Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-25

~ f00r Chll0, Sato the nOuSckeepeH, '" W
not wonder he takes his fathers death SO to heart,
for the old man doated on the very ground he
trod upon Now the holy saints have mercy up
on u.s." exclaimed she, making the sign Of the
cross, as she caught sight Of the horrible and dis
torted face Of the deceased.
Francis passed the three following DAYS in the
alternate stupor and excitement Of ope to whom
crime is new, and who is nevertheless resolved
on its commission. On the evening Of the fourth
he heard noise in the room where the corpse
lay, and again the dog began his loud and dole
full howl. He entered the apartment and the
two first men he saw were strangers. dressed in
black, with faces of soiemnity; they were the en-.
|dertakers; while third in canvass apron, and
square paper cap, was beginning to screw down
the coffin, and while so doing was carelessly TEL
ling them how a grocer's shop. his next door
neighbours, had been entered during the night,
and the till robbed.
s.You will leave the coffin unscrewed until to-
morrow" said the heir. The man bowed, asked
the usual English question. which suits all occa-
sions. OF " something to drink, sir!" and then
left Young Saville to his meditatons. Strange
images Of death and pleasure mingled together,
now il was glorious banquet, now the gloomy
silence Of church yard; now bright and beau,i.
full faces seemed to fill the air, then by sudden
transition they became the cadaverous relics OF
the charnel house. Some clock in the neishbor
hood struck the hour, it was too faint tor Francis
to hear it distinctly, but it reused him; he turn
ed towards the little time piece, there the golden
cupid sat moioness. the hands stood still, 1t had
not been wound up; the deep silence around told
how late it was; the fire was burning dead-the
candles were dark in their large unsnuftd wicks,
and strange shadows, gigantic in their proper.
tons, fitted round the room
Fool that am to be haunted by vain phan.
tasy. MY father studied overmuch--his last
words might be but the insane rawlings Of mind
will kno" the truth"
Again his youthful features hardened with the
gladistorial expression of one grown old in crime
and cruelty Forth he went. and returned with
the Indian casket; ne drew table towards the
coffin, placed two candles upon 1t, and raised the
lid; he started, some one touched linn; it was on
ly the little black terrier licking his hand. aud
gazing up in his face with look almost human
in its affectionate earnestnsss. Francis put back
the shroud, and then turned hastily away, sick
and faint at the CHASTITY sight. The work of cor
ruption had began, and the yellow and livid
streaks awoke even more disgust than horror. -
But an evil purpose is ever strong; he carefully
opened the phial, and with steady hand, let one
drop TALL on the eve of the corpse. lie closed
the bottle, replaced il in the ca>ket, and then,
but not till then, locke for ITS effect. The eye,
large, melancholy, and IF that deep violet blue,
which only belongs to early childhood, as If it
were TOO pure and too heavenly for duration on
earth, had opened, and. full of life and beauty,
was gazing tenderIy upon him. A delicious per.
fume filled the air; ali! the old man was right
Others had sought the secret Of life in the grave.
and the charnel house; he had SOU hi it amid The
warm and genial influences of nature. he had
watched the invigoral,ng sap bringing hack fresh
ness to the forest tree; he had marked the subtle
spring awakening the dead root aud flower into
essence Of thousand existences was
in that fragile crystal. The eye now turned anx
iousy towards the casket, then, with mute eo
quence, towards the son; it gazed upon him so
pi,eously, he saw himself mrrored in the large
clear pupil; it seemed to implore, to persuade,
aud, at last, the long soft lash gls,ened. and
tears, warm, bright tears, rolled down the lvid
cheek. Francis sat and watched with cruel sa.
tisfaction; aterribIe expression Of rage kindled
the eye, like fire, then dilated with horror, and
giared terribly with despair. Francis shrank
from the fixed and stony gaze-but his very ter
rOr was selfish.
his mind. He seized fold Of the grave clothes,
StuSucu tuC SJC ih tuc SOShCts anu eiOSco pC fiu
of the coffin. A yell of agony rose upon the ST.
lent night. Francis was about to smi,e the howl
ing dog. when he saw that it lay dead at his feet.
He hurried with his precious casket from the
chamber. which he never entered again ~. Years
have passed away. and the once gay and hand
some Francis Saville is a grey and decrepd old
man, with constitution broken by excess But
the shrewd man has been careful in his calcua-
tions: he knew how selfish early indulgence and
worldly knowledge had made himself, and he had
resolved that so his children should not be cor.
rupted; he had two, boy and girl, who had
been brought up in. the strictest ignorance and
secusion, and in the severcst practices of the
Catholic faith He we'll knew that fear is
stronger bond than love, and his children trem.
bled in the presence Of their father, whom their
mothers latest words had yet enjoined them to
cherish. Still the feeling of dutiful affection is
strong in the youthful heart, though Mr.. SavIIe
resolved not 10 tempt it, by one hint Of his pre-.
cious secret.
{" cannot bear to look in the glass;" exclaim.
Oh NJ Cayilla ha nal