The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-05-08
From Ne R;ynls.
FRANCIS RIORDAN.
1coNcLUDED.

plain CONN, before Wnlcn ne pduseo, az"
began to trembIe exceedingly. On the
lid was silver plate with the words, Es-
THEIR WILDERMIyG, AGED 21 YEARS, en-
praved upon il. He remained for some
time motionIess, like one in fit Of deep
musing, and then sunk down at once, ut
ferly bereft of consciousness upon the cof-
in lid.
The alarm of David, at seeing his mas
ter thus lying insensihie in the vault Of
death, was at its height. He hurried to
the side of the unhappy youth, endcavor-
ed to arouse him into life, and manifested
,he utmost distress at the difficulty he
I und in reviving him. 'Masther FrankP
he exclaimed, Grouse yourself up, sir,
ind let US conc away!-Masther Frank,
say; awake, stir again! o that l mghtn't
rim but he's dead and gone, an the seigh-
,ours III come, and they'll catch me here,
an they'll say murthered him, an III
be hung, an kilt, an spoilt, an MUIR
thcr't, ono Davy Lenigan Davy Len
igan, an warn't you the fooii-s nan, to be
said by him at all this holy nightn' A
long deep moan from the unhappy young
man, cut short his anxious soliloquy, and
occasioned David to redouble his atten-
tions. In few minutes Francis was a.
gain in full possession ofhis senses.
lie took up the pirk-axc from the Garth,
and was about to deal blow upon the ias-
tening of the coffin lid, when Davy ven-
tured to arrest his arm. "Why do you
hoId mc?" said Francis, looking on him
with an eye in which sorrow strove with
anger, "let go my arm, and stand aside. I"
" No, Hasther Frank, forgive me, cant,
now wont let yOu do that" "Lct 60
my arm" repeated Francis, with faint
effort to free himself. "You're not right
in your mind now, masther Francis" said
the faithful fellow, can you'd do some
thing that's not right by the corpse an col-
fin." "Again, stand back and free me. !"
dar'nt do it SIR" Hold off, stand
away then," cried Francis, springing up
and hurling his companion back among
the coffins with strength which fury on
Iy could supply, "Hold off! or, as live
and suffer, Iii dash your brains out! I'm
puden. man! whose corpse DO you talk of!
Here! you are very bold, to think thut
would harm her! Hold back, and touch
ne not, nor speak, nor move, nor breathe
aloud, or will case nay agony upon you
Avoid me, then, ifyou suppose ME mad
and do not tempt the fury of breaking
heart. Mad? Aye, indeed, and drearily
insane too; burning madness; lunacy
with consciousness; the madness OF the
heart and the affections, that makes the
bosom one wild Bcdlam Of franctic uproar
nd atlliction, while the soul is able to look
pom the tumult with all the exquisite
ain of perfect consciousness! This Is my
.,rture now, though you perceive it not
Oh, that my brain would BURST Good
heaven, forgive me if j sin!" He pressed
is clcnchcd hand against his temples,
I'd stamped against the earth like one in
<quisite suffering. "I only wish," he
,ntinued, in more moderate tone, {" to
ok upon the face of Esther for once, and
.cn we will leave the vault together"
David dared not to offer even word o'
,monstrance, but looked on in awe struck
lencc, whilst his master, with some cxer-
on, succeeded in striking up the lid from
ne coffin. The perfume Of some balmy
ytracts, which were scattered in the
,hroud, diffused sudden air of fsweetness
throughout the damp and gloomy charncl.
"It is very strange" said Francis, in a
,rolscn whisper, while large drops of ago.
~ like those which are said to be wrung
ON wretch upon the rack, glistcned
md rolled downward from his brow and
amples. 1t is very strange! How long
it now since Esther died?" Better
an two days, sir, very near the third
ight now" every strange, indeed.
lere Is not the slightest change upon the
ce. All, death! it is as cold as ironr'
tie raised the head gently, between his
hands, imprinted revercntial kiss upon
the forehead, and then drew back little
to gaze at leisure on the face. 1t was
extremely beautiful; and, owing, perhaps,
( the peculiar light, seemed almost to have
ret lined some shade ofthe carnation, to
which, in life, it owed SO much ofits lowell.
ness. This sight produced at length a
llutary effect upon the blasted affections
oft ie young lover, the tears burst from
his eyes, and he leaned forward over the
c'rpse, in a mood of gentle and heart-eas-
ing grief After some time, he rose again,
and bade Davy to come nearer. can
swer nothing, now" said he, "to what
'hall propose, but obey me, at once, and
.:thr,,t r1ntr,J.,t.o- -. x..f- -