Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-23
Se,er Be Positive.

what Swear to some mans ldenti-
y"
!, " Yes sir: the poacher we seized yes
terday crossing the park. Morley has
some aualmlsh doubts whether he Is the
man who escaped from US, III the scuiiie,
! tie other night, i'll the woods and, as
we took him without arms or game, mere
| ly in the path of the lower copplce, he
! does not like to detain him unless he IS
= quite certain of having the right man. -
: Alter the mistake al Stanford, 1t might
be awkward, you know"
"Ay. indeed Sir John does we'll to
pause and If he is not as sure as Tint
( Wonder bright sun now shines over us
he would do better to let the man "a
free"
"Go free! Nv dear uncle, only cen
slider the game -besdes, | have no doubt
al aH, and | was present at the aifray.
d, "WeIl if YOU have n0ne-no fraction
of misgying-no suspicion, the very
faintcst, that you may be wrong then
let Justice take her course. But, IT yoU
hare, stop while you can, and, IN Gods
great name, Tom, let the man go"
The speaker, fine old man-onc OF
a race now well nigh extinct, the Eng
lish country squlre-rose, ~ he spoke,
from the seat he had taken upon fallen
tee in hii nephew's park, and lad >
hand upon the shoulder of each young
man who stood hy him
You wonder, boys, to hear veteran
sportsman plead thus iof suspected
poacher, and, dare say, think me super.
annuated or mad. But have warning
memory ever present WREN ! hear the
question of identity discussed and wher
: | tell YOU what 1t is, you will, ! think
= agree with me, that nothing less than I
certainty so positive that 1t is impossible
10 hesitate, should make one man TAX
chat terrible oath which iasiens upor a
mother the perpctration ofcrlme."
Forty years ago, ! was in the crn
, mission OF The peace for this county, and
r healthy active fellow of thirty, was
considered a somewhat useful addition
even to a Bench then bpastng some oI
the clevere-t men in the division as its
, magistrates. About ten miles from my
!, place was the family seat Of the NhHr.
tons, occupied by the head of the race, a
stern old man, who with the possessions
Ct prince, lived the life Of a mIser. lie
had one child, daughter. A most beau
tful creature was Minnie Wharton gen.
tie and generous, graceful as fairy, and
blIthe as n blrd, no one ever looked up
on without loving her how she came ,c
, be the child Of that miserable old man
Dame Nature has ii among her whlms tC
answer for | said every one loved MIN
ME, but am wrong her father did not
Courteous as a high bred soldier of the
ancient school he was always, even II
his austcre parsimonv, but he never for
gave his daughter the crime of not benz
son, aud 50 letting the broad lands o
S Wharton pass ava, TO a nephew he de
= tested. Bitterly did Colonel WEar,oa
and his heir abhor each other: some un
usual clause in the deed of entail gave
. Young Wharton a power of enquiry and
d supervision over the estates-a very hate
e ul riuht in successor. and one neC1
INC TO be most tenderlv exercised; but
cxertinq it as Charles y harton did
stretching such an obnoxious authority
= to It's utmost limit, even mlder mar
than his uncle must have detcsted hun
At last when his hate was at It's fullest,
, Minnie, who had been, for a few years, II
Scotland under the care of her mother,
family. came back TO tie hbbey-iron
, being the pet and darling Of her aunts
10 the checrless home Of pcnurlous faith
er, who scarcely exchanged dozen
words with Ter AT time, in her wan
derings about the grounds, she met her
cousin, who, struck by her beauty, and
guessing who she was, accosted her
They walked ON, talking of pleasant
things, aud the hr,t hour Of peace enc
happiness Minnie had spent Tor some
, months. now passed. When she returned
, to thc Abbey she would have named hcr
companion to her father, but he was II
one uf his coolest moods So her hear
failed her. and she vas sicut In TIN,
way on glded the summcr and no wonder
that, before autumn leaves began tc
change, Charles aud Minnie " hartor
were pledged loyers-whllc now, for th,
cent love. she learned The cnmiiy 3nb
.slstng between her father ard lover.
q. lie hates ne Minnie, because al
d these vide acres must pass rom YOU t'
nc bccaus-, oh, dearest aud best
uhcl | give them back ID you, "a their
iswctt mistress, burtheued only with mJ'
I,scIi, lac will learn to look kindly eve.
IIupon me- said charles, as MmnIe cIung
sh,cring, to him Nhcn ne described the
coloncrs aversion, and the stormy scene-
he had reused aud revelIcl ~.
Il have often wondered how so gentle
la being as Minnie could give her heart
Ilto such a man a. her cousin but wo-
men are strange Inconsistencies, aud, J
suppose, his handsome face and fg"r'
won her girlish fancy. lie always seem.
ed TO me poets idea of fallen ange
cnl od,rj- daring. naughty, bold and
Illtsre. Tenles, IN danger. reckless ~