Blair Collection > Rhys Lewis, minister of Bethel

RHYS LEWIS. 383
But Williams had a talent for rising early. One morning,
gome -^eelvs before leaving college, as I have said, I came
downstairs about eight o'clock, to find that Williams had gone
out for a stroll. On the table were two letters awaiting me. I
recognised the writings on both— one as that of Miss Hughes,
and the other as "Eos Prydain's." I gave precedence, always,
to Miss Hughes's letter. Opening this one, I found that it
enclosed another in a hand wholly strange to me. It was in
English, and as follows : —
Old Bailey, B-
May ist, 18 .
SiK,— There died this morning in our gaol, a man named
John Freeman. Six weeks ago, haying been found guilty of
poaching, he was sentenced to three months' imprisonment,
with hard labour. He was never strong from the outset, and
shortlj' after coming here he took cold and rapidly became
worse. A few days before his death, he expressed a desire to
speak to me privately. I had fancied from the first that he
was "an old bird;" and he at length, admitted tome that
his real name was James Lewis. He requested me— and I
promised— to apprise you of his death, whenever that took
place. What he specially wished me to make known to you
was that everything he had told you was not true. He did not
know your address, but he believed you would get the letter
some time, directed as I have directed it. I have now fulfilled
my promise to the deceased. He will be buried to-morrow.
We should have buried him to-day, only we were short of
cofQ.us, and I did not think he was going to die so soon.
Yours truly,
J. F. Beeece, Governor.
Ehys Lewis, Esq,
I read and re-read the letter, in stupefaction. My uncle
James, as I have many times said in the course of this history,
had been the moving cause of the most of my troubles, and I
detested him heartily. And yet, on reading of his disgraceful
end, and of his words to the governor, a pang shot through me
each as I will not attempt to describe. I held the letter in my