The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1824-02-21

OF the scene. he Young man, III inc mean tiihc,
fastened trembngly onward, and his mind assum-
ed stern resolution from the corresponding intiu-
cncc of the night prospect. tempest had alrca-
ly comnenced the hollow sounding thunder echo
ed along the dim arch of heaven, and the lightning
flashed with splendour around him. AS he passed
the lonely gibbet, under which the bones of unbu-
ried inaetactors were yet bleaching, and heard the
s,lllcn swing of the chains to which a mouder'@
skeleton attached, he imagined his own similar
situation in of detection and his boosted cour
age for the first time failed him. The storm ragged
with undated violence, and broad stream of light
mig shonc limly through the ghastly skeleton,
whose whitening bones hung dangling in the wind.
At this instant the noise of approaching footsteps
WAS heard cchong across the heath the sounds
advanced nearer, and dark figure, wholly mllificd
up i'll nightcloa. stood by the side OF the rohbrr
He drew the pistol from its hiding place and the
stranger moved SLOWLY on; twice he attempted to
pull the trigger, aud twice it trenblcd in his grasp.
The courage OF despair came at length to his asss
tancc; he thought of hs dying grandmother his
own father starving Ill utter hopelcssncss, and the
thought smotc on his phrenzled imagination. lie
fired, and with suppressed groan of anguish, the
deatl-choked voice of which rushed fall on his
rackcd BRAIN the stranger dropped lifeless at his
feet. Agitatcd with variety of contending emo
tons, he borc-nc ensanguined body to his cottage,
and placed it chair, until lie should return with
lantern to dispossess it of its wearing apparel.
1t was now deep midnight: the old lady had long
since retired to bed, and all around still, but
the distant Of waters, the sucn sound of the
north wind, as it whistlcd gloomly through the
bleak walls of the cottage. After short interval,
the murderer returned, bearing dark lantern in his
hand He cast suspicious glance around, locked
the door of his apartment and then, with trem-
bling frame, attempted to unvcil the countc nancc
of his victim Gently he drew bacl, the cloak that
concealed the face, and the body rolled with hea-
w crash to the ground, and disclosed the glazed
eyes, and convulscd, stltfcned features of-his IA
thcr of that father, for whose sake he had thus
plunged himself deep in guilt, and whom he had
murdered he returned from the fort with the pro-
mise of assistance from the governor. He gazcd at
the corpse AS though he had gazed his whole soul
away at the sight he burst out into hcllsh shout
of triumphant laughter. and the fire of the deepest
the deatlhest madness, flashed across his BRAIN lie
then raised the body from the ground, and with a
bitter shrek, the sound of which is describe, US hay
ing been like nothing earthly, rushed with it INTO
the room OF his grandmother \ dim rnshlig ht was
burning IN the chimney corner AS he entered, and
the tattered fringe drawn close around the bed
He approached-hc drew aside the curtains, and
reused the trembling woman by the wild phrenzv
of his triumph. She started at the noise and the
first objects that presented themselves were the
blood-staIned figure of her son, gazing at her with
eyes fixed in the lvid glastlness of death, and the
fearful aspect Of her grandchid, gnashng his teeth
with phrcnzy, disappearing with the most awful I'M
precautions, and shouting aloud with the uncarllv
ceilings of demon. She could see, she could feel
no more death seized her at the instant she cast
but ono look ct kindness, if imploring blessing
on her murderer, and then closed her ewes in the
eternal sllIlnber of the grave.
In the mean time, the slr!eks of the unhappy mar
ncdc drew the attention OF some guards belonging