Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-04-14

hearkened to his narration. Poor Lucy
the principle Of the drGmaiis persona
listened motionless AS n statue, aud viii
an ~nrnestness that almost terrified us -
Not muscIe moved but rs the las
word escaped my lips, her cheek blanch.
ed, and she tainted.
The clock in the Min; had just tollec
the hour oi twelve ms turned toward,
my bachelors abode. The postpone.
inent Of the nuptials had been deemed
inevitable for the preservation of decency
but though ! thought the delay iIl-com.
pcnsa,ed by the receipt Of II fortune,
cannot affirm that any reflections upon
the latter event added ought to my
gloom.
Thus musing, chanced accidently t.
glance towards the archway before men
toned, and, to my aslonishment, beheId
the individual still ensconccd in the same
position. lie must, | thought, have Ia.
ken up his abode there for the ~ ght but
the drizzling rain which still fell beIied
the supposi,ion. My conjectures, how
ever, directly diverged into annlhcr chan
mel for, hating at the corner of the
street, l Witnessed him emerge from his
obscurily, and evidently, though at u
considerable distance, watch my move
neuta.
For once was alarmed, and endea-
vored TO escape the unknown spy /; but,
although l broke into u run, whenever
MI opportunity occurred for observ alton,
his dim outline might be discerned still
hanging on my course.
Jus, in this nick of time, a policeman
who stood at the entrance Of n lane, en-.
veoprd in the customary accoutrements
of nocturnal service, turned his ligh,
full upon me. An idea suggesting itself
| whispered, "A stranger is tracking
my path-watch him"
! The man who, as it afterwards ap-
pearcd, knew me, touched his hat, turn
ed the Opaque side OF his lantern outef-
most, and | walked on.
had now arrived within a street OF
my own home, and began to imagine my
icars groundlcss. The spectre which
haunted me had seemingly Departed
But n, this very moment, testing the fal
lacy OF my surmises, a man rushed from
the opposite side OF the road, and dealt a
furious blow on my head with budgeon
Fortunately, my hat completely satu.
rated, was no longer ga gossamer," or
fatal effects must have ensucd. We
closed and fell, struggling for the mas
teIy but the comba, was shortly deci-
ded by the arrival OF the constable, who
had attended to my directions. Being
disabled, owing TO the stroke, from sue
cessIully graphing with my powerful an
tagon;st, IN whose person | now painfully
recognized the younger Brooks, he elu.
ded my grasp, and ran away, pursued by
the policeman.
As the echo Of their feet died on my
car, | rose, stiff aud faint, from the damp
ground, blaming my own folly in not es.
Gaping danger by demanding the pro-
lection and company of the policeman
but, conlrariwise, reflected the siinpllci.
ty that would have been manifested on
my part, had il been n causelcss alarm
was awakened the next morning b,
the violent ringing of bell. For a
short time my wandering iniellecluals
refused obedience. The events of he
previous evening seemed but as dream
that vanishes--"the baseless fabric of a
vision" But violent pain in my head
and the voice Of my servant, dispeIled
the illusion.
"There is num-" said he, "who has
discovered the Iileless body Of person
in the Paddington Canal, and requires
its Identification with the one who attack
ed you last night"
What remains need scarcely be told
1t was he and may he who stands in
need Of the moral which this short nara
live aches-LEARN TO PRACTISE 1T.