Piney Woods planter and Amite union literary reflector. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1838-1838, 1838-03-03

over the bannisters Tor all your in'0iii-
gonce." IL.
took the candle, and mounted after him
three fights of stairs. He stopped at the
landing, and, pointing to a door at the ex-
tremity of the entry renewed his caution,
| proceeded however, and raped boldly
on the pannel. A gruff"Come ln' was
the immediate answer; and opening the
door, walked up to the bed, and touched
nv hat as courteously as | knew how.
"Have | the honor of addressing Captain
ThompsonW
AS | asked the question, | raised the
candle, and got fair look at the premises:
On bachelors bed, narrow and well
tucked up, lay a man of the heaviest
frame, whiskercd to the eyes, and with Il
fist as il Law doubled on the covcrlld like
the end of the club of Hercules. A fiery
lock of hair, redder than his face Il feel as
if was using hyperbole) struggled out
from black silk handkerchief twisted
tightly round his head, and his nose and
mouth and chin, masses Of solid purple,
might have been, for delicacy of outline,
hewn with broad axe from mahogany
log. He looked at me just about as long
as have been writing this description be-
fore he answered my question.
"What do you want?" he bolted at last
as if the words were forced out OF MS
mouth with catapult
81 am sorry to disturb you, Sir, bus
butt took a backward position as !
approached the crisis Of my sentence, and
stood prepared TO run) Mrs. Thomns"11
and little John ut The door---aild
-and--"
A loud laugh from the landlord in the
entry cut off the sequel Of my explana-
ton, and completed my dismay. | looked
at the Captains fist, and stole a glance
over my shoulder to See if the door was
open; and then, the thought of Mrs.
Thompson in tears shamed my courage
back again, and | recovered my first posi-
ton. The Captain raised himself slowly
upon his elbow, and lowering his shaggy
eyebrows till they met his whiskers, fixed
his eyes upon me and prepared to speak II
he had levclled two pistols at me should
have been less frightened.
"I'll tell youwhat, Mr.. Milk-and-water,"
said he, in voice as deliberate and decided
as the fall Of a sledge hammer, Il was a
slender student in those days, and paler
than usual of course,) ''I'll tell you what
if you are not out Of this room in two mi
nutcs with your "Mrs. Thompson and 1T
tle ,J6hn.n i'll slam YOU through that WIN
dow--ifI don't, - me-"
The threat was definite, doubted mel
tber his inclination nor his power to keep
it. Ny heart was grieyed for Mrs lhomp-
son; but If was thrown down to her from
fourth-storv window, | reflected that |
should probably be in no situation to ex-
press my sympathy. 1t was philosophy to
retreat. | babe the Captain good night
in gentlest tone; and as | turned away
with some alacrity, he grasped glass of
brandy and water that stood on the light
stand, and muttering "Mrs. Thompson and
little John, between his teeth, drank 1t at
a gulph. AS passed through the door the
tumbler whizzed past my head like a
shot, and shivered to atoms on the en-
try wall.
found "Mrs Thompson and little John"
in very moving state of unhappiness.
They were decidedly on my hands, shat
was clear. If it had been at any other
hour, would have taken them home till
tho mystery could be cleared up; but to ar
rive from college Unexpectedly at mid
night with woman and child thought
it highly improbable that my motives
would be appreciated.
81 say, Sir" said the driver, as | stood
bordering the case, "had'nt you better take
her to the stage-house and leave the mat
ter till morning.
1t was sensible advice, and | got in and
comforted Mrs. Thompson as we drove to
Hanover Street
The first person that appeared Oh the
step Of the tavern door was GuotheT Cap
tain Thompson, stout, handsome fellow,
who took "Mrs. Thompson and little john
into his arms at one clasp, and kissed them
AS one might be supposed to do after a
three years. voyage.
Iheard in the course of day or two,
hat rough old sea captain at the MARI
borough, who had been there, off and on,
or thirty years, and had always sworn
limsof bachelor, had been awaked at
midnight by the arrival of a wife and
,hild whom he had deserted in some for
ign port, and had gone to sea very sud
Ienly. The last part of the communica-
ion was great relief to my mind.