The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-12-23

coy of this rich windlaIi but so thin and msy was the
protecting veil ofdecency and morality that any other
than BnGloy Spencer's eyes would have pierced the
willy folds, and laid bare the monsters lurking behind
them. Thus early possessed with the fatal passion of
gaming, night after night saw the infatuated youth
wound deeper and deeper in The tolls of his borayes,
Mortgage after mortgage was given, though not having
shadow of legality about them they were accepted
as eagerly by these human lseches, the red gold for
which they had sold their souls 10 perdton. The men
with whom it was Spencsr's fate TO become connected,
were most ofthem from thirty 10 forty years of age;
willy, unprnciplod villains, well calculated to govern
the simple YOUTH whom they remorsolessly pundered
ofalI at his present command and accepted his honor
pledge for thO rest when he should become Of age
Nor were the months tardy in their flight. At the end
oftwo shortyears his property was 70 Tmslly yielded
by his passive guardian and the day that gavO him house
and land stock aud slave saw him resign it to the
iends who had possessed HIM with love of all that
was degrading to human nature, and taught him to Scof
at all who were truly poor and virtuous.
1t the same Bradley Spencer, kind reader, whose
briefcareer we have endeavorOd to trace that We lett
in the ittc village, with his knavsh companions who
fresh from the Jing;pluceS OF loatsomO vice. were in
tent on drawing the young man into yet greater depths
oil wckedne's. But they struck upon the wrong
chord-Spencer had been cupabe, it Is true, but he was
to hmsefhis worst foei he had not willingly injured
others, but had been the dupe in every instance Thus
when his brutal conrade expressed his determination TO
rob one of the habationS before them and urged his
assistance, his nober spirit that had slept go long was
aroused and he gave VENT his feelings in the manner
we have described.
Brief was their consultation, and the arguments they
held with him bade fair to bo ofnO avail until the elder
and more polite villan declared that Bradley could uo
now Withdraw in honor, as they should suspect he
meant 10 beay lhen that they would not require his
assistance. il he had any foolish prejudice to the eon>
trary; but he should accompany them mere lockers
op Without pausng for answer, he passed his arm
in that of the young mans, and followed by LAYTON
they stepped into ANAL yard at the gable end orone
Of the mansions. There, window had been lsf( omen
by the unsuspscng inmates, for the benefit of the air.
Sprnging lightly IN he followed by The others.
Cropping their way by the light of dark lantern, which
Layton pulled from the bosom of his coat thus show.
ing himself perfectly Gu fat in such proceedings
ascended stair case, and pausng in long passage
badS Brady be wachful & give low whistle upon The
slightest alarm. The tive less scrupuOus ruiians then
pursued their way down the passage. What Spen.
GERS reflections would have been he had not cisuroto
ascertain, for ancying ho heard low breathing, like
one in deep sumber, he turned and discovered by the
light OF the moon, which was streaming in window
near door, the which, on applying his hand, yielded
to the impulse. Inpelled by curiosity or some more
definabe feeling, he stepped softly into lhs room.
night lamp was burning dimly upon table, near
small couch where in her bright and youthful oveliness
slept fair girl Scarce had the breath of sixteen sum
msrs passed over tho clear brow that lay upurned in s
marble whlteness, for
Deaths twin.HSter. Sleep
weighed down the vGned lids the long dark lashs, of
whIc" rested on the family tnged cheek beneath As
Spencer turned from this unexpected vision his glance
fell on small book, that lay open'on the table. Some
light pencil mark that pointed TO an admired passage,
drew his attention. II wasa volume Of the -fated
Shelley'S Posms, open at 'Adonas,' and as he read
'Remorss and selfcontsmpt shall cling to thee
Hot shame snail burn Upon thy secret brow
ftl sense of his degraduion and how he had'GIlsn
from his high estate, rushed upon his stricken hear,
and eelings that had sumbered long were now awaken
ed by the thrilling lines ofthe mystical pset and the
strange scene before him. As he turned quickly to
aave where his presence sacriege, his attention
was caught by small miniature, one glance at which
showed him the waking likeness ofthe sleeping beauty
before him. lnvountariy catching it, he fed from the
room and giving the sgnalagreed upon, to his compan
ions, the next moment saw them vending their way to
the boat which having discharged The freight that de-
taned her, was soon flying upon her onward course.
Three years had passed away since Bradley Spencer
1aaoued with
their nelarious night expedionI IN the little vlag. al.
ready mentioned. Bradley Spencer, then tho compsn.
ion OF gambe'S and low debauchoes, was now henrv
Murray the trusted head clerk of one of the most veal
thy mercantile houses in New York. From the ever
memorable night ofthe robbery, the wretched Young
man torSook his unworthy companions. 'Renorss and
sef'coNlemst did indeed cling 10 him, and despair and
shame at first conquered his remaining energy Bu tba
spirit was present with him; it only needed to be rou.
Sed into action. lie had parted with his last dollar
when he arrived in New York. and the change of namo
was decided on to sOohs the pride that came TO his aid
alter SO long time. Depryations only rendered him
stronger IN his 'lr'uous purposes thus proving at once
the false system ofindulsence adopted by his parent
Clement Archer, Esq, was stern, uEbending bus;,
moss man. Strictly moral In his wall: before ,men be
required all around him to show the same regard for the
welfare "fsoceiy. With heart filled with benevo.
enGe, though vSed with an air ofstsrnness h. receiv
ed Bradley in his countngS Shousa no Eorx, M