Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-12-17

~' uic corpse reproach me for murderJ
--o' ooes one surviving breath curse me for
The unfinished work - '''' ~
las ne spoke, he placed his foot on his wifa's
ooaJ: at this moment a loud knock was
I .ss ae the door. Trhey are come.' said
Welberg, whose frenzy hurried him RAPIDLY
eusVugh tne scenes Of an imaginary murder,
ana me consequences Of a judicial process
wen '--come in-knock again, or lift up the
la'ch--or enter as you ist-here l sit, amid
tne bodies Of my wife and children have
murdered them, confess it--ye come to drag
me 70 torture know--but never, never can
your fortunes infict on me more than the ago.
ny oiseeIng them perish by hunger before nv
eyes. Come income in-the deed is done
The corpse ofmy wife is at my foot, and
the blood Of my children is on nv hands-what
have further to fearg But. while the
wretched man spoke thus, he sunk sullenly
on his chair, appearing TO be employed in WI
ping from his fingers the traces ofblood with
which he imagined they were stained. Al
length the knocking at the door became louder
the latch was lifted, and three figures enter.
ed the apartment in which Welberg sat.
They advanced slowly--two from age and ex-
haustion, and the third from strong emotion.
Welberg needed them not--his ewes were
fxed-his hands locked in each other nor did
he move limb as they approached.
ado you not know us a." said the foremost,
holding up lanthorn which he held in his
hand. Its light fen on group worthy the
pencil Of a Rembrant. The room lay in CON-
plete darkness, except where the strong and
unbroken light fell. Il glared on the rigid
and mOveess obduracy OF W elberg's Despair
who appeared stifning into stone as he sat
II showed the figure Of the friendly priest who
had been Euzman's director, and whose fea,
lures, pale and haggard with age and austen.
ties, seemed to struggle with the smile thai
trembled over their wrinkled lines. Behind
him stood the aged father of Welberg, with
an aspect Of perfect apathy, except when, with
a momentary effort at recollection, he shook
his white head, seeming to ask himself why
he was there-and wherefore he could not
speak. Supporting him stood the young
form Of Everard, over whose cheek and eye
wandered lustre too bright TO last, and in.
Stahtly succeeded by paleGess and detection
He trembled, advahced-then shrunk back
chung to his inhrm grandfather, as if need
ing thesupport he appeared to give. Welberg
was the first to break the silence. i know
We, who We are he said hollowly-sye are
come to seize me-ye have heard my confes-
sion-why do you delayi Drag me away
Iwould rise and follow you if could, but
feel as if | had grown to this seat-you must
drag me from it yourselves.
''As he spoke, his wife, who had remained
stretched at his feet, rose slowly but firmly
and, OF all that she saw or heard, appearing
to comprehend only the meaning of her hus-
bands words, she clasped her arms around
him, as If TO oppose his being torn from her.
i 4 IL, L. r
potent and CHASTITY defiance. Another witness,
cried Weberg, risen from the dead against
me! NAY, then it is time to be gone , and
he attempted to rise. Stay father said Ev-
erard, rushing forward and OBTAINING him on
his seat stay, there is good news, and this
good priest has come to tell it--listen to him,
father cannot speak 'Yon oh you! Ev-
erard,' answered the father, with a look OF
mournful reproach, 'you witness against me
tool never raised my hand against YOU
those whom murdered are sileR: and will
you be my accuserP
They all now gathered round him, partly
in terror, and partly in consoation-all anxious
TO disclose to him the tidings with which their
hearts were burthened, yet fearful lest the
freight might be too much for the frai vessel
that rocked and reeled before them, as if the
next breeze would be like tempest to it.
At last it burst forth from the priest, who by
the necessities Of his profession, was ignorant
Of domestic feelings, and Of tho felicities and
agonles which are inseparably twined with
the hbrcs OF conugl aud parental hearts
He knew nothing of what Welberg might fee
as a husband or father--for he could never be
either but felt that good news, must be gooC
news, into whatever ears they were poured
or by whatever lips they were uttered. I'VE
have the will, he cried abrupuy-the true viii
of Guzman; the other was--asking pardon o
God and saints for saying so-no better thar
forgery. The viii is found and you, ant
your family are heirs to all his wealth. l wa
coming TO acquaint you, late as it was, havin!
with difficulty obtained the Superior's permits
sion 10 do so, and in the way / met this oil
man whom your son was coDducting-hov
came he out so late 2 At these words We
bers was observed to shudder with brief bu
strong spasm. The will is found, repeate
the priest, perceiving how little effect tn
words seemed to have on Welberg--and
raised his voice to its utmost pitch. The wi
of nv uncle is found repeated Everar,
'Found-found-fou = echoed the grandf;
Their, not knowing what he said, but vaguel
repeating the last words he heard, and the
looking round as If asking for an explanatIo
ofthem. The will is found, love- cried lne
who appeared restored to sudden and perfe'
consciousness by the sound do you not hea
love We are wealthy, we are happy-spea
to us, love, and do not stare 50 vacantly-
speak to u.s. A long pause followed. 4
length, who are those = SAID Welberg, in
hollow voice, pointing TO the figures befol
him, whom he viewed with fixed and ghast
look, as if he was gazing on a band of spectre:
Your son, love, and your father, and the goo
friendly priest. Why do you look so doub
fullyon us = 'And what do they come for
said Welberg. Again, and again, the impo
of their communication was told to him,
tones that, trembling with varied emotio
scarc,, could express their meaning.
Ienoth h. seemed family conscious Of VIII
wa said. ana booked round on them, utterin
a long and heavy sigh. They ceased to spes
and watched him in si,ence. Wealth wealt
It comes too late. LooSs there, look there
and he pointed TO the room where nus chlldre
lay.
"Ines, with dreadful presentimeEt at n
heart, rushed into it, and beheld her daug
ters lying apparently lfeless. The shrek 81
uttered, as she fell on the bodies brought ii
priest and her son to her assistance, and We
berg and the old man were left together alor
viewing each other with looks of complete II
sensibility and this apathy of age, and stup'
faction, made a sin Iular contrast with Il
fierce and wild agony of those who still n
tanned their feelings. 1t was long before Il
daughters were recovered from their dealt
El.1 swoon, and still longer before their faith
could be persuaded that the arms that claspt
him. and the tears that fell on hIsi cold chee
ra III