South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1835-09-26
SEPTEMBER %, 1895.

| What was then 10 store for mef So /
closed my ears, shut my heart to the
starving condition of Amanda, and
became-a brute againl =
1t was in the evening of midsum.
mer cloudy day, thar sailed from my
boarding hoyeI 10 learn the fate of my
last ticket. The woman with whom
| boarded was clamorous for payment.
That night | told her respected to re-
alize something. This was my last
ticket, to obtain which had to dispose
Of Bible, which belonged to my late
wife, my Amanda, and which was the
dying gift of her mother. II was the
last thing held which was once hers.
! Oae by one had disposed of what
fsw things were left at her decease, to
crafty nv passion for drinking and
/! gambling. had lost all compunc-
tions Of shame. My wife had been
dead for two years. During her life,
for her sake, ] was not entirely shun-
ned for her sake some respect was
shown me. But when she was taken
away, and when her friends-for
friends l had none-saw that | did
not reform, they abandoned me to my
fate, aud | truly became an out-cast :
an outcast from the society Of the vir-
tuous. ! blame none, the fault alone
was mine. | was advised, admonish-
ed, and urged by all that was dear in
life, by the prayer Of my dying Aman-
da, by the hopes and fears Of an unen-
ding eternity OF bliss or woe, to re.
strain my vicious propensities, and to
walk in the path of upright virtue.
But turned deaf ear; | would mol
hear | laughed them to scorn. So
they left me to my stubbornness.
The ticket I now had was to seal
my fate.-I had tasted more than a
day, to obtain the means to purchase it;
nay, even stin.ed my propensity to
drink, that the stronger and more fen.
dish passion Of gambling might be
gratifed. Well, I went to the lottery
Office, and called for the prize list. At
glance saw my hopes were frustrat-
ed and crushing the list convulsiveIy
10 my hand, mattered deep oath,
and walked out of the Office. That
ticket indeed sealed my fate. The
world owes me living, and living l
~ IN t..--.s- =, 8
away with a despairing heart, and
walked up the street. My mind was
suddenly made up to strong purpose.
"There is money" said between my
teeth, as sauntered along, meditating
some desperate deed. | knew not the
time Of night /; it was late, however, for
the fainlest glimmerings of a candle
could not be seen, when a man brushed
by me. AS he passed | saw it was the
vender of the tickets-tbe man who
sold me the first and last ticket the
man to whom 1 had paid dollar after
dollar until all was gone. AS he had
a truck 10 his hand, the thought pre-
scented itself, that as he had received
from me, even 10 the last farthing, l
should ba jas.;6abie in compelling him
to return at least part-l should, by
all means, make him give me enough
to relieve my misery, to keep me from
starving. Such were my Inconsistent
cogi:ations, as slowly followed after
him.-Before reaching his home he
had to pass over lonely space where
there were no houses, and at that time
as silent as eternity. He had gone o.
yer about half this space, when step.
ped quickly and warily behind him
| and grasping with one hand his collar
and with the other the trunk, in g
gruf' tone demanded his money. The
words was scarcely uttered, when
vas grappled by the throat. He was
a strong man, and had dangerou:
hold !! put forth all my strength tc
shake of his grasp, at the same tins
striking him in the face and breast
but without avail, his hold was firm
Finding that something must be done
for it was with the greatest difficulty
could breathe, | clasped him around
the waist, and giving sudden jerk, We
both fell fell underneath, and he hac
me in his power. l struggledia vain to
sxtricate myself. He still held me by
the throat, and begun to call aloud for
assistance. What was to be done 2
had a jack knife 10 my pocket, my left
hand was free; il was the work of a
moment, the hot blood spirited full in
my face. His hold relaxed, and Civ
ing terrible groan, he rolled on the
ground in the agony of death. sprang
upon my feet. and snatched the trunk ;
as moved away 10 the deep gloom Of
night, the death rattle in the throat Of