Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-14
recently exhibited, that i, might be read

turning 10 the young man, who stood ms
ton'shed 10 hear his Ialhcr speak thus,
"listen nt,rniiyely, Tor il is the lust boor
you shnll ever receive irom my hand
took the sheet n single glance suific
ed 10 assure me Of the authenticity and
legality of the composition. With a
voice rendered husky by the feelings en-
gendcred in such a scene, | read alou,
the will, and never was auditory moro
attentive. The female sat, her hands
clasped before, aud her extending atli'
iude denoting mingled interest aud Gu
riosity. The young man, in sullen alb
straciion, leaned with his back agains
the smoke-reeked wall aud the inisel
(ior such he really was with his whole
soul rivetted upon the subject, e.m''
eager TO absorb each word as it was
uttered, although to him "a thrice told
tale"
The document, after setting forth the
undmiiul conduct OF an adopted son, sta
ted the inienticn of The tesiator to be-
quea,h his all, amounting Ia the sum o
twenty thousand pounds, To his Legitimate
though neglected daug ghter, Lucy Brooks
Otherwise Dawes, of Tower.sireet.
"Lucy Dawes" said !, forgetting the
identity 0i the parties as not established
and that | was wholly ignorant Of the
persons present Lucy Dawes is my
br,rolhed, aud our marriage is to be con
sumnatcd tomorrow.
IL know it," said the old man, and a
smile played over his glim and & hastily
features.
Sand is she truly your daughter !"
l answered, perfectly bewildered.
"Truly."
"Let me, then fetch her. She would
gladly contribute TO smooth your dying
pillow"
"No, mol" shrieked the sufferer ;
SHEAR me. | desire she should remain
in ignorance Of her parents situation
until his body shall be gathered TO The
dust. Oh could not bear to see one,
whom ] once wickcdly disclaimed.-
Look kindly on mc-listen You know
Lucy not except as founding, relieved
by strangers generosity. Bu, she Is
really my child, my only one. Her moth
er n paiicn, angel, whom she never knew
died by my hand. Yes why look so
earnestly She was starved TO save
pal,ry gold. remember how the infant
smiled, unconscious Of aught ot evil
] Intended to reform the error oimy ways,
but still the demon tempted. A sCrdld
love of lucre ureva He'd on me, to sa, e
myself expense, by leaving the innocent
child in the open street, alone and unpro-
tcctcd"
As he spoke these words, The cold
pcrspirn,ion rolled from his wilhered
brow but making strong effort to sub
due the fire that ragged within, the unhap'
py being continued more calmly.
"Dre compunciion, however, WIS
soon at hand. To sllie remorse, be-
i'iendcd an orphan boy, and taught him
To call me taiher-a name unused to my
ears. But, rs you see, he has proved Il
viper, an ungrateiul wretch. A snort
time siuce, discovered that my dauah-
ter still lived, indebted for li(e and sus-
tenance To IL gentleman named Dawes,
and that she was shortly to be welded to
young solicitor. How | shuddered at
the contrast betwixt my baseness and
their compassion | sought you out. -
You are aware of the rest"
"Allow me, said ], deeply affected,
cat least to remove you 10 some better
situation, where kind attention mig ght
pallIate some OF your suilerngs."
"No, no !" said he, hurriedly, 81 en-
join you To leave me as YOU found me
No change is desired, save from this
chamber to the grave"
nomnaly yielded to his compulsory
mandate, bu, resolved, AS soon as ceuld
decentlJ depart, to seek medical assis-
tance aud my betro'hed.
In the meantime, the youth, complete
ly sobered, and, with a face Of ashy pale
ness, approached the bed.
"You might have left me shilling TO
buy halter WITH" said he, with sar-
castle smile.
"lf you live much longer" bitterly
rctorted The old man, "you'Il be saved
the expense Of buying one for yourself,
find may ii be 80 ~ laying a horrid en-
phasis OIL the concluding words.
The young man Tor moment glanced
wildly round The room, as il IN search of
something and then loudly prolonging
the word "Amen," for the last time left
the place and presence OF his adopted
father.
watched him as he departed His
eye sparkled with phrenzy almost su-
pernatural his visage was distorted by
the inward workings Of passion, despe-
rate and firmly implanted. With steps
such as madmen are wont to take ;. he
strobe away, and gliding down the ladder,
dashed out Of the house.
What were the thoughts of the invalid?
i turned to observe. lie was dead -
Without n groan or sigh, his spirit had
returned to the God who gave it.
With feelings wherein horror and sur
prise we're strangely blended, | directed
my steps towards Tower street. The
rain, though abated, still spattered disa-
greeably. II was very dark. | was
completely ignorant of that part of the
metropolis. and my clothes were cIinging
wet to my back
But the faculty Of recollection banish-
ed all Troublesome sensations, and reused
me TO exrriion The whole distance was
threaded with facility, and | soon arri-
we'd at Mr. Dawes's door. Here / paus
cd awhile to collect my scattered ideas,
and determined upon the course requisite
touching nm explanation of the melancho-
" catastrophe. Glancing about me, |
espird, at Il shnrt distance, a human
figure standing beneath mn archway, in