The Yazoo Whig and political register. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1840-1842, 1841-06-04

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coolahade, would crol from morn till ni gh
uUntwisfne SD tho chainsthat
TIE hidden sop % bornony
and from invisible plumes stake aweet
ness down" u was Indeed delightful
spot, and had Just concluded ms observa
ton Of the surrounding trees and shrubs
when was aware thar was potaIone.
oGreen4 Green! Green Leyman! Shouted
the man who before had been seated al Tie
root Of a beach tree, with his has slouchsd
over his face. his chin resting 0nshis bearst:
apparently asleep. had determined MOTTO
disturb him il his happy repose, and was
leaving the spotwhen 4 heard my name pros
nounced Itseems that he had Just walked
upn time 70 observe me before was hid
den from view by the underground; 81 is /
it is! ha my poor boy" said he running up I
to me and clasping me il his arms.
j slruggled 10 release myself from his con-
vulsive grippe, but he held me fast, and a
slosthsome sickness succeeded a cold shudder
which came over me as | found myself in
the embrace Of the man who, above an,
most wished to avoid, and indeed whom
had supposed dead.
The man who had thus startled and sur
prised me, was about the age offifty. He had
been once proud Of his fine form and hand
some appearance, but Time, that ssore de-
.stroyer, had worksd its change, and life Of
dissipation had lent it's aid; so that instead of
the broad shoulder and narrow waist, he now
presented figure that bespoke any thing
else but personal beauty, or physical power
The fine muscle had gone to seed, and the
reddish-brown cheek was indicative, norofa
green old age, but of the effects Of brandy;
you might plainly read that his had been
life of little value 10 himselfor 10 society.
There was still a sparkle in the light grey
eye, which was now animated by feeling1
had supposed long since dormant; and as he
continued his address to me, felt gradually
giving way to kinder sentiments than those
which overwhelmed me at the first moment
Of our meeting.
'Uh, Green! Green!' he continued, show
much have suffered how much endured
since we last met; but now, thank God! we
part no more, and may yet make you a.
mends for all.
ave, verify, do we part I replied;--
whatever may be my lot, one thing am re-
solved on Ito quit your company JOreUer.
am glad, however, to find you still alive, flor
/ had supposed that you persisted on that ter
rible day,) and if you wish to make me a
mends, the best way for you to do it is to a
mend your life, as l shall do mine in future;
first by avoiding your company, and then by
endeavoring to gain an honest name and q
respectable stand in society. Yes, Melton,
from this very hour we part,-I trust never
again to meet
While was thus speaking, Melton all the
while evinced great impotence ,ane advan
cling, seized me by the arm above the elbow
with vice-like grippe.
so, my boy !. 30, said he, with clenche'
teeth, attempting to assume a stern look
while plainly saw thathis eyes were filling
which with his choked uuerance, indicate
the bitterness of feeling that wrankled in hi
bosom; he held me for moment and contin
ued in an altered tone, Then you reject m
offer to make you amends for any injury
may have occasioned YOU!
'What you intend know not replied
'but shall not change my determination
avoiding you in future. If you think to re
gain your influence over me, you are mist'
ken.-I am not to be shakenin my purpose;'-
and we both as if moved by thesamm impuls
separated several PAGES, Melton walking
the spring before described, where he battle
his hands and temples, and seated himselfi
that his feet, latter taking off his shoes an
stookings,) remained in the water.
81. Soon, however, he joined me, and upc
my expressing surprise athis shabby appea
ance, he laughed, looking down at himse
habted in the course garb usually worn
negroes while at work in the cotton field. /
then gave me an account of his escape fro
a scene that has before been limited at in Il
course Of this history, in which myself nj
acted a part.
The reader, however, must be content
the present with knowing that Melton. was
desperate gambler, that he was my near rel
tive, and had exercised great influence ov
my early life; having been appointed n
guardian in early childhood, natural
looked up to him as my protector and secoI
parent. He had once ranked high in socI
ty; lawyer Of emlnence, "a leading poll
clan, and possessed of wealth, Melton. at Il
age ofthirty wag looked upon as decidedly d
first man. in his native State Of Tennessee;
now, he was IN a manner an outcast fro
society; bankruptin character as well as fo
tune; stultifed by drink. with ruined co
stitution, he seemed not to be so much
the shadow ofwha he had been. The lin
patrimony which, be had scharge Of as II
guardian, he had long since spent, and W
thrown upon the world with no other su
port than my own imperfectly formed noto
of propriety, which were noLlkely TO be il
proved by the.example Of hel;on.
Yet, with all these faults and vices, MI
ton maintained d kind Of reputation amoi
the young gentlemen of the South who we
in e.habitOf visiting gaming tables, viii
he was proud Of. Al all public places, SUI
as elections, races, &c, he was tolerated, a
was known by the contradictory sobriqu
of The Honest Gambler; by which was mea
that he could notppenly chedt, or ille chez
ed at an, he did IT ia sncha manner as to
H,,o;l 1,terttcn 4 His fuo.floavso f huroor ma