Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-12-10
VOLUME vI.::::::::::::NUMBER 70.

AT times, however, she led them anxious
~ in the direction of their uncle's. She
walked up and down the street before his
door with her children, and sometimes lift
ed up her veil as if to try whether her eye
could pierce through walls as hard as |
the misers heart, or windows barred like
his coffers-then glancing on her children's
costly dress, while her eye darted far into |
futurity, she sighed and returned slowly
home. This state of suspense was soon
to be terminated.
'The priest, Guzman's c6nfessor, visit
ed them often first in quality of almoner
or agent of his bounty, which was am
ply and punctually bestowed through
his hand and secondly, lin quality, of
protested chess player, at which game he
had met even in Spain, no antagonist like
Welberg. He also felt an interest in the
family and their fortunes, which, though
his orthodoxy disavowed, his heart could
not forbear to acknowledges the good
priest compromised matters by playing
chess with the father, and praying for
the conversion of his family Oh his return
to Guzman's house. 1t was while enga-
ged in the former exercise, that message
| arrived to summon him on the instant
home--the priest left his queen en- prise
and hurried into the passage to speak to
the messenger. The family of Welberg
with agitation unspeakable, half rose to
follow him. They paused at the door,
and then retreated with mixed feeling Of
anxiety for the intelligence, and shame at
the attitude in which they might be dis.
covered. As they retreated, however,
they could not help hearing the words of
the messenger-.He is at his last gasp-he
has sent for you--you must not lose mo.
ment. AS the messenger spoke, the
messenger and he departed.
"The family then retured to their apart.
ment, and for some hours sat in profound
silence, interrupted only by the ticking OF
the clock, which was distinctly and sol
emnlyheard, and which seemed too loud 10
their quickened ears, amid that deep still
ness on which it broke incessently
or by the echoes of Welbcrg's hurri.
ed step as he started from his chair
and traversed the apartment. At this
sound they turned, as if expecting a mes.
senger; then glancing at the silent figure
of Welberg, sunk OH their seats again.
The family sat up all that long night of un
uttered and Vulnerable emotion. The
lights burnt low, and were at length cxtin
guished, but no one noticed them; th,
, pale light of the dawn broke freely int
) the room, but no one observed it wa
) morning. God how long he fingers
exclaimed Welberg involuntarily; ant
these words, though uttered under hi
breath made the listeners start, as at th
first sounds of human voice which the,
/ had not heard for many hours.
f At this moment knock was heard a
c the door; step trod slowly along tn
Y passage that led to the room the doc
!. opened and the priest appeared. He ad
|, vanced into the room without speaking, o
being spoken to. And the contrast c
= strong emotion and unbroken silence ih
Y conflict of speech, that strangled though
0 in the utterance, and of thought, that il
2 vain asked aid of speech; the agony an
C the muteness !; formed terrible moment
S airy association. 1t was but momentary
4 the priest as he stood, uttered these word
n -sAll is overt Welberg clasped hi
S hands over his forehead, and in extati
h agony exclaimed, Thank God!' and wild
: ly catching at the object nearest him, as
: imagining it one of his children he claspe
S and Rugged it to his breast. His wit
!, wept for moment at the thought of he
g brothers death, but reused herself for he
i children's sake, to hear all that was to |
g told. The priest could tell TO more tina
h that Guzman was dead seals had bee
e put on every chest, drawer and coffe;
Il the house; not cabinet had escaped ii
a diligence of the persons employed; an
l. the will was TO be read the folowin
r day.
e '.For the following day the family r,
II NAMED in that intensity of expectatio
d that precluded all thought. The serSan
e prepared the usual meal, but it RENAME
llntasted. The family pressed each 9th,
n to partake of it; but as the importuni
'e was not enforced by the inviter setting ar
d example Of the lesson he tried to teach,t
d meal remained untasted. About noon,
l. grave person, but in the habit of notar
Ell was announced, and summoned Weber
IS to be present at the opening of Guzman
l. will. Welberg prepared to obey Il
8. summons one of his children officious
= offered him his hat, another his cloa
IS both of which he had forgot in the trep
!. dation his anxiety and these instances
l. of Renaissance and attention in his CHI
% dren, contrasted with his own abstractio
9, completely overcome him, and he sur
N down on a seat TO recover himself. sYc
ID had better go, my love- said his wife mil
IS ly.-I believe shall | must take yol
s. advice : said Welberg, relapsing on Il
re seat, from which he had half risen. II
III notary, with a formal bow, was retirin,
% I aOiHgol = said Welberg, swearing a &c
t. man oath, whose cultural sound made Il
a. notary stare 4 sciH 60 = and as he spoil
he fell on the foor,s exhausted by fatigt
y and want Of refreshment, an emotion u
le describeable but to afather. The notal
fe retired and few hours more were spe
ID in tortnring conjecture, expressed on Il
e, mothers part only by clasped hands ar
r smothered sighs on the fathers by pr
e. found silence averted countenance, ar
&c hands that seemed to feel for those of b
r children, and then shrink from the touch
is and on the children's by rapidly varyir
ID auguries of hope and of disappointment
III rNt. flro