Page:Tragical history of George Barnwell (1).pdf/21

 Ellinor. The coward fled, and I was discovered kneeling by the side of my wife, the weapon still buried in her breast. I was dragged by force from the body, and confined in my own house, under the care of some physicians. In a few days my senses returned and I was able to give an account of the transaction, which being corroberated by the flight of Linmore, the Coroner's jury returned a verdiotverdict [sic] of accidental death. Though I was not then deemed a madman, my reason has sustained a shock it has never perfectly recovered.

"Ellinor was then in her coffin. I threw myself on it nor would I quit it till my strange wish was gratified, in preserving the coffin-lid as a momento. Another was accordingly mode. My cottage at Walworth now became frightful: every room reminded me of some happy scene, and brought my Ellinor to view. My child how it chilled my blood to look at her; I could not bear her presence, I placed her under the care of a respectable person, made a provison for her cdueationeducation [sic], and in case of my death left her the whole of her mother's fortune. I then went to live in America. Even here misery pursued me. Scarcely had I settled in any degree of intimacy and felt something like humanity reviving in my heart, when those troubles of which the world knows well, broke out. My friend was an American by birth and sided with the Congress. My opinions though they did not coincide with the rulers of England, yet compelled me to resist the entreaties of my friend, to take up arms against my country. I would have remained nouter, but that could not be; and thus, as soon as I began to cherish love for my friend, my arm was lifted up to destroy him. It was then I was compelled to use the arms you saw at my residence. One instance of etributive justice I met with in America which in