The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-08-15

uat1on. 30, With an aching heart 3EG
resigned himself to his fate, and en-
! deavored to await in patience, the plea
sure of the good people of the house,te
relieve his anxious mind. af
| Daskness at length began to creep
gradually over the earth, and as he be-
held its slow march, his mental anxiety
increases almost to madness.
Shame also kept him tied to his bed,
but when the night had SO advanced
that the hour of evening prayer hadap-
preached, which he could note by the
distinct sound of the preparations which
reached his silent chamber. then the so
lemn sound of the good mans prayer,
announcing the hour ofretiring to- rest,
he could suffer no longer, but bounding
out Of bed, he tied his handkerchief
around him, then opening the door gen.
tly he pronounced the word Phillip
in tone that seemed to come from the
bosom of the grave. aF aasiav
The old man took tho light, and
slowly strobe along the passage toward
the door, which Bruce held slightly .op-
en-. For God sake, exclaimed Bruce,
rs the old man approached, stell me the
meaning of all this, Mr.. Grcssett; what
does it all meant But the old man
shook bis head mournfully, and walked
slowly away. Poor Bruce uttered o
groan of agony which had well nigh,
brought the old man hack again, hadit
not been that his better half appeared
opportunity at the very moment, and
brought him away; Bruce banged his
door to, in a5twinkling, not wishing to-
show himself to her, under such humili-
ating circumstances; she adyanced,,
however, and opened his door, which,
sent him scampering to bed, withfthe
agility Of deer. ri &N &eg
'Do you want any thing to cat, Mais-
ter Brnce?' she enqui-ed in q kindly
tone.
No! no! not he exclaimed in accents
of agony, Shut tell me Mrs. Grossett,
tell me the meaning of all this ss
'That / never shall do, Master
Bruce; if you donot rccollect the aw-
fully apalling circumstance, am truly
glad; and [ am sure shall be the last
person ever to mention it; but, you
must remain where you aretuntilanop;
portunity occurs for you to escape; the
whole neighborhood are urdor, the Inn
preston that you have fed the country,
which you must do, as soon as we can
procure some clothing for yeu, which.
will be soon.' VA
But, me,ciful God!!' exclaimed
Bruce, sWhat have I done?' si't
sMr. Bruce said the old lady,I'it is
of no use asking any one in this house
such question, for no one would be
unkind enough to tell you e ia
But it is much more unkind to hide
it from me; | implore you in the name
of God, to relieve my anxiety
tRather implore the Almighty to for
give you Mr.. Bruce said the old lady,
turning away. and leaving Bruce in o
state Of mind bordering on. insanity.
Returning in few minutes, she placed
some food and water by his bedside, and
closing the door behind her as she re-
tired, left him to night Of mental mis-
cry. and torture,
To attempt to describe the horrible
sensations that agitated his feyered
mind, were impossible. During a long
and weary night, in which his fancy was.
peculiarly fertile in creating imaginary
instruments to torture his reason, he
longed for the returning light to examine
his hands if there were blood on them:.
and visions, wild and haggard, foated
before his minds eyc,-continually as
suming the most hidcous shapes and
forms his troubled fancy could suggest;
and he groaned under the intolerable
weight of his misery. Sleep!-a trou-
bled sort of lethargy of the senses, in
which every sense acted as rack, none
having the power TO struggle for relief,
was all he could get. Oh! the unspeak-
able misery Of such sleep,--its night.
mare grasp bound him to the instru-
ment that scorched bis unresisting
mind; and his faint and gasping yellss
would at length burst forth, 3 and awake
him to q full sense of his degradation;
while the tears rolled down his checks,
as ho inwardly cursed the hellish liquid
that had consummated SO complete o
ruin Of his happiness. Sometimes he
thought hesaw Jamie approach his betls
side, with his throat cut from ear to ear,
and the blood gushing and ,buggling
from the ghastly wound; and he would
start in horror at the awful spectacle,
and his blood ran cold, as a faint recol.