Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-06-04
FAYETTE, MISSOURI, SATURDAY, JUNE A, 1912

often as it required, would soon have dis.
tracted me. / encouraged it, therefore,
and was strengthened by it; my mind throve
upon tit was a comfort to me.
The many slight indications of an at
tachment--of a passion-between her and
this man Hastings-andathey must have
been but slight indications,--were present
ed to me now grossly and palpably.
could see them all--they stung me; and
would curse my fools nature that was
blind, and would not see and provide a.
gainst the consequence. And why did |
curse my easy nature?-CouldI have borne
to live wretched turnkey, miserable list
ner to key-holes, a dealer out of punish
ment, the drudgery Of devils!" Did mar
ry to suspect virtue, or control vice7 Mel
ther; and was glad that, when they did
wrong me, they permitted me to know it.
These thoughts never affected my bran;-
there was no fear of that. l thought no
longer from the brain; these thoughts were
in my heart, and never moved thence.
One evening, as | was ascending the
stairs, / overheard the child inquiring of
one of the servants "who that white-hair-
ed gentleman was, and why he lived in the
house?" / had hitherto refused to see the
child; but now rang the bell, and ordered
the housekeeper, who constantly waited
upon me, to bring him to me.
He was much grown since had last seen
him, and was fine boy. He did not know
me, andwas at first fearful Of approaching me,
but induced him to sit upon my knee, and,
putting his hair from the forehead, asked
,tDo iG ha xpo,,1l <,,, bic, Al o
lifted his face, and looked up at me-that
look! his very mother was gazing through
those eyes! A sudden faintness possessed
me. lifted the child gently from my knee,
and motioned the housekeeper to take him
from my sight. | did not see him again.
But there was comfort still:-Hastings
was in London--I was certain Of it.
And so he was. One night about fort
night after my return from Paris, where |
was told he had been seen, and where had
sought him in vain, was proceeding home,
baffled in my endeavors to discover him in
some Of his old haunts which had ascer-
tanned after my fruitless inquiries. was
walking rapidly down a miserable street in
the vicinity of Clare market, wheE a squat
lid wretch, issuing from public house, came
in contact with me. think no human be.
ing in the world would have recognized him
bat my self. Hideously changed as he wa:
knew him instantly. The half shrek tina
burst from him as he recoiled from me-
showed that he had recognised me also
The struggle was a short one; had omit
ted to put my pistols in my pocket on that
evening. With what a savage triumph
when | had dashed him on the pavement
did | stamp upon the PROSTATE carcass o.
the groaning wretch! but my JOY was brief
for was suddenly seized by three or foul
men, who held me firmly by the arms.
could not get at him. Needless of my ra
wings, they assisted the miscreant to rise
who casting one lance OF terror towards
me, darted down an alley, and was lost to
me forever. He had escaped me.
How reached home know not. Her,
bert, who visited me next morning, forbade
me to rise from my bed. He said my brar
was unsettled, and believe it was. Blu
was well again in a month.
The one idea pervaded my whole being
when | arose from my bed. Ny rencoun
ire with Hastings had whetted my appetite
for revenge so deeply. that no reason. M
thought, no feeling could control me. He
was evidently in state Of the most AFFECT
beggarv and want. That conviction die
not disarm me; it rendered me only III,
more determined and infiexible.
went forth one evening, and with much
difficulty discovered the public house from
which had seen him emerge on that night
From the landlord obtained every partcu
lar | required TO know. Hastings had i
seemed, changed his name:-it was now
Harris. He resided in one small room OF
the first floor Of a house in filthy cour
hard by; that is if he had not left the neigh
borhood, for the man had not seen him for
month past.
1t is well. drank two glasses of bran
dy; for it was cold night, and proceeded
towards my destination. found it easily
There was light in the window, and, iron
the reflection of mans figure on the wal
Judged he was at home. The house doc
was open, and ! entered the narrow pas
sage. AT that moment ! trembed, and ia
an instant could not proceed. No: it wa'
not that which made me tremble; | knew
and was prepared for what had to do
1t was the other,--it was that face which
feared | could not bear to behold.
This was as have said, the weakness c
a moment. mounted the stairs and burs
into the room suddenly. A man and VIC
man were seated at a small fire, who ros
abruptyon my entrance. 1t was not Hal
rs and-his wife.
"Where is the man-Hastings | ell
claimed, addressing the old couple.
As uttered these words, loud shrle
proceeded from bed behind me, and I,