Piney Woods planter. (Liberty, Mi. [i.e. Miss.]) 1838-1840, 1839-03-02

Ivy sigh. At that moment, flash, I'M
like that Of lightning, at the edge OF
the woods, directly down the road, and
a report, as of a pistol, alarmed her;
she threw open the window again; all
was silent-then a faint voice seemed
crying in the wood; she listened, and
thought she gathered the sound of
''muder r'-but the thunder rolled a
gain, and the rcd lightning flashed an
grily--and a bowling wind rose up and
moancd most dishially along the forest.
She fastened down the sash; and threw
herself beside her sleeping infants on
the bed; clasping them closely to her
bosom, while her heart beat most vio-
lently, and her whole frame trembled
with terror.
A brief space elapsed, and the hur-
ried tread of a horse was heard coming
up the road; the gate creakcd on its
hinges; she heard De Lancy's voice,
"wo, wo, Bob, let me get off; this is
bad business; we arc both crazy, wo,
wo, Bob; you don't smell the blood
now; Lord, how the lightning flashes!
there's blood on my arm yet; wo, wo."
The horse was led away to the stable;
she heard the door shut, and the key
turn, and presently Delaney raped at
the door. She flew to open it, and her
husband entered with wild and agi-
tated air, pale and besmeared withmire
and blood.
sin the name of heaven CRED Ma
ry, S'what is this?" Only trihe, wo-
man; Bob threw me, and my nose bled
a little" She feared to intcrrogate
him further, for his ruhled and morosc
humour was forbidding; she pressed
him to partake Of the supper she had
kept ready for him, and endeayourcd
to soothe, by kindness and attention,
the gloomy mood in which she found
him. He refused to cat, however, and
after sitting with his hand clenched
some moments on his forehead, he rose,
took heavy draught of handy, and
threw himsclfon the bed.
Mary laid down beside him, but not
to sleep, or ifa momentary doze came
over her, her waking fancy pictured
to her restless and anxious mind the
feverish dreams Of a disordercd brain.
She rose as the FIRST glimmcring ofday
broke upon the green valley, and walk
ed out to the spring to bathe her burn
ing brow in the cool clear waters of
the flowing brook. She had been there
but few moments, before two men
rode rapidly up the road, and entered
the gateway ,she fastened to the house,
and they entered with her, inquiring
for Mr.. De Lancy, and seeming in too
much haste to wait even the common
forms of ciyility.
De Lancy lay, still asleep, and when
they rudely reused him, and laid their
hands upon him, he sprung up in
kind of frenzy-"What! so soon?" cri-
ed he, "Why, who told you ! killed
hima' otis enough" said one of them
-''who asked you to accuse yourself!
how came you to know he was killed.
Come, we must search YOU" De Ian
cy stood aghast; in the perturbation Of
the moment he had betrayed himself
he had been taken unpreparcd; and,
as they drew from his pockets the mon [
ey and watch Of the murdered man, he !
cxcessiycly.-''Ah, the Devil
has done it for me at last" said he, !
throwing wishful glance at his two !
sweet infants as they laid smiling in /,
their infant slumbers on the bed, lock- !
cd in each others arms; and then to- !
wards his wife, who, in an agony ofdes- a
pair, at this sudden burst Of over wheIm- i
ing misfortune Of herself and children, 1
and Of ignominy and shame on him v
who was dear to her as her hearts I
blood, vile and dis honoured as he stood I
before her on that fatal morning, stood b
pale and fixed as cold statue by the 9
bedside. II have ruined you all, said
be. "But he whom / slew, first ruined !
me; he won thousand dollars from me :
last night; ] killed him; / got my mon h
cy back, and now my life is forfeited. d
Oh! why was | linked with this infer I,
nal spirit? Gambling has ruined me, n
and those whose fortunes were bound c
up in mine, forever; oh, Mary! my poorl ?
wife; my poor dear babes" He raved, !
and ravcd, but they hurried him away; II
and bound his manly arms with a thick a
cord, and led him between their horses :
from his beautiful cottage home. i
They had not gone far before they a
heard distracted voice behind them; v
Dc Lancy's wife was following; her a
hair hanging about her shoulders; hcr' d