The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-10

hundred and fifty pounds of tobacco, the
then usual price. Although no: actually
deformed, there was something in his
appearance to make one shudder. His
eyes, which were nearly hidden by unus-
uaIly large and shaggy brows, had more
of the fend in their glance than we love
to look upon. He was not naturally
man of evil disposition, for who is there
that is but his passions we're strong and
obstinate. 1t was saidthat his name was
assumed that. though the eldest born of
rich and honorable parents, he had been
thrust forth from his fathers door in in
fancy, aud owed his preservation to the
charity OF AN humble dependent. He had
early left that hospitable refuge with the
high and ardent bopes Of youth. His
means soon failed, and he was driven to
crime for subsistence. A course Of prof
Iigacy and crime are almost the necessa-
ry concomitants Of the first step from vir-
tue. He became callous, depraved care
less of existence. and hater of his kind;
cruel, remorseless and relentless fierce
and implacable in his hatred.
The crime for which he was trans
ported hither was not known. Here his
means Of existence were as ample as
those of any of his co-partners in guilt:
the chief one of which. was the produce
Of fifty acres of land. apportioned alike
to all. On hismarriage, some slight i'm
provements were visible in his person,
and he gave moro assiduous attention
to the cultivation Of his farm otherwise
he was the same cold, unsocial being as
formerly, seldom seeking the society Of
his fellow-men. Though no one could
name single act Of vice or crime COM
mitted since his arrival, yet il could not
be said that he had reformed for here
were no temptations, no inducements to
evil. 1t was long ere his wife could o.
vercome her natural dislike Of his per-
son, but she soon learned his temper, and
yelled the creeping shudder, for she feared
him, and time, the changer Of soul and
body, at length wore this dislike away,
and supplied its place with something
bordering upon love, though love it was
not. The birth of daughter came as a
connecting link between the ill-matched
pair. He had long since learned to hate,
but never till now to love and nOu, his
love, as his every other passion, was like
nothing human.
There were many in the little town
who had unconsciously offended him by
their Unsurpassed loathing; for least of
all could he abide any allusion, however
slight and unintsntional, to his personal
appearance. Such illusions never fail
cd to arouse his anger yet few were a.
ware fit; for the gall was concealed in
his own bosom and ,fostered till it turned
all there into unmingled bitterness
Among those who shared larger por-
ton of his hate were James Benton and
his young wife, for it extended alike to
male and female perhaps even more to
the latter, as their involuntary fear was
less disguised. They had met unex-
pectedIy in an evening walk SO greatly
alarmed was Mrs. Benton at his sudden
and uncouth appearance that she became
insensibIe. Benton fiercely ordered him
to 'begone,' and hastily dashed some wa
ter on her face, unconscious in his alarm
that the object Of her fears still remain
ed gazing upon her. She opened her
eyes but to catch a glimpse Of the demo-
MAC half smile, half sneer upon his hate
full features, and again with siudder be-
came insensible.
"What here yet"--exclaimed tho a.
larmed and enraged husband, "begone
with curse upon you ~
"Your curse-ha ha ha, sits lightly on
my head, young sir uttered the uncouth
man, "but mine, though not spoken
mine you shall feel when you least ex-
pect it," His face actually darkened
with rage as he sullenly obeyed the inn
patient command of"away, away sir, she
awakes." 1t was not the curse nor the
naughty tone assumed ny Benton that a
reused his anger, SO much as the terror
which his presence had caused. Sever
al other circumstances. had increased
still more his hatred of Benton as well
as others Of the settlement. They wore
marks howevertoo high for his vengeance
singly to aim ut. But there were facili-
ties to revenge within his reach which he
determined to use. The little town was
in a more prosperous condition than il
had been at any timo before. In fact,
the whole colony, had assumed quite
a thriving appearance. The Powhattan
confederacy was weakened and appar-
emily subdued. The Indians were friend
ly, and readily bartered such of their
commodities as the whites were in need
of, for implements Of war and hunting.
But under all this appearance of friend
ship, they saw with strong dislike the
rapid encroachments upon their terrific
ries. Kendall knew tho restless and dar-