Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1837-09-22

er room open--,ben stealthy steps across il
then the door of the very room he was in
was softly opened, and two men, one of whom
was the host and the other bis son. appear.
ed on It's threshold, Leave the light where
II is" whispered the host, "or il NAV disturb
him and give us trouble" "There Is no fear
of that" said the young man. in a wbisner.
we are two to one; be has nothing but
little knife about him, he is dead asleep.
tool hear how he shores" "Do my bid
ding" said the old man sternly; would YOU
wake him and rouse the nciphborbood with
his screemsT
AS Il was the horror stricken dealer, IN.
der the bed. could scarcely suppress
shrek, but he saw that the son left the Iip hi
IN the ouier-room, and then pulling the door
partially after them TO screen the rays of the
lamp from the bed, he saw the two murder.
ers glide TO the bedside, and then heard
rushing motion asof arms descending on The
bedclothes, and kissing. and then graf
ing sound, that turned his soul sick, for he
knew u game from knives or daggers pene.
tratlng TO the heart or vitals of human be.
ing like himself and only few inches u
boye his own body. This was followed by
one sudden and violent start on the bed, ac-
companied by a moan. Then the bed which
was low one, was bent by an increase of
weight. caused BY one or both the murder.
ers throwing themselves upon il, until il
pressed on the body of the traveller. There
was an awful silence for a moment or two,
and the hos, said, He is finished have
cut him across the throat take the money.
saw him put il under his bolster" Il
have it, here j, is" said the son "a purse
and pockel'book." The traveller was then
relieved from the weight that oppressed him
TO sutiocation, and the assassins, who seemed
10 trembe as they went. ran out of the room,
took the light, and disappeared altogether
from the apartment No sooner were they
fairly gone, than the poor dealer crawled
from under the bed. took one desperate leap,
and escaped through the liule window by
which he had seen enter the unfortunate
wretch who had evidently been murdered in
his stead. He ran with all his speed into
the town. where he told his horrid story 10
the night-watch. The night-watch conduct
ed him 10 the burgomaster, who was soon
aroused rom his sleep and acquainted with
all that had happened. Ia less than half
an hour from the time Of his escape from ii,
the horse dealer was again at the murder
Gus inn with magistrate and a strong force
watch Who had al san tbssern nd ID The sFsst
est silence. In the house all seemed as sill
as death, but as the party went round 10 the
stables, they heard noise; cautioning the
rest to surround the inn and the out-houses,
the magistrate with the traveller and some
half dozen armed men, ran to the stable
door; this they opened and found within, the
host and his son digging grave. The first
figure that met the eye Of the murderers
was that Of the traveller The effect OF this
on their guilty souls was too much to be
borne; they shrieked and threw themselves
on the ground, and though they were imme-
diately seized by hard gripping hands Of re-
al flesh and blood. and heard the voices OF
the magistrate and their friends and neigh.
bors denouncing them as murderers it was
some minutes ere they could believe that the
figure OF the traveller that stood among
them was other than spirit 1t was the
harder villain, the father who on hearing
the Strangers voice continuing in conversa
ton with the magistrate first gained suffi-
cient command over himself toraise his face
from the earth he saw the stranger still
pale and haggard, bat evidently unhun
The murderer's head spun round confus.
eddy. but al length rising, he said 10 those
who held him. LET me see that stranger
nearer; lei me touch him--only let me
touch him r' The poor householder drew
back in horror and disgust. "You may sat
isfy him in this" said the magistrate, "he is
unarmed and unnerved, and we are here TO
prevent his doing you HARM On this the
traveller let the host approach, and pass his
hand over his person, which when he had
done, the villain exclaimed, II am no muir
derer who says | am murderer p
THAT will be seen anon" said The traveller,
who led the way to the detached apartment,
followed by the magistrate, by the two pris
oners and all the party which had collected
in the stable on heating what had passed
there. Both father and son walked with
considerable confidence into the ROOM but
when they saw by the lamps the nighl-watch
and others held over il, that there was a
body covered with blood lying on the bed,
they cried out, "How is this who is this I"
and rushed together to the bedside. The
lights were lowered their rays fell upon
the ghasliy face and bleeding throat of a
young man. At the sight, the younger Of
The murderers turned his head and swooned
10 silence; but the father uttering shrek
so loud, so awful, that one of the eternally
damned alone might equal its effect threw
himself on the bed and on the gashed and
bloody body, and murmpring in his throat,
my sonl | have killed mine own son !"
also found temporary relief from the hor,
rors Of his siinaflon In insansihillu The