The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-05-08

mir. "Oh, vol" murmcred David TO him
sell, "tIlat may be blest, but the gallows
will be our portion for our doings this
night" He followed his master, and
they hurried out of the church yard, pass
ing beneath the ruined archway on the
northern side, and down the slope which
led to the common road.
They entered the cottage, where the
fire was already burning chcerfully upon
the hearth. Having carefully closed the
door, and made it fast behind them, they
proceeded to arrange the body on a wide
form, which was placed near the fire-sides,
and the lanthern was hung up, so as TO
shine full upon the lifelcss features
+" There she lies at last" said Francis,
folding his arms and looking down on the
dead face, "therc lies Esther Widening,
the young. the gay, the lovely, and the
virtuous! An old woman told me, once,
that had been overlooked in my infancy,
and / am almost suprrstitious enough to
credit her. Otherwise, why should it be
that there, where my best affections have
been ccntcred, and my kecncst hopes "a
wa<ened, there have been ever sure to
undergo disappointment but ! have
snatched her out of Iacy's arms, and even
this dismal meeting has a consolation,
compared with that appalling ruInour o:
her ialschood. Esther! dear Esther
forgive GU, now. How beautiful she was
Has! Oh, that word has death in its sound
to me- For your sake, Esther, vii! lead
an altered life from henceiorth. never
will hope more, not even for the na.ura!
blessings that GO and come with the rcvolv
ing year, for think, il any thing could
shorten the liberal hand Of Nature, and
cause her to withhold her. ancient custom
airy bountics, it would be the longing of a
wretch like me. lncver more will dress.
game, play, sing, laugh, or mingle in the
gayctics Of earth. My dream of death is
out; my plans Of quiet and domestic JOY en-
tirely baflled. In war, in peace, in action
or repose, in mrth, or in musing, never
more can know happy feeling; never in
deed, Oh, never! never! nevcr!"
He sunk down, utterly exhausted by
grief, fatigue, and want Of food, by tho
side of the corpse, the fire light shining
dusky red on the pale and delicate linz -.
mcnts ofthc dead, and on the no less pak
sad haggared aspect Of the living who
lay near. David laysstrctchcdi at dis
'tance on heap Of fresh straw and ru~hcs,
offering up many prayers, aud unable to
conceive what would be the result of this
extraordinary vigil. \
\ About midnight, the effect of his exert
tions, and long want Of rest and food, be-
gan to be apparent in Riordah's framc
} His sense ofmiscry, the kecnncss ofwhicl
} had, until TOW, kept off the assaults o
sleep grew vague and dull, and lullina
torpor sunk upon his brain. The wind
which rose as the night advanced, moanct
: sulenly around the lonely building, and ;
sudden falling in of the burning fire mad.
him star; from his broken sumbers, wit!
a sensation of alarm. Sometimes, the dis
ordered condition of his nerves, wthou
any external excitement, wou d produce
similar effect, and he would suddenly fin,
himself sitting erect, upon the floor, will
a horrid sensation, shooting like galvan
ic shock from his brain, along his spine
r and expressing, for moment, the action
ofhis heart and lungs. His visions, whcr
he dreamed, were likewise of startling
description. Now he met Lacy, hand tt
hand in combat, and was vexcd to the SOU
to find thot, while all his encmy's blow.
told ficrcrly OH his person, his own, lel
weak aud harmless, as ii OH some unre.
sisting and impassable substance. Ant
now, he occupied that dizzy resting place
in the cliff, from which the poor Cathlccr
was hurled into the Inke; and Esther
pale, in her shroud, stood trembling on the
brink beside his couch He rose to meet
her; her form seemed to fade as he advanc-
cd, and her face looked terrible he knew
not wherefore. He attempted to touch
her hand, but she receded from him-hc
followed to the brink of the cliff, she still
seemed to float backward in the thin air,
and the pale dead face and lurid eve as
sumcd slight appearance of dcrision.-
lie tried TO follow her; his footing failed
him, and he fell hcadlong down the rocks,
from ledge to ledge, andjust awoke in time
to save himself from some irrecoverable,
confusion.
! He found David Lcnigan standing ov-
er, and cndeavoring to recall him to con-
seriousness by gently pressing his arm.
!" Masther Frank, " said this honest fellow,
I" that's quare place for you to be lying,
sir Get nm and sfhrefcb o,,or On tLn