Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-09-22

4 y
them over his head. Having staunched
the wound, the bleeding Of which had been
checked by the coagulating blood-the
good wife dressed il ia manner approved
by medical men, gave her patient COM
posing draught, and then returned 10 her
seat by the kitchen fire.
The farmer now began to be himself.
He moved like wounded snake in his
unquiet sleep. He opened his eyes, glar-
ed wildly around him. There is blood
upon my hand, said he. Meg, it was
all joke = Fla ha devilish good
coke As he sad this, conscience felt
the dreadful gnawing of the worm that
never dies, and SILVER along the limbs
Of Brown told but too plainly that he had
sealed in blood bond conveying to re-
gions OF everlasting fire his miserable
soul The fumes OF debauch arose like
mist upon his brain, and he slept again.
His wife now paid the stranger another
visit, and finding every thing working as
it should, retired TO her desoate COUCH
Morning came, and the sobered farmer
arose from his pillow Of remorse. His
face was haggard, his eyes blood shot,
and his hair, like that of furies, seemed
changed into serpents.
He said bnt little, and went out mme-
diately after breakfast. His wife saw
him go up the hill side. She knew that
he had gone to bury the body, and she
rejoiced to think that he would labor in
vain. NooE and night, and morning
came, but no husband approached the
farm house. Weeks rolled on, and John
Brown was seen no more on the hill side,
or in his homely dwelling. His whistle
was hushed on the moor, and his football
awoke not the echoes of the forestway.
The stranger, in the meantime, recov-
cred justice of the peace was sent Tor,
and an affidavit was made of the facts
IN the case. The murderous wretch was
described with fearful correctness, nll-
all but the face. That was concealed by
a slouched hat, and could not be described.
The wife breathed again. With wo-
mans wit, she spoke but little Of her hus-
bands absence, and when she alluded to
II, she spoke of it as an absence Of short
duration, with her advice and consent.
The stranger proved TO be a nobeman
of wealth, endeavored to cheer the gloo.
my shades Of the deserted woman's heart,
but it was a vain attempt. There Is no
cure for blighted love, no peace for III
fed heart. God alone can be the widows
husband-Goo alone can gladden. the
widows heart.
You shall never want, Meg, said the
noblemsn, as he sat by the farmers wife,
a few evenings after he was able TO walk.
Il must go to London business of impor'
lance urges me there. When you are IN
distress, one hint of the fact to me will
produce instant relief
A carriage, with the EarPs coronet,
now drove up to the cottage door. The
wife said nothng-she seemed 10 be lost
in an uniathomed mystery.
will you not accompany me, my faith
ful nurse = said the stranger, as he pre-
pared to depart from the dwelling OF char
liable love.
Nay, SIR said the wife, Il cannot thus
suddenly leave the spot OF my early hope.
Here, sir, | was born; here was mar
ried on yonder green hilock danced "a
way the sorrow of childhood IN yonder
church, whose spre now CLEANS in the
dying sunlight, gave my guilty spirit up
to God. On yonder p'an, sleep my chill
dren, beside that old oak rest father and
mother, the first born the catalogue of
life. Here, sir, have smiled in joy, and
wept in sorrow, and here will de-
Entreaties and prayers were all in vain.
She withstood every kindness of her
guest, and finally accepted only reason.
able charge for his board. AS the Earl
was about to take q seat in the carriage,
the deserted wife approached him.
Stranger guest said she, with much
feeling, Il have done you good service.
You have said he, while tear of
gratitude stole down his cheek.
'Wll you do me one favor in return ?
said she.
Most certainly will |, said tho Earl.
Then write upon a piece Of vellum
what | shall dictate, said she with hur.
RED voice.
He took up his pen, and wrote in plain
characters as follows:
Circumstances have convinced me that
an attempt to murder me on the tenth of
December, IS, on Stone Hill, Lincoln.
shire, would have been successful, had it
not been for the kind interference of John
Brown and his wife, of Hopedale.
This paper is left as slight memorial
of an event which time can never etiace
from my memory.
JOHN, EARL OF -
She read it over, after he had signed
it. 1t will do said she. Now farewell. ,
The grateful Earl sprang into his seat.
He threw his purse into her bosom.-
Farewell said he, in a husky tone, and
away ratified his carriage with the swift
ness ofthe wind. The coronet flashed in
the sunbeam, and then the vehicle, with
its outside riders, was lost in the winding
forest. way.
Ten years rolled away, and the wife
Of John Brown suddenly disappeared from
HopedaIe, and then the farm. house, like
deserted thing, stood solitary and silent
amid tho smiles of autumn. A middle
sized stranger, with a sailors jacket and
tarpaulin, and bundle dangling at the
r. - z.,cl, nyar he shnnl1aro rao,ad