The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-06-12


terribly clear shrek of mortal agony
mingling with the sulen crash which
told they had reached their grave at the
bottom.
The frenzy again came upon me
lost all thought, all fear, regardless of
the tremendous height, swung myself
down by bush and stone, getting footing
aud holding which in no other circum-
stances could have found or avaIed
myself of heard confused murmer
of voices above me, The gradual dimn-
ishment of which was the only index of
TO my progress and at length, bruised
and breathless, bu. strong with fever and
madness, reached the bottom.
At first could discern nothing; my
eve was boodshot and dim-I was diz-
Nv too, and sick and faint; for the first
exciiation had begun to wear away. At
last ] saw something dark mingled with
white it grew palmer and palmer, like
the phantasmagorical sOene of magic
lantern; my sight gradually regained its
won,ed power-my reason and consci.
BUSINESS returned. and ] saw what will
haunt me till the spirit hath parted with
the hesh--even longer it may be.
1t was very terrible to be sitting there
in that wild fastaess beside the dead,
who but minutes-moments ay, had been
rioting IN life, and health, and joy--and
l had caused the change but for me,
they still had been tenants of this glad
and sunny earth, had still felt the bles-
sed fres hness of the western breeze
which now whirIed the wiihered oak
leaves around their unconscious forms.
The solitude was awful. have been in
the wild battle, where death held his
bloodiest carnival--i have been at sea
when the masts were sprung, and the
breakers ahead were already baptising
the bows of the devoted ship,--and i
have been in a city whose walls were
crumbling, and whose palaces were sim
king under the tornado and earthquake;
at that moment would have rushed
into the whole of these united, if that
could be, as blessed refuge from the
calm, still quiet of death and desolation
which that lonely gulf now presented to
my mind.
Helen's face, by some chance, was
untouched, unmutilated I; her head rest
ing on the side of the horse, she seemed
as If peacefully gazing at.me, as she
was wont in bygone years, when repos-
ing with me on the sunny side of some
green gowan-decked Hill. / could not
believe that what had happened, was
real--I spoke to her, grasped her hand
vet warm with recent life, laughed, l
uphraided her for cold apathy and neg
lect. "What not one word. Helen,
after our long absence Is this kind ?
Ills but to try, my love--speak, Helen.
Speak but one word to say that you are
still my own little blackhaired laughing
Helen" My eye glanced on the fear
fully matilated form of my brotlier-the
damning reality at once pressed up on
my brain, for an instant felt torments
to which the severest bodily agony would
be pleasure and ease, but madness, 'bles-
sei madness came to my relief; and l
awoke, as after long and troubled aud
restless sleep, in the very room where l
had slept when child.
A strange fancy struck me l thought
for moment that was still boy, that
my residence in India, the fearful crag,
and the lapse of fifteen long years, were
but the visionary creations of the erratic
dream of single night; and almost
expected to hear the laughing voice of
Helen We're outside of my chamber door,
chiding me for lying so long a-bed when
the sun had risen two hours before, and
the tame stock-doves would be wearying
for their accustomed food.
Two old withered hags, sick-nurses !
presume, sat on each side Of my couch,
in earnest converse, and gently raised
myself on my elbow to listen. sin
trnth," said one, "'tis an awful story,
It's lucky the old man died before he
knew it was his son." "What strange
fancies he had, to be sure," quoth the
other; ''because the bride was timer
some, aud did not like riding a-horse-
back, he must needs have the bridemaid
to take her place well, well, old folks
will have their fancies the laird was e.
yer particular in keeping up the tricks of
the family" / could hear no more
!" She was true then !" l yelled, and
sunk back stunned and senseless, like
one stricken by million of huge thun-
derbolts.
~. y ~
l found myself naked and chained in
a dungeon of mad.house it was cold
piercing cold the night was mild and
stormy, high hoarse-voiced wind shook
the dark tall trees, which grew around
the window, and their shadows, reflected
hy the bright moonlight, danced and
fickered on the roof and walls of my
cell like demons laughing at me, and