Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-03-05

enough, though he had buttoned MS coat over II.
lizard work, indeed, says and now I've
lost every thing not a cent Left for a quid Of
baccy'
"Ifthats ALL says he; there's help for that.
don't chew myself, and | ant a rich man I've
wife and children and want every cent I've got
but it's ones duty TO help countryman. You
shall have money for tobacco and dram
And so sayin, he took purse out Of his pock-
ct, in which he carried his change. II was 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 Of the openn' o.
the purse.
"Halves = cried l.
"No, not that says he I've wife and child,
and what | have belongs to them but half
dollar
Halves cried | again %. else,-
cor else 7 repeated he and he spoke, he put
the purse back into his pocket, aud laid hold Of
the rifle which was slung on his shoulder
Don't force one to do you a mischief said he.
Don't, says he; we might both be sorry for it
What you're thinkin' of brings no blessin."
81 was past seein or hearin." A thousand devils
from hell were possessin me.
Halves 2 | yelled out and as said the word,
he sprang out of the saddle, g. fell back over his
horses crupper to the ground
"Pm dead man 2 cried he as well as the
rattle in his throat would let him. God be mercilul
to mel My poor wife, my poor children
Bob paused, he gasped for breath. and the sweat
stood in large drops upon his forehead He gazed
wildly around the room. The Judge himself look
ed very pale l tried to rise, but sank back in my
chair. Without the table believe should have
fallen to the ground
There was gloomy pause Of some moments
duration. At last the Judge broke silence.
"A hard hard case said he. Father mother,
children all at one blow. Bob you are a bad fel.
low a very bad fellow; a great villain =
A great villain groaned Bob. 'The ball was
gone right through his breast
perhaps your gun went of by accident said
the Judge anxiously. perhaps i, was his own
ball.
Bob shook his head.
Il see him now, Judge, as plain as can be when
he said, Don't force me to do you mischief
We might both be sorry for it, But pulled the
trigger. His bullet is still in his rifle
When | saw him lie dead before me, can't tell
you what felt 1t 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 dragged him under the
Patriarch, and dug grave with my huntin' knife
for found him there afterwards
You found him there ? repeated the Judge.
Yes. | don't know how he came there.
must have brought him, but | recollect Rothin a.
bout it,
The Judge had risen from his chair, and was
walking up and down the room, apparently in deep
thought. Suddenly he stopped short.
What have you done with his money!
Il took his purse, but buried his belt with him, as
well as flask of rum, and some bread and beef he
had brought away from Johnny's. ] Sc, out for San
Felipe, aud rode the whole day, In the even,'
when looked about me, expectin' to see the town,
where do you think was 2
The Judge and stared at him.
Under the Patriarch The gost of the murder
ed man had driven me there. had no peace ill
| dug him up and buried him again. Next dav
set off in another direction. | was out of tobacco
and started across the prairie 10 Anahuac. Lord,
what day passed Wherever | went, he stood
before me. i'll turned he turned too. Sometimes
he came behind me, and looked over my shoulder
spurred my mustang till the blood came, hopin'
to get away from him, but it was all of no use. !
thought when got TO Anahuac should be quit
of him, and gaoped on as if for life or death
But in the eyenin,' instead Of bein' close to the
saltworks as expected, there | was agn under
the Patriarch. dug him up second time, and
sat and stared at him, and then buried him agn'
Queer that observed the Judge.
'Ay very queer! said Bob mournfuliy. But it's
all no use. Nolhin does me any good | shant
be better-I shall never have peace till I'm hung
Bob evidently felt relieved now; he had in man
ner 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 counenanee.
'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
We'll, il you will have it so, we'll see what can
be done for you. Wen call jury of the ghbors
together Tomorrow
Thank ye, squire, murmered Bob, visibly COM
forted by this promise.
Wen Summon a Jury, repeated the Alcade, and
see what can be done for you. You'll perhaps
have changed your mind by tina, time
stared at him lk one fallen from the Clouds
but he did not seem to notice my surprise.
"There is, perhaps another way TO get rid
of your life, if you tired Of it, he continued
1--WE might, perhaps, hit upon one that would
satisfy your conscience
Bob shook his head Involuntary made the
same movement.
AT any rate, we'll hear what the neighbors say
added the Judge.
Bob stepped up to the Judge, and held out his
hand to bid him farewell The other did not take
it, and turning to me said-yOu had better stop
here think
Bob turned round impetuously
The gentleman must come with me-
why must he I? said the Judge.
ASK himself
again explained the obligations was under TO
Bob; how we had fallen in with one another; and
what care and attention he had shown me at
Johnnys.
The Judge nodded approyingy. Nevertheless
said he. you will remain here and Bob will go
alone. You are in a state Of mind Bob, in which
a is better alone. dye see and so leave the
young man here Another misfortune might hap
pen and, at any rate, he's better here than at
Johnny's. Come back tomorrow, and we'll see