Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-11-17
CHARLES BRANDON.
..rruth is stranse--stranser than fiction.''


nv friend: sitting in the window fost IN
revere, and gazing stessly at the edtyine
waves Of a November fog, which had Tor houi
been clinging to the bosom Of our common nloil-
er, like rernofse TO the heart Of Il DIVING SINNER
DO YOU remember Charles Brandon" NV day
dream, was dispeed, and with that name IN
heard for years, came thronging TO my near
/ bright visions of early days.
( The crnen fields Of ch ldhood glowed around
mo. and mid the dear familiar faces OF irichdS
/ long departed that seemed to smile once more
I in mine, flashed again with all lis wonteo iFe'
the soul-spea.Sing eve Of the il-sarred Brandon
| ! sec him now Just as he looked when with MS
Young orphan sister he frs. became the resident
of our village His handsome features wore me
high stamp of intellect, and his dark brown haif
turned gracefully from broad and polished lore
head His complexion was clear. though dafh,
md his keen hazel eye. shining at one moment
with surprising and almost fearful brightness,
then unexpectedlv assuming expression OF al
Turing seftness. once the tnresisuhg
heart. His presence often inspired KIM ..
awe in others, for which they vanity endeaVored
to account and, and anon, a sarcastic smile
PLAYED about his face, and when his pain was
crossed. the very essence OF pride and scorn was
visible IN the contemptuous smile which wreathed
his curling lip Asa successful lawyer, his name
spread far and wide, and each day graced MS
brow with some new laurel. Possessing great
sauvitv of manners among has trends he heid Inc
rank of a general tavorite.
And his sister-with what reverence OF aztec
ton did she bow to this, tho guardian spirit oil
her OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES no law but his opin-
ion and seeking higher reward than his APP
proving smile. How careful we should be OF the
influence exert on others, and doubiy eau
tous should those be on whom God has bestowed
a power of Intellect to sway at will their fellow
Brandon was a sceptic and the writings of
Rousseau.
the companions of his leisure hours. Ills NOR
al character, however, stood taIr, and Tor acts Oh
of disintereste ed benevclencc one might win a
brighter name. But what avaIis the semblancc OF
purity. when the heart is corrupt; the ven soon
falls and the character appears in all its dcforni-
itv.
Twas midnight, and Caroline Brandon sat a
lone anxiouslv listening for the coming footsteps
of her brother. The clock struck two, her heart
already oppressed with strange iorebodlngs, died
within her. She knew cause Tor his delay,
and his absence mt such an hour, WIS thing too
unusual to leave it in her power to await the Is
sue calmly. 1t was sad TO mark the mental an
guish that betrayed itself in the quick changes OF
that lovely countenance. Why Is 1t that the
Young heart must he thus torn with either the
real or imag,naEy dan ,r n and the sna,king
ustre of the eve be GImmed, with SO often watch
ing the sinking star, which guides the desiinIes
IF those who lover But so 1T is, and although the
next morning saw Charles Brandon at the side
Of his sister, apparently as gay as over, still the
half suppressed SIGH, the flushed brow, the absent
thoughts and The unhidden horror, which often +
.onvulsed him, revealed to the keen eye
Of affection, mind but i'll mt ease. From that
Law cloud rested on the spirit of Caroline Bran
lon, the subsequent burst of which was like the
iohenno's fash that levels the pride OF the for
st. Fearful to her was the interval which now
,nsued. Anxiety, apprehcnsion,and dread shook
hole fram d InfprrOUatc
lot-she dare not i
At length the village courthouse was filed
Every countenance told that Of terrible
interest was Fastening The prisoner was
nnounced. a thrill of anxiety from heart to
eart throughout the crowded audience, and when
Charles Brandon took his place at the bar,his e.
ect mien, his dignfed step, and the clear mar
lie paleness of his prov, which the gay breezes
heaven had not famed for months, with the
addened smile which fingered about his features
Weakened in every heart sympathy strong be- {
ond expression, and inspired a hope next to as 7
urance, that in his bosom guilt had no hiding
lace. Had that heart been unfolded to them as a
page to read they would have learned that at P
nat very moment, while he stood thus before t
,em. remorse was busy there, and his soul was n
rithinc under the horrors of guilt--the dread OF
levtabe disgrace--and the fastening certainty .
his DOOM The trial proceeded with the usual e
rms, and after a laborious, patient, and thrilling 1
vestiga ton, The counsel on either side poured II
urth "a torrent of burning eloquence. The : :
ldge solemn!y and fcelingy charged the jury IL
be assembly dispersed and the jury retlred,with u
e fate of fellow mortal pending IN their de- p
sion. As the that night went down In the as
est mehought his last beams shone sadly forth al
conscious of the fatal verdict 10 be determined bi
ID pronounced, he again Illuminated with
ascending rays, the cold realities ofearth. eo
Twilight had scarcely disappeared, when the sc
slant light Of the court but too plainly told SC
at the die was cast. and the destiny Of Charles 81
andon rreyocablv fixed. Again tho prisoner pa
is led forth. and again he appeared with the M
NE proud air that marked his first entry. Calm co
IS and sadness had alike fed from his features m
d in their place sat firm determination and I'M an
allied scorn. Yet those who knew him could LEI
II read in that quick and restless eve, Il tear plt
the agoniznr suspense which then weigh Pr
down his heart, ana thrilling wildly his ne
-nlng brain. ar
Al that moment he would have willingly offered no
his stained life Il sacraficc the altar ofrlr vo
and principle. But the decisions of Justice bic
i'd no. be stayed. deaih-like stiffness gn- he
throughout the anxious multitude-,he YER
the fatal and appalling verde, was declar Ia
and Charles Brandon stood forth as a murder sa
er,
Brandon had played once-t,cice-his funds sal
re ex.iausted-tarsce-his sister was beggard- thi
i I +