The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-30
"Is The man dead, sir2' he inquired

of the master. what
the man DR.. Ebury came 10 see, an
l.our or So sinceg' ..The same.--ay,
the same,'' replied Oxleigb. hastily.
"Yes, sir. He died while DR.. ELury
was with him; and he llas....'' l
"Give me light. sir, and lei me be
shown into The room alone. Il is OF
consequence" said Oxlsigh, sternIy;
and presently, with a candle in his hand,
he entered the oom where the corpse,
yet undistnrbed, was lying. He shut
the door and bolted il; approached the
corpse, and let The light of the candle
fall upon the ghastly features. His
own countennnce was blanched III d
moment. "So--.-i, is YOU! Did
ruffian!" he gasped, in low choaked
tone, his body half reclining from that
of the dead man: his eyes cleaning
with diabolical stare upon those Of
the corpse; his left hand eleva,ing tile
candle, and his righ,, with The fist con.
vulsively clenched, extended, for nearly
a minute, in quvering contact with the
face Of the deceased, He struck the
cold corpse---.and then, overcome with
horror sank down into chair; his can.
die dropped'"was extinguished"and
then The dead and living ruffians were
left together in darkness. $3.50
In a state OF distraction, bordering on
frenzy, Oxleigh made his way from the
workhouse, umazing the people he pass
ed by the wldness and agitation appa-
rent in his countenance. He hurried
on horseback TO Gwynne Hall, and
nsked hastily for Sir William Gwynne.
He was informed that the baronet; feel;
ing worse that evening, had been some
hours in bed. "Never mind, SIR" said
Oxleigh TO the thundersuuck valet;
"show me into Sir William, Instantly.
Tell him my name, and that my busi-
ness is OF mortal conseqnence!' The
valet returned shortly, and conducted
Mr.. Oxleigh at once to the bedside of
his master. Naa .tfHi 34abGes .s1
a"Well, sir."welI," commenced the
baronet, in low and hurried tone.
"What is the matter? For Gods sake.
sir, ,ohds has happened?' he inquired;
in still greater agitation, seeing Oxleigh
speechless. and the image Of despair. 4
aa"Sr William, it is all over with us;
we are pIscoyEREpr' at length re piled
Oxleigh, in a gasping whisper, laying
his shaking hand on The baronet's shout
der. Sir William sprung up in bed, as
# he had received an electric shock,
tossed off the bed-clolhes, and lay curv-
ed up and crouched in the midst Of
them, with his hands clutching the hair.
Of his head, and his countenance full Of
frightful expression. II did little more
than reflect the horor.stricken features
of Oxleigh. There was a guilty pair.
The baronet, without having uttered a
syllable. slowly sank again into bed,
and lay there absolutely gaspine...
Neither Of them spoke. At length OK.
leigh recovered himself sufficiently to
say, "Sir William, Sir William, this il
very true: but we must not shrink in
the hour Of danger. We must meet il
like men. We must. Sir William . he
continued, eyng the dumb. struck, stup-
ifed baronet, who scarce seemed 10
hear him, but mumbIed 10 himself. Al
length, Oxleigh distinguished the words,
"ls il death or transportation r. You
are rambling, Sir William! What ar,
you talking about? 1t is weak 10 be.
have thus, in such an awful crisis. Re.
member how you have implicated me,
Sir Wiliamw 4ra lGe 30
The baronet was reused by these
las, words from his lethargy. He turn
ed his head suddenly towards Oxleigb,
looked at him few seconds, and then
suddenly leaped towards him, grasped
him by the collar, and shook him with
frantic fury, exclaiming, "You fend!
| you fend !..-lo talk thus TO Mki" He had
hardly uttered the words, however,
before his hold relaxed, and he dropped
into bed again in swoon. Oxleigh
rang the bell, and when the valet made
his appearance, he informed him he
was going 10 bring the physician, and
suddenly left the hall. He hurried
through the lonely park on foot; and
when he had reached the thickest clump
Of trees, he paused, leaned against the
| glstening trunk OF an old ash, and, with.
folded arms and bent brows, pondered
over his fearful fortunes. l
| "What is TO be done! DR.. Ebury has
taken down his confession, and has NOT
returned, as be promised, TO my house! !!
Then he knows all! Messengers will
be sent off to- America. Sir William
and shall be arrested, we shall be con.
fronted with Fowler in n court OF ius-
iice.- or---l must away be,imes! And
yet suppose, after 81. the man died be,