The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-10-16

| ''1es-yOu, ne ihterposed cOOHy, ior II
did tell you to purchase, did not bid you to hold
on like fool, when every one could see the spec
ulalion was about to blow up''
'You did, sir, you did, l broke in, almost
choked with passion, ''no later than last week you
induced me to refuse bid And now to taunt me
with it, and as scornful smile--the most gall
ing of all insults for an injured man to bear-stole
across his sinister cOuntenance, | continued in
words hoarse with rage, and with perfect reck-
lessness as to the consequences. "You hoary
scoundrel-you have conspred-trapped me into
this net-you have swinded one victim more "
''By God - said he, stung out of his affected
irony, and trembling in every limb with anger
''you shall suffer for this--by all that is holy, |
swear you SHALL have you fast, you shall rot in
farther, he leaned against the mantel piece breath
less with rage.
Il know not what answered The conscious
ness of my situation, and of the being had to deal
with swept across my memory, until my brain reel
ed again with agony. Despair for moment took
possession of me, and felt tempted to rush upon
the old villain and make his life the forfeit of his
taunt. But then other and better thoughts came
across me. remembered Mary, and it sofened
me at once. behed, too, the abyss over which
hung, and that my only hope was in not urging
my oppressor farther. God only knows how was
enabled so suddenly to calm my passion but a
thunderbolt, believe me, sobers us at once, Yet
would not crouch to the hoary tyrant. He SEEM
ed, however; to fear personal violence, for he
shouted continually for the servants, who soon
came hurrying to the apartment, to turn me from
the house. felt could have put aside the whole
SIX so unnatural Vas my excitement, and only
smiled disdainiully, as picked up my hat, and
striding through the very midst of them, passed
out at door opposite to the one where had en-
tered-the servants making room for me carefully
as passed. have done. You know the rest
You know that instructed my lawyer to tender
every thing had as soon as proceedings should be
commenced Well as knew had incurred my
partners unmitigated enmity, did not dream he
would carry it thus far. But that delusion is over
God of heaven! must rot in JAIL
! was awed by the intense agony of the tone he
used for it told the fearful nature of his sufierings.
Yet what could say? felt there was no hope.
Still determined to sooth him, even if ! did so at
the expense of truth. used every effort to put a
better light upon his case, and held out expecta-
tons which felt could never be realized At last
he interrupted me.
'No-no,' he exclaimed bitterly, it cannot be.
There is no hope, Here is my dwsng-hcre too
shall be my grave. Oh! my God, what is the JUS
,icc of this world. To be shut out from all you
love, buried in gloomy cell like this, and con-
demned to drag ou, a worthless life without ever
seeing the sun rise, hearing the birds sing, or feeling
the breath of heaven; and all this because you have
committed the crime of being poor-is it not terri
ble' he exclaimed suddenly stopping in his excl
ted walk, and looking me in the face with an ex-
preston ! shall never forget.
What could l say | mnticred something
what it was know not-my heart was full. 1t
seemed, however, to recall him to himself
"But this is useless" he said, and why should
complaint am in lawful labyrinth better
have rod it before me. Thank God my oppress-
er is not here to see my weakness; and you | know
will never betray me. How would it have tortur,f
my poor Mary had she seen IL. Sweet noble wo-
man! 1t must not bel must hide the vuture AT
my heart. But she will discover at last that there
is no hope, and then how terrible the blow! twill
break her heart. Oh! God, he continued franticaly,
"ifthis could only have been spared me. Mary
poor sweet Mary" and leaning upon his hand, his
whole frame shook convulsively with his emotions.
1t was fearful sight to see strong man thus bowed
in agony; an agony more for anoher's suilerings
than for his own.
draw veil over the rest of that days record
and pass by several pages of my portfolio, RI
was inexorable, and though every effort was made
to avert calamity, it soon became evident that it
would be long before he rclented.
TObe Contnuei]