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lla have kept secret； for her sake。
〃Zebedee was in service in this neighborhood。 I am sorry to say it； of a man who has come to such a miserable endbut his behavior to Priscilla proves him to have been a vicious and heartless wretch。 They were engagedand； I add with indignation； he tried to seduce her under a promise of marriage。 Her virtue resisted him； and he pretended to be ashamed of himself。 The banns were published in my church。 On the next day Zebedee disappeared； and cruelly deserted her。 He was a capable servant； and I believe he got another place。 I leave you to imagine what the poor girl suffered under the outrage inflicted on her。 Going to London； with my recommendation； she answered the first advertisement that she saw； and was unfortunate enough to begin her career in domestic service in the very lodging…house to which （as I gather from the newspaper report of the murder） the man Zebedee took the person whom he married； after deserting Priscilla。 Be assured that you are about to unite yourself to an excellent girl； and accept my best wishes for your happiness。〃
It was plain from this that neither the rector nor the parents and friends knew anything of the purchase of the knife。 The one miserable man who knew the truth was the man who had asked her to be his wife。
I owed it to myselfat least so it seemed to menot to let it be supposed that I； too； had meanly deserted her。 Dreadful as the prospect was； I felt that I must see her once more； and for the last time。
She was at work when I went into her room。 As I opened the door she started to her feet。 Her cheeks reddened； and her eyes flashed with anger。 I stepped forwardand she saw my face。 My face silenced her。
I spoke in the fewest words I could find。
〃I have been to the cutler's shop at Waterbank；〃 I said。 〃There is the unfinished inscription on the knife； complete in your handwriting。 I could hang you by a word。 God forgive meI can't say the word。〃
Her bright complexion turned to a dreadful clay…color。 Her eyes were fixed and staring； like the eyes of a person in a fit。 She stood before me； still and silent。 Without saying more； I dropped the inscription into the fire。 Without saying more； I left her。
I never saw her again。
VIII。
BUT I heard from her a few days later。 The letter has long since been burned。 I wish I could have forgotten it as well。 It sticks to my memory。 If I die with my senses about me； Priscilla's letter will be my last recollection on earth。
In substance it repeated what the rector had already told me。 Further； it informed me that she had bought the knife as a keepsake for Zebedee； in place of a similar knife which he had lost。 On the Saturday； she made the purchase； and left it to be engraved。 On the Sunday； the banns were put up。 On the Monday； she was deserted； and she snatched the knife from the table while the engraver was at work。
She only knew that Zebedee had added a new sting to the insult inflicted on her when he arrived at the lodgings with his wife。 Her duties as cook kept her in the kitchenand Zebedee never discovered that she was in the house。 I still remember the last lines of her confession：
〃The devil entered into me when I tried their door； on my way up to bed； and found it unlocked； and listened a while； and peeped in。 I saw them by the dying light of the candleone asleep on the bed； the other asleep by the fireside。 I had the knife in my hand； and the thought came to me to do it； so that they might hang _her_ for the murder。 I couldn't take the knife out again； when I had done it。 Mind this！ I did really like youI didn't say Yes； because you could hardly hang your own wife； if you found out who killed Zebedee。〃
Since the past time I have never heard again of Priscilla Thurlby； I don't know whether she is living or dead。 Many people may think I deserve to be hanged myself for not having given her up to the gallows。 They may； perhaps； be disappointed when they see this confession； and hear that I have died decently in my bed。 I don't blame them。 I am a penitent sinner。 I wish all merciful Christians good…by forever。
End