The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-14


i thought to provoke him, and that he'd
tackle me. But he seemed to have no fancy
for fight, for he said quite humbly like
81 throw nothin' in your face; God forbid
that should reproach you with your losses
I'm sorry for you, on the contrary, Don't
! look like n man who could afford to loose his
dollars, Seem to me one who Arms his mon
ey by hard work.
we were just thon halted at the further
end ofthc cane brake, close to the trees that
border the Jacinto. had turned my horse,
and was frontin' the stranger And all the
time the devil was busy whisperin' TO me,and
poin TIM TO the belt round the mans waist
could sec where it was, plain enough, though
| he had buttoned his coat over it.
Hard work, indeed says !; and now Pvc
lost every thing; not cent left for quid of
baccy.'
'Ifthats ALL says he; there's help for that.
| don't chew myself; aud amt rich man;
I've wife and children, and want every cent
I've got, but it's ones duty to help country
man. You shall have money for tobacco and
u dram
'And so sayin', he took purse out of his
pocket, in which he carried his change, Ii
twas pretty full; there may have been some
twenty dollars in it; and as he drew the string
it was as if the devil laughed and nodded to
me out ofthe openin' ofthe purse.
'Ilalvesp cried !.
No, not that says he; I've wife and
child, and what have belongs TO them; but
half dollar
''llalves cried again; 'or else'--
OR else?' repeated he; and as he spoke,
he put the purse back into his pocket, and
laid hold ofthe rifle which was sllmg on his
shoulder.
Don't force one to do You n mischief
said he. Don't says he; we might both be
sorry for it. What you're thinlin' Of brings
no blessin''
4 was past SEEM or hearin'' A thousand
devils from hell were possessin' me.
''Ialvesn yelled out; aud, as | said the
word, he sprang out ofthe saddle, IS fell back
over his horses cruPper to the ground.
Pm dead man cried he; as well as the
rattle in his throat would let him. God he
mercifhl to me! My poor wift,my poor chill
drcnn'
Bob paused, he gasped for breath, and the
sweat stood in large drops upon his forehead.
He gaZed wildly around the room. The
Judge himselflooked very pale. ] tried TO
rise, but sank back in my chair. Without the
table | believe ! should have fallen TO the
ground.
There was "A gloomy pause of some mo-
ment's duration. AT last the Judge broke ST.
lence.
"A hard, hard easel said he. Father moth
err, children, all ut one blow. Bob you are u
bad fellow; very bad fellow; IA great villainr
"A great villain groaned Pob. 'The ball
was gone right through his breast
Perhaps your gun went off by accident
said the Judge anxiously. Perhaps it was
his own ball.
Bob shook his head.
81 ind lnit In
when he said, Don't force me to do you
mischief We might both be sorry for it,
But lpulled the trigger. His bullet is still in
his rifle
when saw him lie dead before me, can't
tell you what felt Ii warn't the first had
sent to his account;but yet would have given
all the purses and money in the world TO
have had him alive again. | must have drag
ged him under the Patriarch, and dug grave
with my hlrntin' knife; for found him there
afterwards
You found him there? repeated the Judge.
'Yes, Idon't know how he came there
must have brought him, but recollect moth
in about it,
The Judge had risen from his chair, and
was walking up and down the room, appa-
rentIy in deep thought. Suddenly he stop
ped short.
'What have you done with his money!
Il took his purse, but buried his belt with
him, as we'll as flask of rum, and some
bread and beef'he had brought away from
Johnnys ! set out for San Felipe, and rode
the whole day. In the even, when looked
about me, expectin' to see the town, where do
you think | was"
The Judge and stared at him.
Under the Patriarch. The ghost of the
murdered man had driven me there. had no
peace till dug him up and buried him again.
Next day set off in another direction. L
was out oftobacco, and | started across the
prairie to Anahuac. Lord, what day pass
ed! Wherever went, he stood before me.
If | turned he turned too Sometimes he
came behind me, and looked over my Shout
der. / spurred my mustang till the blood
came, hopn' to get away from him, but it was
all of no use. | thought when l got to Anahu
ac should be quit ofhim, and | galloped on
as if for life or death. But in the evenin', in
stead of bein' close to the saltworks as | ex-
pected, there was agin, under the Patriarch
dug him up second time, and sat and star
ed at him, and then buried him agin.'
Queer that observed the Judge.
'Ay very queerp said Bob momnfully-
But it's all no use. Nothin' does me any
good. shan't be better-I shall never have
peace till Pm hung
Bob evidently felt relieved now;he had in a
manner passed sentence on himself Strange
as it may appear, had similar feeling, and
could not help nodding my head approvingly.
The Judge alone preserved an unmoved coun
tenance.
Indeedp said he,"indeed! You think you'll
be no better till you're hung.
Yes,' answered Bob, with eager haste
Hung on the same tree under which he lies
buried
well, ifyou will have it so, Wen see what
can be done for you. Wen call ajury of the