The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 184?-1851, 1845-02-19

age. Nor were the months Tar q their hight.
At the end of two short years, his property was
formally yielded by his passive guardian and the
day that gave him house and land, stock. and
slave, saw him resign it TO the ieuds who had
possessed him with a love of all that was degra-
ding 10 human nature, and taught him TO scoff at
all who were truly poor and v%irtuous.
1t is the same Bradley Spencer, kind reader,
whose brief career we have endeavored TO trace,
that we left in the little village, with his knayish
companions, who fresh from the hiding places of
loathsome vice, were intent on drawing the
young man into yet gieater depths of wicked
ness. But they struck upon the wrong chord
Spencer had been c~ulpable, it is true, but he
was to himself his worst foe; he had not willing
ly injured others, but had been the dupe, in ev-
cry instance. Thus, when his brutal comrade
expressed his determination TO ROB one of the
habitations before them, and urged his assistance,
his nobler spirit that had slept so long, was arou-
sed, and he gave vent 10 his feelings in the man
ner we have described.
Brief was their consultation, and the argu-
menls they held with him babe fair to be of no
avail until the elder and more polite villain, de-
clared that Bradley could not now withdraw with
honor, as they should suspect he meant TO betray
them; that they would not require his assistance,
if he had any foolish prejudice 10 the contrary;
but he should accompany themas a mere locker
on.--Without pausing for an answer, he passed
his arm in that of the young mans, and follow
ed by Layton, they stepped into a small yard, at
the gable end of one of the mansions. There,
a window had been left open by the unsuspect-
ing inmates, for the ben6t of The air.-Spring-
ing lightly in, he was followed by the others.
Creeping their way by the light of a dark lantern,
which Layton pulled from the bosom of his coat,
thus showing himself perfectly au fat insuch
procecdings--thcy ascended a staircase, and
paus'ng in a long passage, babe Bradley to be
walchtnl, and give a low whistle upon the slight
est alarm. THO Two less scrupulous ~rufi7ns then
pursued th2ir way down the passage. What
Spencef's reflection would have been, he had not
leisure TO ascertain, for, fancying he heard a low
breathing, Ike enc in deep slumber, he turned
and discovered, by the light of the moon, which
was streaming in a window near, a door, which,
on applying his hand, yielded TO the impulse.
lmpelled by curiosity, or some more defnablc
feeling, he stepped softly into the room. A
n ght-lamp was burning dimly upon a table,
near a small couch, where, in her bright and
youthful loneliness, slept a fair girl. Scarce had
the breath of sixteen summers passed over the
clear brow that lay aplurned in lis marble white
ness for
Deaths twin-sister, sleeps
weighed down the yeincd lids, the long dark
llshes of which rested ON the family Hinged
cheek beneath. AS Spencer turned from this
unexpected vision, his glance fell upon a small
book, that lay open ON tho table. Some light
Yann:I ,,- ,h,, r,;YtxJ o.. - IL
drew his attention. AS he bent to read, his
brow crimsoned, and his frame trembIed with
emotion. 1t was a volume of the ill-fated Shell
'ley's Poems, open at 1" Adonias," and as he
read
"Remorsc and selfcontempt shall cling tn thee,
Hot shame shall burn upon thy secret brow,''
a full sense of his degradation, and how he had
"fnllen, from his high %estate," rushed upon his
stricken heart, and feelings that had slumbered
long, were snow fully awakened by the thrilling
lines of the mystical poet, and the strange scene
before him. As he turned quickly to leave
where his presence was a sacrilege, his attention
was caught by a small miniature, one glance at
which showed him the waking likeness of the
sleeping beauty before him. Involuntarily CATCH
ing it, he fled from the room, and giving The sig
nal agreed upon, TO his companions. the next mo-
ment saw them vending their way 10 the boat,
which, having discharged the freight that detain-
ed her, was soon flying upon her onward
course.
THREE years had passed away, since Bradley
Spencer, lcagued with common thieves, accom-
panied them on their nelarious night expedition,
in the little village already mentioned. Bradley
Spencer, then companion of gamblers and low
|debauchecs, was now Henry Murray, the trusted
head clerk Of one of the most wealthy mercan-
tile houses in New York. From the ever men,
orablc night of the robbery, the wretched young
man iorsook his unworthy associates. "Remorse
and self-contempt' did indeed cling 10 him,
and despair and shame at first conquered his re-
naming energy. But the spirit was present
with him; it only needed to be reused into action.
He had parted with his last dollar, when he arri-
we'd in New Yolk, and the change of name was
decided on to sooihe the pride that came to his
aid after SO long lime. Deprivations only rem
deTed him stronger in his virtuous purposes, thus
proving at once the false system of indulgence
adopted by his parent.
Clement Archer, Esq, was a stern, unbending
business man. Strictly moral in his walk before
men, he required all around him to show the
same regard for the welfare of society. With a
heart filled with benevolence, though veilnd
with an air of sternness, he received Bradley in
his counting house, as Henry Murray, knowing
it to be fictitious name, for Spencer scorned TO
impose on his benefactor in this respect, and
though Bradley's past history was a sealed book
which his employer never attempted to pry into
he could not help f~ancying some misdemeanor
had driven the young man from his home aud
friends. He contented himself, therefore, by
placing a strict watch upon his conduct, but af-
ter months had passed away, indeed, years, and
saw Henry The same attentive, hard-laboring
clerk he was al first, his patron took pleasure in
showing him favor, and in placing the most I'M