are to be for- given our debts according as we forgive our debtors, I shall have to forgive you then. I prefer to do it now, while we are in the flesh, and it may comfort your soul I, Henry Johneton's father, de- clare publicly that I believe what you did was done in the heat of youth, and has ever since been bitterly repented of. May God pardon you, even u I do this bey." [To az corrrrxaED. ] Unfair a asters. Walter Scott tell a story of • boy who who was with him in school, who always stood at the head of his class. It was the custom of the scholar' to change places in their class, according to failure or success in recitation; but though Wal- ter was number two, he could not et to the head, because this boy never missed. But Walter noticed that he had a habit, when puzzled by a hard question, of twirling a button on his jacket, and this seemed to help him think out a right answer. Walter. more through mischief than any worse motive, cut off the button sly- ly one day, to see if it would make any difference. The lesson was a spelling lesson, and several boys at the foot missed a hard word. It came round to the head. The boy instinctively put -his hand to the button. It was gone. He looked down to find it, grew con- fused, missed the word, and Walter went above him. The boy never get to the head again, seemed to lose his ambition settled down into a second-rate scholar, and never accomplished much in life. Walter Scott declared that he often suffered sharp remorse at the thought that he possibly spoiled the boy for , school and for life by cutting off the button that had done such good service. Alexander McLeod, Kincardine town- ship, lost a number of sheep lately from a peculiar disease. After two or three formal; but you will imagine how they sheep had died, Mr. McLeod made an fell on one ear at least. investigation of the cause, and far up "My name is William Henry John- the nostril in cloproximity to the eye, he discovered fseour or five grubs of s, .ton, clerk, of Rockmount, Surrey. whitish color and nearly the size of a Henry Johnston, who -died --on the potato bug. The sheep affected by night of November 19th, 1836, was my them may be distinguished by a kind of matter which oozes from the nose. A short time before death the eyes loose their natural color and turn completely white. One of the insects lived for six days after beingremoved from the sheep's head. Indeed it was put into spirita of turpentine and other liquids, with the view of accomplishing its death, "Was ydur first discovery of these but it survived the operation without painful facts by the prisoner's present appearing to 1* injured in the least. confession r Mr. McLeod is anxious to hear from any one who is acquainted with the disease - "No, my lord," Your father hesitated, only son. I know the prisoner at the bar. I knew him for some time before he was aware whose father I was, or I had any suspicion that my son came to his death in any other way than by acci- dent.'' but only 'momentarily. "He told me Swear not at all, but if you mustswear, the whole story himself, a year ago, un- swear sift der circumstances that would have in- -Herr, ha so peacticia said Mr, duced most men to conceal it for- YoungAe. Wks mother went into the oountry lad year he sent all her things after her the very next day ; he said she might want some of them, you know. And its kind o' funny, she went on. "mother did waut these, for she has never Come hack to live with us since. Wsen't it queer?" ever... The judge inquired, "Why was not this confenion made public at once r "Because i was afraid, I did not wish to make my family history a by -word and a scandal. i enacted a promise that the secret should be kept inviolate. This promise he has broken; hut I blame him not. it ought never to have been made. "Certainly not It was thwarting the purposes of justice and of the law." "My lord, I em an old man, and • amylase; I know nothing about the law; bot I know it was • wrong act to bind any mane Conscience to live a per- petual lie.'' Your father was here asked if he had saything more to my "A word onlyin the prisoner's Don fission, he has, out of delicacy to me, omitted three facts, which weigh meter- isily in extenuation of his crime When he committed it he was only nineteen, sad my son was thirty. 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