Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-09-04

nltolut Oh SlOOiIlJ evening III OClUUeis 81
in pensve mood, bis left elbow resting
on his knee and his forehead on the palm
Of bis hand, he muttered to himself in
low and broken accents: "God have mer.
cy on my sinful soul. Why has heaven
doomed me to the misery Of being the
murderer of my only sister? would
THAT were -"
"Hark!' said his wife, as she approach
ed from an inner apartment, "heard you
that hollow moan, as OF some one in ago
InyY
"Tis nought," replied he, " but Ihe
wheeling breath of expiring autumn, has
tening to bury its whitening face in the icy
mantle of winter; or the lowing of the
latiening herds in the adjacent pasture
grounds"
''List! there it is again." she resumed,
going towards the door, ''it seems to pro-
coed in the direction of the lane leading
from the road. fear it must be some
way-worn traveller pershing for want, or
Iwrithing, perhaps, nnder the assassin's
dagger. I'll see at all events"
Stay said he starting from his chair,
'there seems something unearthly in the
sound; it must be the troubled ghost of
Annette coming to haunt me, for surely
no mortal ever uttered such a hideous
groan, as that which now assaied my ear.
But be it unearlhly or not, must ascer-
tain the cause" So saying, he sailed
forth, rifle in hand.
"Murder! help! helpr' cried voice
near the extremity of the lane; when
running with his utmost speed, he beheld
by the glimmer of the rising moon, a man
lying IN the ground and firmly grasping
the leg Of another, who was struggling
TO make his escape; but finding bis exer-
tions to extricate himself insufficient, he
flashed his pistol in the face Of him who
held him, and with desperate effort dis
engaging himself, ran swiftly towards the
road, while the cottager followed in close
pursuit. But the pursued perceived him
gaming on him, suddenly turned round
and fred a second pistol, the ball Of
which whizzed harmessly by his ear.
'.My turn next" cried the cottagcr
dropping on one knee and dwelling his
Ipiece, ''stand or you speed to eternity"
CRY your skill, my hearty" was the
reply, as he unremittingly pursued his
course. 1t was bis last. for the next mo-
ment the ball pierced his back below the
left shoulder, passed through his heart
and he fell a breathlcss corpse.
"Well done!" exclaimed the man be-
hind, as he saw him tumble to the ground
''thou hast saved me ten thousand dollars
by thy timely arrival, of which a 1.-THE
shall be thine for the valorous spirit thou
hast displayed, and more anon, should cir
cumstances prove propltlous, as my specu-
IatIons have led me to anticipate"
"Thanks, friend, for your gratitude;
bat as have done for you no more than
should consider it the duty of another
to do for me in similar situation, shall
ACCEPT of no compensation: the conscious
ness of having saved the life of fellow
being, by Kidding the world Of william,
is of itself a sufficient reward; whence
come YOUR
"From Virginia and destined for Chill
lcothc. the place of my residence. Pro-
ceediug to your house to seek lodging for
the night, was assailed by that robher,
who springingirom his ambush, stopped my
horse and demanded my money; and on
my hesitating to surrender it, stabbed me
IN the side with dagger, which, as fell
to the ground, broke in two; then placing
his knee on my breast, he took from ne
my pocket hook, with which he was about
to escape, when you fortunately came to
my assistance"
Having returned the pocket book, the
Icottager with the assistance Of his wife,
helped him to the house, and extracting
the broken blade with pair of pincers,
dressed the wound as well as circumstan-
ces would admit. A few days were suf
hclent TO restore him to convalescence,
when amusing himself with examining the
various species of flowers in the garden,
his eyes fell on Il grave, decorated with
taste, and surrounded with evergreens.-
tie approached, and observing the board
which indicated the head, read in sub
dued but sympathetic tone, "PooR AN
NErTE." He appeared for moment alb
sorbed in thought, then looking round, in
CURED of his host, whom he saw busiIy
employed at a small distance, "Who was
his Annette, whose humble epitaph marks
the site of her lowly sepulchre?'
"Alas" replied he, with a deep sigh,
my Inflated sister, whom the destinies
deCreed to die hy nv own hand,n