Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-17

snail De neaTu, 4 CTleu S1all NV
be quietly robbed by you in the very midst
of thousands of people, all ready to give as
sstance, did they know my situation.
have chance of being heard from this
window" aud proceeded to the window
which looked out to the rear of the house.
q" should quietly stay here, and endure
your insolence till the morning, but that
wish to get you punished for your conduct"
He rose quickly, and suddenly placed
himself between me and the window
I" | want no nolse--no commissioning
outcries--I must manage the business quiz
ety."
made momentary demonstration Of
trying to obtain iorcible possession of the
window, but it was only for moment;
shrunk from personal contest with a man so
base.
YES" he cried, with malignant sneer,
"you would 6ght-you and where is your
strength ?" He looked from my emaciated,
enfeebled figure to his own square and very
strong proportions. What chance could
such a creature as you have with me 3
could not crush you with the most ex-
IRENE ease, if | so wished, but | want no
vioIence-I hate the sight of blood do,
indeed | only want that little sum in your
pocket-book, to which have proved to you
that |, poverty-strcken man, have right.
However, must let you see, that, if
please, can shortly settle your puny noise
and resistance. Look" he drew out a
pistol, 1" it is ready loaded, and fit for use at
any moment; so look to yourself-the pock-
et-book | must have without force, if can"
Every lingering doubt Of the mans inten-
lions vanished at this, and saw before me
the determined robber and murderer
" You shall not have the pocket-book-
you shall murder me first" said reckless
ly, as | seated myself on the old chntz-cov-
cred sofa.
He made no answer, but still grasping
the pistol, he fixed the hard, peering looks
on me which had at first disturbed me, and
filled me with vague fears. | knew not
: whether it was the effect of his singular
gaze, or of the over-excitement acting on
, my weak system, but l felt stealing all
. through my frame a subtle, drowsy, sick
sensation, such as in all the long illness
had endured had hardly experienced My
head became giddy, and was conscious that
, my face was banching, my lips particular
: ly becoming dry and white. At that hour
of midnight--one o'clock-was struck in
various parts ofthe great city, and the sound
: vIbrated on my ears with strange distinct
ness
"The effects are beginning to appear at
last" muttered Savall, in kind of half so.
liloquy, but still watching me without ceas.
ing.
= The words seemed to me hardly to have
Oh l,,h 4.
{ ing was their intonaton, and involuntdri-
ly uttered
"What effects :"
"The effects of the poison" he answer
ed, calmly.
| Poison what poison ~
{ Poison which | administered to you il
= the negus, which you will recollect | pre-
l pared for you in the Italian manner, as
= said at supper"
2 AT this | sat without speech or emotion.
a Don't be very much alarmed" he con
S tinued, in the calmest tones, sit is a pecu
liar narcotic poison | administered to you
h and if you drink the antidote, some o
which have in this phial, the poison vii
S only operate as medicine, a most excel
J. lent medicine even, the only unpleasant eli
s feet being slight stupeiaction at first.
k knew well that unless l drugged you il
: some manner, could not obtain possession
l. of your pocket-book without violence AM
n now shall pour out some ofthe antidote I!
He held up the phial
y GIVE it to me-" | cried, with the in
:, stinct of selfpreservation.
d "Well, when you hand me out the peck
e et-book, the phal shall be yours"
J. 1.-The pocket-book VILLAIN you shal
j. not have it,"
As | said this felt, or fancied l felt, tn
e symptoms ola horrible stupefacton throug
1t my frame there was whirl of dull, dream
fe like confusion in my head, a strange sounc
ing in my ears, and my eye-lids, despite m
'e efforts, weighed down at times with leade
heaviness, the very agony which natural
s. possessed me when | heard and believed
~ was poisoned had nothing of the activity an
in wakeiulness Of healthful agony; it wa
ly plain that | was laborng under the effec,
il of some powerful narcotic.
n "Fool I" exclaimed Savall "you mu.
IN be aware that | shall certainly have III
of pocket-book now, whether you like i
at whether you consent or not you are raj
re idly becoming incapacitated, and befor
long you will be totally unconscious, and
shall meet but little resistance, indeed,
We taking the pocket-book."
ur Alter this, distinctly remember how III
whole scene became like delirious FAINT
e, sy. thought | had suddenly gone back
r, gain to the worst period of the fever fro
d. which SO recently rose; drew out ii
ne pocket-book, think, and said would bur
ed it, and then, when ! should die, he Saval
o. would at least get DO benefit from it; b,
H. as spoke had hardly strength to Use fro
". my seat. did rise, however. and tottere
he to the Fireplace, but there close to it stoc
al Savall, with the bare, cold pistol raised
as his hand.
eel "Any disturbance-any attempt at di
r. turbance, and your death shall be speedier
'e- he said
l do not know what answered, or whet
it er ] answered at all. looked at the fir
he however, and saw that it was to all appea
mt ance dead, not a single gimmer appeart
at there was only pile of cinders and as
es. How l longcd for strong blaze, tn
ii, | might suddenly throw all my bank not
or into it, and see them consumed at once
fore my face and then Sayall would he di