The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-04-24

ss.eu o' himseli and daughter, his OIL
child, an affe"tionate girl of seventeen.
The youth heard the offer of Mr.. Davi
but heard no more, for overcome BY his fee
ines and extreme illness, he fell insensible
the earlh.-He was conveyed To the hou,
ot his beneiactor aud n physician calle,
Long wss the struggle between life nm
death. Though unconscious, he called ur
on his mother and sister, almos. incessantl,
to aid him. When the youth was laid up
on the bed and she heard him calling 70
his sister, Lucy Davis wept and said ia hin,
poor sick young man your sister is "a
distant and cannot hear you, but I will b
to you a slster."-Well did this dark-eye,
maiden keep her promise. Day aud nigh
she watched over him except the short in
tervals when she yielded her pos, at hi
bedside 10 her father
AT length the crisis of his disorder arrives
| the day that was to decide the question
oil life or death. Lucy bent over him will
intense anxiety watching every expression
Of his features, hardly daring to breathe, SC
fearful wns she of waking him from the on
~ sound sleep he had enjoyed for min,
long days and nights. Al length he awoks
and gazed up in the face Of Lucy Davis
and family inquired, "phere am TY
There was intelligence in that look. Youth
and good Constitution had obtained the
mastery. Lucy felt ,ha, he was spared
and bursting into n food Of irrepressible
tears, rushed out of the room.
II was two weeks more before he could
SIT up even for short time. He had al.
ready acquainted them with his name and
residence, but ihev had no curiosity to
learn my thing further, and forbid his Civ
ing his story I'LL he became stronger. Ills
name was Charles Wilson aud his pater-
nal home, Boston.
few days afterwards when Mr.. Davis
was absent from home and Lucy engaged
about her household affairs, Wilson saw n,
the hend Of the bed, his pack, and 'recol-
lecting something that he wanted, OPENED
1t. The first thing he saw was the denti-
cal pocket book whose loss had excited "a
many bitter regrets. He rscollected hav-
ing placed II there the morning before he
reached Brent's Prairie, but in the confu.
SION OF the moment that cireumstance was
taGeeiten.. -ile examined aud found .vars
This discovery nearly restored him I,
health, but he resolved at present to confn
that secret to his own bosom. 1t was graf
flying to him to witness the entire conf
dcnce they reposed in the honor and integ
rity, of a stranger, and the pleasure will
which they bestowed fayOrs upon one whom
they supposed could make no return bu
thanks.
Night came and Mr.. Davis did not re-
turn.-Lucy passed n sleepless night. IL
the mording she watched hour after hou,
for his coming. and when sunset approached
and he was still absent, terrified n, his long
and unusal stay. she was setting out to pro.
cure neighbor to 60 in search Of him
when her parent appeared in sight. She
ran 10 meet him, and was bcstswipg
upon him thousand embracing express
ions of affection, when his haggard, woebe-
gone countennnce startled her.
lie uttered not a word, and went into his
house and seated himself in silence. II was
in vain that Lucy attempted to cheer him.
After long pause, during which power
ful struggle WINS going on in his feelings, he
arose, took his daughter by the hand md
led her into the room where Wilson was
seated. "You shall know ALL" said he.
81 am beggar. Ia few days ! must
quit this house-,his farm which ! have So
highly improved. and thought rny own
He proceeded to state that a few days be-
fore, Crosby, IN n moment Of ungovernabl'
malice, taunted him with being n beggar
aud told him that lee was now III his power
and he would crush him under his feet.
When Mr.. Davis smiled at what he regard
ed only as nm impotent threat, Crosby, Il
convince him, told him that the patent o
his farm was forged one" and that he
Crosby, knew the real owner Of the land
had written to purchase it-and expected !
deed in few days. Davis immedintel!
went home for his patent, aud during hi
long absence had visited the Land Office
Crosby WINS right. The patent, beyond al
dispute was forged one, aud the CLAIM
Of Davis to the farm, not worth farth
ing.
IL may be proper to observe that coun
tcrfeiling soldiers patents was regula
business Ia some Of the Eastern cities, ant
hundreds had been dupcd.
1t is not for myself, said the old man
that grieye Mt this misfortune. am nd
vanced iu life und it matters not how o
where pass the few remaining days Of m.
existence. I have q home beyond the star
where your mother has gone before the, nn'
where would have long since joined her
had not lived to protect her child, my own
my ofrcctionaie Lucy. The weeping gir
fung her arms around the neck Of her faith
er, poured and hertears upon bis bosom. W
can be happy still, said she, for ! am younI
and can easily support Us both.
4 new scene followed in which anothe
individual wns a principal actor. ] sha
leave the reader to form his own opinion @
it and barely remark that at the close, 'h
old man took the hand Of Lucy and youn
Wilson, and joining them, snid, my cb'l
Al