s this document, 'I
could scarce believe my eyes; I knew her temper; she was always damnably
wicked; but I had found out all about her long ago; and I was amazed at
her audacity. What she said was true--we _were_ married; or rather, we
went through the ceremony, at St. Clement Danes, in London, in the year
'50. I could not gainsay that; but I well knew what she thought was
known but to herself and another. She had a husband living then. We
lived together little more than three months. We were not a year parted
when I found out all about him; and I never expected more trouble from
her.

'I knew all about him then. But seventeen years bring many changes; and
I feared he might be dead. He was a saddler in Edinburgh, and his name
was Duncan. I made up my mind to go thither straight. Next morning the
_Lovely Betty_, packet, was to sail for Holyhead. I took money, and set
out without a word to anybody. The wretch had told my poor wife, and
showed her the certificate, and so left her half mad.

'I swore to her 'twas false. I told her to wait a bit and she would see.
That was everything passed between us. I don't think she half understood
what I said, for she was at her wits' ends. I was scarce better myself
first. 'Twas a good while before I resolved on this course, and saw my
way, and worse thoughts were in my head; but so soon as I made up my
mind to this I grew cool. I don't know how it happened that my
foot-prints by the river puzzled them; 'twas all accident; I was
thinking of no such matter; I did not go through the village, but
through the Knockmaroon gate; 'twas dark by that time; I only met two
men with a cart--they did not know me--Dublin men, I think. I crossed
the park in a straight line for Dublin; I did not meet a living soul;
'twas dark, but not very dark. When I reached the Butcher's Wood, all on
a sudden, I heard a horrid screech, and two blows quick, one after the
other, to my right, not three score steps away--heavy blows--they
sounded like the strokes of a man beating a carpet.

'With the first alarm, I hollo'd, and ran in the direction shouting as
I went; 'twas as I ran I heard the second blow; I saw no one, and heard
no other sound; the noise I made myself in running might prevent it. I
can't say how many seconds it took to run the distance--not many; I ran
fast; I was not long in finding the body; his white vest and small
clothes showed under the shadow; he seemed quite dead. I thought when
first I to