The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-10-17

no rendered into words, and meekly, If moi
cbeerfully, she bore to he commanded hith'
er and thither by all who had not righ'
TO do II.
Meanwhile Aberfoy's affairs grew more
and more embarrassed, rs he seemed less
able to meet his embarrassments. From
his uncle he bad ceased to have any hoPes'
and, reckless aud half-ruined, he dehed MS
creditors, and oppressed his small scatter,
ed tenantry. For some time past ne mao
with one of those desperate and VeNa"o"s
efforts at petty economy, gone 10 speho
week here, and month there, IN houses
where, as the frank -hearted heir OF Inc
Douglas, he had been accustomed to meet
~ hearty welcome. Sometimes ms whe
accompanied him--sometimes the terms
of the invitation civlly but polntediy ex-
cluded her he was asked as a bachelor,
rs my good fellow or ito meet few
friends who were coming to shoot ) ana
from these visits, where he had been da''y
drunken. mortified, and wretched, the ,n-
ined laird used suddenly to return i" us
eomforlless home-to gloom over INC u"''
when his songs and his jokes were reckon
ed best nj the hoard, and when his pres
cnce. like Virginia's, made little ho'y-
day."
One clouJ still darker hung over him.
A,,,n, the beautiful mother Of Douglass
child. seemed at frs. willing to show him
kindness but there was sudden cool"ess'
, suddcn ceasing even to mention his name,
I s,ro,yc rumors went abroad of his
having endeayored, in n letter, to poison
a., m Z
home. by wild ana vague accusations ana
s,iIJ stranger reports were circulated I'D ms
dns.nce. ms if Antona had tempted him for
Tho eynress purpose Of being able more en-
t;rely to imbitter against him every Intent
f.clny of dislike and resentment IN the
heart of the jealou, old man. Aberfoy be-
came more suiIen; his house was poorer
h;s comforts decreased; while the heir oi
Grpne Castle grew strong and lovely
more lovely even than the favOrIte Douglas
&c Aberfoy. From time to time his sisters,
Margaret. Ellen, and Catherine, enden-
yored TO make temporary residence IN
their own homes agreeable to him. or they
asked one Of the boys at time on long
visit but dependence Is at best hi'ter
thing. and when he saw his wife universally
,,s6ked, and taking all favors rs If It was
she who conferred them; when he FELT his
popularty declining, and saw his sisters
husband scverally begin to show that they
were weary of helping one who IN no way
contributed, as formerly, to their amuse-
meu,; when he knew that his shne-sp'rlted,
noble bows, worse dressed, worse clothed,
worse fed than their cousins, were twhten
E,,. .tto nd H.
ed at for the disclosures they made "i the
poyerty of their own home when, IN short.
he observed ths impa,ience of continued
misery which exists in the hearts OF the
generality of men, and which prompts'th
most ridiculous reply, daily made to the np-
neal of the houseless beggar, Why gave
YOU a penny yesterday !"-Grgme of Aber-
foy felt that he could struggle no longer;
and he was preparing for his return home,
with the sulien determination of an animal
creeping back to his hole to die, when
Catherine's husband, (his host at the ilme)
said carelessly, rs he pushed the silver
decan,er-stand down the polished mahog-
any table, 81 wonder now, you don't let,
or rather, sell Aberfoy." Sell Aberfoy
The thing never entered his brain
struck him rs possible. Sell Aberioy
where his father, grandfather, great graud-
father, were born, and died the home he
had thought To transmit to his childrcn's
chiIdren-selI Aberfoy At first flash of
anger passed across his brow Mt the sug-
gesiion then, as he gazed around the ia
BILE at the unsympathizing faces of his stran-
ger friends, and saw only an expression OF
curiosity as to how he would receive the
proposal and Of engerness, ms he fancied,
TO determire what chance they had of be-
irg rid Of him. When he saw the coral
lips Of his own sister Margaret part as if to
pursuade him, he could maintain neither
for,iude nor anger; his nerves were
weakened by habitual excess and unccaslng
anxiety, and to the surprise and emhar-
rassment of all present the ruined laird
leaned back in his chair, and, covering his
face with his hands, he wept.
But bi'terer tears were yet to flow ut Aber-
Toy. The misery of poverty, aud strus-
Cling against petty priva,ions the dissen-
sions at home aud notifications abroad,
were to be whelmned in one awful IRENE
dial stroke. The merry lads, whose spirit
privation could not tame, whose growth |
priyation could not check-the bright eyed, |
fearless boys, so loved, SO idolized by their
father, weie to be taken from him both in
one day" Attempting to ford the ferry al
the stream by Ben Cruach, "a feat which
they had performed hundreds of times be-
fore by the aid of their Shetland pony,
they were carried down by the rapid vio-
Ience Of the waters. Far below the fond
they were found locked in each Others
arms +; and the schemes which affection or
ambition had p'iuned for future they
were destined ever 20 see, crumbled into
dust Long, long was it before the father
would believe that both-boh his sons were
gone from him in day, in an hour; de-
lirious with agony, he tossed his arms
wildly in the air sboutinp alternately the