Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-08-18


rose and closedthc window with heavy
sigh. At that moment flash, unlike
that of lightning, at the very edge of
the woods, directly down the road. and
a report of apistol alarmed her-She
threw open the window again. All
was silent. Then a faint voice seemed
crying in the wood: she listened, and
thought she gathered the sound of
''murder"--but the thunder rolled a.
gain and again, and the red lightning
flashed angrily, and a bowling wind rose
up and moaned most dismally along the
forest. She fastened down the ash, land
threw herself beside her sleeping in
iants Oh the bed, clasping them closely
10 her bosom, while her whole frame
trembled with terror.
A brief space elapsed, and the hurri-
ed tired of a horse was heard coming up
NE road q: the gate creaked upon its
hinges; she heard De Lancy's voice,
"wo, wo, Bob, let me get off; this is
bad business; we are both crazy; wo,
wo, Bob, you don't smell the blood now
Lord, how the lightning flashes there's
blood on my arm yet; wo, wo." The
horse was led away 10 the stable; she
heard the door shut, and the key turn,
and presently De Lancy raped at the
door. She flew to open it, and her hus-
band entered with wild and agitaied
air, pale, and besmeared with mire and
blood.
g Ia the name of Heaven" cried Ma
ry, ''what is this?' "OnIy a trihe,
woman; Bob threw me, and my nose
bled little" She feared to interro-
gate him further, for his ruffled and
morose humour was forbidding. She
pressed him to partake Of the supper
she had kept ready for him, and endeav-
cured TO soothe, by kindness and atten-
ton, the gloomy mood in which she
found him. He refused TO eat, howev-
er; and after sitting with his hand
clenched some moments on his forehead,
he rose, took heavy draught of bran
dy, and threw himself on the bed
Mary laid down beside him, bu: not
to sleep; or if a momentary doze came
over her, her waking fancy pictured to
her restless and anxious mind the fever
ish dreams of disordered brain. She
rose as the first glimmering of day broke
upon the valley, and walked out TO the
spring, to battle her burning brow in
the cool clear waters OF the flowing
brook. She had been there but a few
moments, beforetwo men rode rapidly
up the road, and entered the gateway.
She fastened TO the house, and they
entered with her, inquiring for Mr. De
Lancy, and seeming in too much haste
to wait even the common forms of civil
ity.
De Lancy lay still asleep, and when
they rudely reused him and laid their
hands upon him, he sprang up in kind
of frenzy" What, so soon9'' cried he,
"why, who told you killed him p " 1t
is enough" said one of them; ''who
asked you TO accuse yourselt-how came
you to know he was killed? Come, we
must search you" De Lancy stood a
ghast. In the perturbation of the mo-
ment he had betrayed himself-he had
been unprepared; and as they drew
from his pockets the money and watch
of the murdered man, he trenbled ex-
cessively. "Ah, the devil has done for
me at last" said he, throwing wistful
glance at his two sweet infants, as they
lay smiling in their infant sIumbers on
the bed, locked in each others arms
aud then towards hiswite, who, in an ag-
ony of despair at this sudden burst OF
overwhelming misfortune on herself and
children, and of ignominy and shame on
him who was dear to her as her hearts
: blood, vile and dishonoured as he stood
before her on that fatal morning, stood
pale and fixed as cold statue by the
bedside" /" have ruined you ALL
said he "but he whom slew, first ru-
ined me he won a thousand dollars of
me last night Il killed him got my
money back, and now my life is forfeit
ed. Oh, why was linked to this infer
nal spirit Gambling has ruined me,
and those whose fortunes were bound
up in mine, forever. Oh Mary; my
poor, dear wife my poor dear babes.''
| He raved and raved; bnt they hurried
him away, and bound his manly arms
with thick cord, and led him between
their horses from his beautiful cottage
home.
They had not gone far before they
heard distracted voice behind them.
De Lancy's wife was following; her
hair hanging about her shoulders her
feet bare, and her every feature beto-
keniug the very horror ofanguish. "Stay
a moment; oh stay speak to me,
&C.,. Al. ---I..L IL :.