The herald., 1837-04-07

the prospect of death The watch passed close by
him, but he remained unob5erv:d-and after waiting
till the sound of footsteps had died away in the dis
tance he cautiously descended and stood beneath the
gloomy arch that forms the landing place from the
river.
The tide was in, and the water flowed al his feet
The rain had ceased, and all was for the moment,
still and quiet-so quiet that the slightest sound on
the opposite bank, even the ripping of the water
against the ba ges that moored there, dis
tincty audible 10 his The stream stole langudly
and sugglshly on Strange and fastas,lc forms rose
to the surface and beckoned him 10 approach-dark
cleaning eyes peered from the water, and seemed to
mock his hesitation; while hollow murmurs from
behind urged hlrs onwards. He rereated a few
PAGES TOOK short run, desperate leap, and plunged
INTO the river.
Not five seconds had passed when he rose to the
waters surface ; but what change had taken place
IN that short time in all his thoughts and feelings !
Lie, HE in any form, poverty, misery, starvation
anything but death! He fought and struggled with
the water that closed over his head and screamed in
agones Of terror. The curse of his own son rang in
his ears The shore, but one foot of dry ground-he
could almost touch the step. One hands breadth
nearer and he saved; but the tide bore him on
ward under the dark arches Of the bridge and he sank
to the bottom,
Again he rose and struggled for life; for one in
stant one brief instant the buildings the river $
banks, the lights on the bridge through which the
current had borne him. the black water the fast flying
clouds, distinctly visible; once more he SUNK
and once again he rose, bright flames of fire shot up
from the earth 10 heaven, and reeled before his eyes,
while the water Numbered in his ears and stunned
him with its furious roar-'Sketch by Boz.
-
ASEcDoTE OF THE SPANISH Ex-MiNIsrER IsTURIz
Don Tomaso Istarz, the ex-Mnister of the Queen
of Spain, who on the constitution of 1912 being pro-
claimed was obliged to fly for his life to Lisbon, ap
pears to have undergone many Vicsstudes of fortune
during the peninsular he a merchant at
Cadiz, and was elected one of the lunta during the
memorable seige by Soult Having a dash of the
republican in his character he moved TO the Cortes in
May 1916 that the beloved Ferdinand should be de-
clared unworthy to reign should he refuse to swear
TO and accept the constitution of 1872. On the return
of Ferdinand he was compelled 10 go into exile. He
repaired TO London where many OF his companions
starving on the scanty allowance of l5s per
month. The following anecdote is told of him
He was one day walking near the Royal Exchange
during the drawing of the lottery in 1916 and feeling
inclination sport 20, went into the Office of Mar
tin & Co, Cornhll, where referring to his pocket
book, he counted the number ofdays that had elapsed
from his frovidental escape from Madrid, and the
tender mereies prepared for hm by the beloved Fer
dinand he found them to amount TO 26 and then de-
manded to buy that ticket but it nearly half an
hour before il could be obtained and only after strict
search amongst the lottery Offices in the CITY, At
length half ticket Of No. 26l was procured at o.
clock, and at FIVE it was drawn prize Of 4000OL-
the only exhibited to that amount in England
The lucky Don lay down tina, night 20 eOoi. richer
than he had rsen.-Btackeood Magasinc