Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1822-10-26

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der despair; they were embraces hall
lowed and made sublime by fame. All
this was more than the poor man could
bear. The failing voices of his uncon.
cious children we're like madness bring
ing sounds in his ears and one night
losing in the tumult Of his thoughts all
distinctions between right and wrong,
he rushed forth and committed rob-
berry.
shall never forget, as long as live,
the hour when he was apprehended by
the officers of justice.
A knock was heard at the outer gate,
and on Mrs. Wilson's going to open it
two men rushed by her into the house,
| aud seized her pale and trembling hus-
band who, although he expected and
! dreaded such an event, was SO staggered
by it as to lose for few moments his
consciousness of all about him. The
| first thing he saw on coming to himself
was his wife stretched at his feet IN
fearful swoon; and, as he was hurried
off, he turned his eyes towards her with
a heart broken expression. calling out
in tone half raving and half imPloring
"look there, look there p'
II would be vain to attempt descrip'
ton of the wretched hours passed by
| him and his wife 10 the interval which
elapsed between this period and the
time of his trial. The madness of his
utter despair, perhaps, was less into
rable than the sickening agitation pro-
duced in her mind by the air-built
hopes she dared to entertain in weary
succession; and which were only born
to be soon stricken back into nothing.
This is indeed a CHASTITY and whitening
conflict. The poor woman after endu-
ring it for three weeks, could not be ca
silly recognized by her old acquaintan.
ces. There were no trace left of the
happy busting wife. She moved si-
lently among her children, her face
was emaciated, and hectic; and her
eyes were red with the contant swell of
tears. 1t was mighty change.
The day of trial at length came on
Wilson was found guilty, and sentence
of death was passed on him. The laws
in their justice condemned him to be
hanged, and the laws in their Justice
had enforced the taxation, the hard
pressure of which had so mainly assls.
ted TO drive him into the crime. But
the world is inexplicable.
His wife did not survive this news
many hours. She died in the night
without struggle. 1t was ofno use to
let the condemned man know this. |
knew be would never ask to see her a.
gain; for their meetings in prison had
already been tormenting beyond endu-
| rance.
Il visited him in his cell two days be-
fore the time appointed for bis execu-
ton. He was silent for many minutes
after ] entered, and did not attempt
to rouse him. At length, with voice
quiveripg under an effort to be compo-
sed be said, Although, Mr.. Sayille, |
do not request Il was going to say did
not geish, but God know. how false
that would be- to behold my wife again
in this bitter world; because such
dreary meeting would drive her mad.
yet think it would do me good if I
could see my child, my eldest girl, my
little Betsey. | know not why it is,
but have an idea that her soft prattle,
ignorsnt as she is of my fate, would
take something away from the suffer
ing am to undergo on Wednesday.
Therefore bring her, will you, this af-
ternoon; and frame some postponing
excuse for my poor wife. These, dear
sir, are melancholy troubles, but |
know you at very good.
In the afternoon accordingly, took
the child, who asked me several times
on the road why her father did not
come home. AS we walked along the
gloomy passages to his cell, she clung
close to me and did not say word. 1t
was very different, poor thing, to the
open and gay garden about which she
was used to run.
The door OF her fathers miserable
dungeon was soon opened, and the
child rushed into his arms. 81 do not
Iik you to live in this dark place, ia
ther," she cried, "come home with me
and Mr.. Saville, and see mother who lie
in bed"
81 cannot come just now, my child"
he answered, "you must stay little
with me, and throw your arms round
my neck, and lean your face on mine"
The child did as she was hidden, and
the moor man strainin0 her IN him