Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-04-07

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the cloud of destiny hung above nv nath. and
cast its chilling shadow upon INV heart, T nv
demon, O'Roorke, too, held his place At nv NJ
side, and an increased power over INV action:
he knew my secret infirmities,a could move
me 10 MS purpose with as much ease and GER
taihty as the Juggler regulates his automatic
machinery. With the helf ofthese evil agents
my gloomy and misgiving mind was ever at
WORK. In my uncle's kindest acts, could on
" see EVIL designs and the portents of an
preaching misfortune. What good, thought
can follow from his interference-deprived of
tne power TO oppose the matcb,he enters upon
a pretended treaty to render the proceedings
abortlve. 10 this | ascribed his confidential
interviews with Eleanor and Edward at.er
winch both seemed so suddenly cheered.-
Hence, TOO, the penetrating and significant
soAs winch could perceive always Posing
between them. Ofien, too, as we rambled at
Loeb Abbey or Marlborough, would O'Roorke
endeayour to foster these doubts. Well,
wen, would ne remark, 'there's nothing SO
queer as the ways Of youne ladies',
:" How do you mean, Tony ~
Did you notice, Master Joe, how merry
Lady Eleanor looked after talking with the old
iox" ESQ he always called uncle Richard) sin
the window yesterday. I'm sure he war telling
something beyond the beyonds pleasant"
" What could he tell her, man,
I'm snTe | don't know. heard him say
something about Mr. Edward, that brought up
fine blush into her face any how, Such
passing and apparently trivial observations,
without seeming intention or effect, but dex
terously contrlsed and varied, so as to work
together for single impression, were the ordi-
n rxTs11 hrzx. ~. ri
succeeded in guiding all my diseased and over
wrought passions 10 his purpose. Such dex-
terlty had he attained that, as | have since
discovered, ne used tomeasure out the effects
winch ne desired with the most fatal precision.
Under this governancc the impression of my
mind was, that uncle Richard would not for
sake the interests of Edward, and that if he
seemingly did so, it was only further them
more etfectually by setting aside those interests
which he could not control. His frequent con.
terences. with his legal advisers; the general
opinion that he had bequeathed his own pro-
Perty to Edward his former urgency with
the Castlecorragh family in his favour and
abnve all, the black internal presage ofill to
be received at his hands by myself; ali work.
ed necessarily to Eli my mind with fearsj sus-
plclons, and iorebodings Of fatality. O'Roorke
never ceased to hint darkly, what was but the
echo of my thoughts, that my nnele's whole
conduct was for the purpose of lulhng suspi-
cion, and preparatory to some brief and sum-
mary method of putting me out of the way"
Such notion was but too native to my own
mode of thinking. 1t wat the impression of
my life, that some tragic fate awaited me and
that my uncle was to be the actor or the In
strument There is avindictiye sense of iniu-.
ry which often called into action, becomes a
disease of the heart: which seeks ifs own &C.
ton for its relief, and takes morbid pleasure
in the thoughts by which it is increased This
was my disease,-it was complicated with the
impression Of that mysterious fatalism which
have described. Both alas, were to be cured
by realities still more terrific.
The first act of this dark tragedy was soon
to commence. and you are now PREPARED 10
comprehend what otherwise might appear out
ofthe course of natures and is indeed to be only
imagined by referring it to the impulses of a
mind under the action OF madness; for al
though | was unaffected by any actural de-
rangement Of the brain, the effects of morbid
passion, oyerheatcd fancy, and an exciiablesys-
tenn, were by no means dissimilar in their
workings.
Twas in TIE constant habit of rambling in the
woods and on the hills both at Loeb Abbey
and Ballyborough.
The magnificent gloom of that wild tract
the mountain air-the sense of independence
which its wild heights,depths, savage recesses
and trackless ways communicated to fanci-
full mind--with the exertion of wandering
through its difficult passes all tended TO
soothe and relieve the nervous irritability OF
nv temperament. Filled at the same time
with romance, and the haunting mystery
which had grown up with me IL was never
| free from numberlCss fancies of treachery and
lurking ambush. The slightest suggestIon,my
fancy worked into form;and my fears embodied
into seeming reality. / went armed with
poinard and pistols, and protected by the pres.
ence of the traitorous O'Roorke. Thus equip
ed and accompanied, spent most of my time
in either place, in the lonely hills and dark ole
woods, where found the gloom congenial tC
my brooding fancies.
One day while we were remaining at M
uncle's, we went out early after breakfast int
the mountains MY uncle had walked to visi
a neighbouring friend Edward had rethrne
to the University of Dublin; and felt tina
sense of pleasing to the dark and solitary splri
Of having the world TO myself, We turned GU
I steps along path which led through a wilder
ness of staunted oak, half way up a long hill
the path Mas the shortest to Castlecorragh,an
| had been Of late accustomed to take it IN
! consciously. O'Roorke, of course; was at m,
elbow we pushed our way through the tan
Cling copses, or threaded the narrow pat
through the difiness of the leafy labyrinth
which sprung ltixuriantly among the rock
masses of the steep hill, opening now and the
into little grassy glades, or more darkly twinin
across the black Interstices of some rock
cave, such as this wild spot abounded WITH
, was warm with exertion and less disposed
, olive way to morbid fancies--but the temple
was at my elbow.
ii wei, Master Joe, your honor IS lively
t day,'' said the cunning scoundrel.
aWhv, Tony" answered, 81 do hot thir
matters SO very unpromising after all''
, aYou are thinking that all must be fair |
e the favourite is gone to Dublin, Master Joe
: he observed,after pause OF some contInuanc'
D al do not think, Tony, that my uncle won
Z have, Just now, sent HIM out OF the way II
: wished him to have Lady Eleanor"
aThen beg your pardoni SIR he replied
+ 'tbut YOU are very easily deceived by your u
/ Gle: now that's the very reason Why the 9
e fox sent him away. Sure you know very w
It that he IS the very devil a: schethIng, al
: thinks it best to keep the young one out
If the way Of suspicion till the coast is clear
d him. Il. apx Il.
r. j felt a chill of horror creeping over my skl
L q Now, Tony said |, speak PLAIN what
o you mean.
% The between us and harm, dc
al IKE ID saw evil Of any gentleman :. but TIN
? the thing almost speaks for itself"
IS IL don't know what you're at SAID i WI
Of passionate Impotence; but | believe y