Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-01-04
VOL. a5, NO. 1e-wHoLE 40. 1885.

This proposal met with decided negative.
Faith we shall, we shall, Bob he said vel
have one tumbler Of old stingo. Our bachelor
days arc nearly at a close now, and we'll see
them merriy OUT
Saying this, he seized me by the collar OIL one
side, while Maitland did the same5 OH the other
and thus was orcbly dragged into the house
determined, however, to drink no more, but
wait patiently till my friends should thipk fit to
close the scene of their own accord. The old
house-keeper having been reused from her bed
tumblers, glasses aud hot water were soon pro
duced: aud TO these Maitland himself added a
bottle ofrum, which he took from an adjoining
closet. In few minutes my two friends hah
each mixed up large tumbler; and at their OBJ
striperous opportunities, | also mixed up one
but resolved not to taste it, and neither did l.
derecton which escaped the notice OF my
companions, who, satisfied by seeing me with
dose before me, forgot to compel me to swallow
it. This, however, was proceeding which they
did not forget. In very short time both of their
tumblers were drained to the bottom, and anoth-
er couple prepared. 1t was at this moment that
observed a curious change in the manner Of
Brown he all ut once became strangely ncoher-
ent--an incoherence that appeared to me more
like that ofnsanity than intoxicaton. 1t is true,
that this is common, nay, necessary conse-
quence of the latter and it is true, also, that
Brown had drunk quite enough to account for
it ) but there was peculiarly, wildness IN his
incoherence, that both surprised and alarmed
me. He did not seem to know where he was,
who he was with, or what he was doing. Nor
was this state accompanied by the physical i'm
beciliy or scottish lethergy which usually char
acterizes excessive iuebriety on the contrary,
his animal energies seemed unnaturay increas-
eG. He was furious, although not ill-natured
and his unsettled eye roved about with wild
expression, and with restless activity. 1t might
be, that all this was merely the effects OF mtoXi-
cation and there can be no doubt that there lay
its origin I; but had never seen such effects be-
fore from the same cause
have already casually adverted to one feature
OF Browns case his not seeming TO know whom
he was with. This obliviousness came sudden
ly upon him for, but an instant before, he had
been addressing both Maitland and myself by
our names in moment after, he stared Mt us al
terna.eIy, with wild and inquiring look. Ii
was evident he did not recognize us. now, by
signs, called Maitland's attention to The conhi"t
ton Of our friend and he ackno wledged the com
nuncatlon, by proposing, in mn affected oil han
ded manner, as it was now so late, and the morn
ing so wet, lit was at this moment raining heav
y) that we should not leave the house at all,
BIT take our beds with him. To this proposal,
thinking it advisable on Browns account at
once agreed, and suggested that we should retire
10 bed Immediately. Brown made no remark on
his friends suggestion that he should remain all
night; he neither dlssented from, nor approved
VI ~ 'ut scS'lIcu uiilc PhSoNci anu N'hliS W
submit to any arrangement that chose TO
make. Taking advantage of this apparent pill
ancy and Indifference, we conducted him to
sofa, which was in the apartment, as the most
convenient resting place for him and having de-
sired the house-keeper to bring in the bed
clothes we covered him up, and left him, as
we thought snug for the remainder of the
night Having thus disposed of our friend, Matt
land and ] retired to bedp as did also the old
house-keeper and in few minutes NIL was quiz
ct in the house. almost Immediately fell into
profound sleep, end might have been thus for
about an hour, when was suddenly awakened
by violent noise in the apartment in which
Brown was He had got up and was overturn-
ing every thing he came across in the room, and
shouting violently listened for moment, and
heard him demanding to he let out, and threat
ening the demolition of every thing within his
reach, if he was not and he was already acting
on his threat, by smashing pictures and mirrors,
and every thing else that came into his hands
that he could destroy. But his great object SEEM
ed to he to get OUT and he appeared the more
bent on this, that he did not know where he Vas.
or this he had no idea, ] perceived from his
outrageous and incoheren expressions He
seemed however, TO he under the impression
that he was forcibly detained by some persons (;
and conceivng himself ill-used, was in most
furious rage.
Alarmed at the destruction he was making,
hastily arose, aud finding my way to where Matt
land slept, awoke him, for he was as eep, and
heard nothing OF the noise and ruin which his
friend was occasionng
lie must be let out Immediately, sand ], or
he will destroy every thing in the room. | won.
der he did not find the way out himself - for |
heard him working at the handle Of the door,
'Oh, locked it, said Maitland for fear he
should get up through the night, and leave he
house, Here then, was, in part, explained The
cause OF Browns outrageous passion. He had
found himself locked III, aud this had irritated
him, and inspired him with the notion of his be
ing lorcibiy detained.
But, we must let him ont Instantly said |.
"Oh, surely surely" replied Maitland, l6aping
on the floor; "but 20 you TO bed, Tom, no oc-
casion for you disturbing yourself; I'll pacify
him in minute-and perhaps the more readily,
that none are present but ourselves"
Saying this, he hurried away in his nighigown,
to the apartment where Brown was confined
while l retired as he recommended, TO bed, and
listened for the result of Maillands proceedings
The house was large one with very long
| passage running down the centre; and as
Browns apartment at the further end
could not hear distinctly what passed but ] was
surprised at a sudden cessation of all noise in
Browns room, the moment Matand's footsteps
approaching II by the passage became audible.
II seemed ms it Brown had became silent on dis
covering That some one was moving towards
him; and this perfect silence he maintained
while his friend was for some time unsucccss-
fully endeavorng 10 introduce the key into the
E~S-hole (; neither did he make any reply to, or
mI;e -S notice whatever of the expressions
which Mai,lSNas was iIoun time TO time address
s;nr 10 M, tFnn, 80. outside, while employed
in searching foe The cryasno'e, l considered
the circnhs aucos odd and wtsasul ne'ng ap,e
tOaccOuDt for it, felt uneasy at H. $780, w.
while listening with intense anxiety for the ssNsSs
lhearl the key enter the lock, heard the door
opening, nnd in tie next instant heard-i leave
The reader To imagine wih what sensarionS the
cry, uttered in wild, uuearhIy voice, 81 an
murdered | am murdered The voice was
Nlaitlauhs. hnped IranIicay from my bed,
and rushed along he passage, met my unior
tunale friend coming towards me. He was
staggering. "A light! light" he exclaimed,
81 am murdered am murdered, Tom" | flew
to the kitchen, found lamp burning on the