The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-06-05

"Nay," seplied Ghrimcs, "that were
poor rsquital lor the forbearance Of one
who has 50 long had the power Of elevat-
ing you to the distinction which your kind
ness proposes for him. Remember the
forged dead!" 4,
SI am not likely to forget IT," said
Nightshade; "but who, think you, will
now believe ysu on your oath!" ~
Doubtless" wes Ghrimes's answer,
cit were worse than folly to do 50, but
the deed itself were good evidence, me
thinks"
"And that is safe in yonder iron chest, -
said the other, exultingly.
care you well advised Of that!" was
the rejoinder.
Nightshade, alarmed for the first time,
hurried across the room, applied key to
the spring lock ofthe chest, gazed in il for
an iostant then finging down the lid,
sna.chcd pistol from the mantlepisce,
and presented it ut Ghrimcs, exclaiming,
in voice expressive ofrage and detcrmin
alton, " "Villain! give me back the deed
this instant, or will blow out your brains,
though swing for it Tomorrow.
Gilbert eyed him awhile with that hardi-
hood which will not dignity by the name
of courage, and which nothing but the
most determined viliainy could supply;
then, putting aside the muzzlc ofthe wcap
ON, he said, with smile Of scorn, I" !
were, indeed, hut dull pupil Of SO bright
master, did learn no safer policy from
your instructions than to put the evidence
Of your guilt, as well as my person in your
power"
Scoundrel!' thundered the other,
I" where is the deed:"
BE assured, in good keeping" said
Gilbert, I" whence, i'll revoke not my IN
struction It will be transferred to those,
who, for their own sskes, will make such
use Of it as viii scarcely consist with your
safety. And now, my honored tather-in-
law, call in your constable, and AWAY with
me to prison, Fan it please you" :.
The countenancc Of Nightshade fell
when he found himself completely in the
power Of the man whom he SO lately pro-
posed to crush. He regarded his hopeful
son-in-Iaw, Tor few seconds, with fixed
and searching look, and then said, in
tone and manner considerably softened,
/" Gibby, you have done that which ]
had not expected from your years-you
have outwitted me- an, in my dotage,
it is plain, or you had not thus wreathed
upon me. But no matter, forgive you.
With regard to that same halter, which
has somewhat superhuously cmbellished
our conversation, it would seem thnt our
claims to it are nearly equal; let it, there
fore, instead Of tying us up, tie us togcth-
or. You are my paptner from this hour.
| am growing old: my labors are heavy
and you have given me convincing evi-
dcnce Of your ability to share the bHrthen.
As for your wife, if she be the daughter
of her mother, you will repent your bar
gain ere your honey moon be on the
wane. The lot was Of your own choosing,
and you must make the best of it. Now,
90 to your Office, and let this mornings
conversation be forgotten as speedily rs
may be-"
From that day the circumstance was
never alluded to by sither party, aud Gil
bert became an active and useful partner
of his late master. There was but one
LAWYER beside themselves in the town,
and he, being an honest one, could not,
interfere with theirpractice. They might
well be termed the friends Of the unfortu-
nate. Did any man, mistaking, in the
darkness ofthe night, gentleman's house
for his own, and unwilling to disturb the
family, find his way into it without knock
ing; did he, entering the fold, relieve the
sleeping shepherd at once Of his duty and
his charge; or, without an act Of Parlin-
ment to back him, did he raise load up
on the highway, and any little personal
inconvenience consequent upon the de-
lection overtake him, he had the comfort
able assura.: &c that, if there was loop
hole, either in the law or in his prison,
through which he might escape, Messieurs
Nightshadc and Ghrimcs were the men,
who for consideration, as Trapbois would
have said, were sure to find il out.
They prospcred, indeed, but theirs was
the uncovetcd prospcrity> Of the wicked,
who have been truly said to flourish as
green bay tree" for it hath poison and
bitterness in its leaves. The career Of
Nightshade was arrested by sudden and
short illness, and the God whom he had
,hs rdored i, b;a voufh. fnrsook him in his