The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-04-12

nor stay mo longer With them! II our
mother 10 sick, why do you not 20 home
and attend Der, and not leave her, perhaps
to die, while you are following mo about
with your lachry mose recisals Of her suffer
ings!
u tell YOU that en- resolved to try nv
luck once more 1t that infernsl Faro-bank !;
! have resolved upon il, nor you, nor the
world could dissuade me from it,
sAh, quit il now, while you may yet con-
troll yourself, Cor il you still persist in il,
you will be 20 incon,rollably confirmed in
the habit 40 10 ever follow il up. Do come
along with me--indeed James, must not
permit you 10 ascend those fatal stairsr
Charles, do not arouse me. OF tho COO.
sequences will be ON your own hesd! ]
say again will you release my armi-le,
goof it now, lee. something ensus Of which
you may repent
Once moro ! pray you do not 20 up
ihose stairs--come James, il 10 your broth.
er who spesks--he who played with you 10
your youth, and would save you ia your
manhood: let me entrest you, my brother,
10 accompany mo home, that you may look
upon your mother, perhaps for the last
time.
Curse you. won't you release that grip
upon my arm! II csntt get rid Of you in
any other way must adopt the last re-
Sort
Surely, James. you would no. strike .
brother.
III you will not release me-sake thu, =
And dsshing his clenched hand forcibly in.
to bis brothers face, James Merton bound.
ed up tho steps end dar,ed through door
way At the top. The blow for . moment
stunned Charles, and falling against the
handrail, he chung 10 il for support. Re-
covering after q while, he tried to stand,
but sremor coming upon HE limbs, be sat
on the lowermost step. He placed his
hand upon his bruised face, and sat With
HE head thus hanging down in silence.
Finally his breast heaved and . tear drop
ped upon the floor. 'L9rd, did / ever ex-
pect to como 10 this-to be struck b. bro.
Their: he calculated, - he wiped of the
blood which had dripped down upon his
shirt bosom. Then sgsin he rested his face
upon his hands and sirove to compose him.
self. but despite his efforts his wounded
feelings throed his breast, end the tears
dowec from his eyes. At this nomen, two
young men came suddenly ia the door
way.
who have We herer cried one, stopping
before Charles Merton. Are you drunk,
or only sleeping, or both! fla, blood! Are
you stabbed. or only strucki'
Neither, ] presume-only little too
top-heavy, and in falling struck his head
against post-are you hurt said the 9th.
err
Only slightly, sir said Charles 10 low
voice.
lie 10 drunkr cried one Of the men,
Get up you drunken bruie--ges upr and
saying thus, he spurned him with his bnot.
i pray. sir, do not iMure me. for am
hurt now said Charles Merton, but not re-
moving his hand from bic face.
Get out Of my way, brute, Or ] will kick
you into the street.
Let him alone Jack, and let 10 CO. cried
the other, taking his comrade BY the arm,
but - the other insisted ihst the wsy should
be cleared fos him, Charles arose and lei
them pass up the steps.
For . moment be stood pesplexed and
partially stupilisd from the effects Of the
blow. He made = gesture, % il to start up
the steps to recall bic brother, but tassied
ere no had but laid hold Of The banister, and
standing 10 On attitude Of indecision, pla-
ced bic hand to bic head - il to recall his
scattered senses. Turning quickly around
he stepped down the BoweEy. Continuing
at pace almost that Of q run, he turned
down Norfolk street till he arrived 1t .
small row ofone story frame houses, 10 one
Of which he entered. A blue-eyed, fair
girl, not unlike him in features met him .,
the door. She placed her finger upon her
lip, ond glsncing At the bed, cautioned her
hsother not to create such noise . 10 dis
turb the sleeper. Then the sister saw
hlood upon Charles fsce-she started back
in alarm and terror, with such a exclama-
tion o. to start the invalid from her sleep.
She opened her eyes, and saw ssssding d.
recsly before her--his eyes red With weep.
ing, and his face swollen and bloody-hsr
youngest son. The spectacle acted With
that terrible fatality, which such . sight
might b anticipated upon . nervous sys-
tom shsttesed with disease. The mother
started, screamed, and went into convul-
sions. One followed anolher in quick cue.
cession. each one Increasing 10 strength,
and rapidly consuming the little vital pow.
Or which she had rsmainine.
Towards midnight Mss. Merton recover.
I'd her consciousness, but tho psllos Of
death, with 10 deeply marked Indications,
were stamped iadsIibly upoa her isslusss.
sWhese b Jemesf wish to 80 Jsmes,'
1 IN anid - nnan - aha I'D eA1lncAad 49,