Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-01-16
From the Saturday Courie
BENEDICT ARNOLD,

There was a night, when an awful ago
ny was passing in the breast Of Arnold; the
struggle between Arnold's revenge and
ArnoId's pride.
You have all seen that old house, in Sc
cond near Walnut street, which once the
home of William Penn, once the palace of
| Bene,ict Arnold, is now used as a manu-
factory of Venus De Medicis, and sugar
candies. Tha. old house, picturesque in
ruins. with ba,tlenented walls and deep
gabIed roofs.
One night a gorgeously furnished cham
Der, in that house. was iIlumined by the
glare of bright wood fire. And there,
with his back to that fre-,here, looking
out upon the western sky, cleaning in
deep starlight, stood Benedict Arnold. One
hand was laid upon his breast, which
'hrobbed in long deep gasps; the other held
lwoelelters.
Read the superscription of those letters,
by The light of the stars; one is directed to
General Washington, the other to Sir Hen
ry Clinton. One announces his accep-
lance of the command of West Point, the
other offers 10 sell West Point to the Bril-
fish.
And now look at that massive face, quiv-
ering with revenge, pride and patriotism
look at that dark eye. cleaning with The
horror of lost soul look at that barred
throat with the veins swelling like cords
That is the struggle between Arnold the
Patriot and Arnold the Traitor!
And there. far back in the room, hal
hidden among sllken curtains, silent ant
+hnug htful, sits a lovely woman, her hand:
cIasped. her unbound hair showering dowr
over her shoulders. her large blue eye:
gIaring wildly upon the fire! Well may
that bosom heave, that eye glare For nov
the wife of Arnold is waiting for the deter
miua,ion of her husbands fate 3; now, tn
darkest shadow is passing over the Dial
plate of lis destiny.
}, While Arnold stands broot!ing there
while his wife sits trembling by the fire
without, in the ante-chamber, three per
sons wait Tor nm.
One is base browed man clad in tn
blue uniform of the Continentals. TurI
that uniform and it is scarlet. That is
British Spy. He is waiting to bear th
letter TO Sir Henry Clinton.
! That handsome cavalier, dressed in tn
extreme of fashion. with embroidered Goa,
red heeled shoes and powdered hair, is
nobIeman Of France the Ambassador O
the French King. the ChevaIier De In
zerne. He has come here to listen TO tn
offer of Arnold, who wishes 10 euter tn
service Of The French King. ....
The lhiId-look! A silent and moody
red-man of the forest; an Indian chief
wrapped up in his blanket. standing there
, proud as king on his throne.
He has come from the wilds Of the for
} est in tile far northwest. TO hearken 10 tn
answer Of Arnold nhe DEATH EAGLE. a
the Indians call him. to their proposition
By which they agree to make him chief O
their tribes. -Ha:
Now look : the door opens the thre
enter; Arnold turns and beholds them.
Then occurs hurried and terrible scene
While ,;,e wife of Arnold sis trembling
there by the fire, he advances, aud greet
the Chevaler De Lnzerne:
Look ye,' he mutters in quick tones
Your king can have my sword. but mark
am in debt, the mob boot me in tn
streets. my creditors are clamorous. | mus
4 have money!
This bid time D. one used to command
little suits the polite Anbassados.