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

the last stage of reason. The morning
at length broke; but on whats spectacle
of misery did the sunbcams play, as
they broke through the curtainless
windows of his chamber, and how he
strained his eyes to look-on the FIRST
approach of light--for blood on his
hands, there was none observable, but
ho thought he saw some on his arm, and
almost wild with despair he dashed him
self on the bed and burst into flood of
tears.
Poor old Mrs. Grosset heard the
noise, and allowing it to subsde little,
cautiously approached his door, then
opened it gently, and called "Mr.
Bruce little louder than o whisper;
Bruce groancd but spoke not, she called
again in a louder tone; Bruce exclaimed
in pitiable and heart-broken accents,
'Oh, Mrs. Grosset! Mrs. Grosset! what
on earth is tho meaning of all this?'
sHush, Mr.. Bruce! hush for mercy
sake! do not speak so loud; people might
hear you; and I have como with good
news to you there will be chance for
you to get away tonight after dark:
keep quiet till then and all may yet be
well;--just be quict-and in the mean
time will bring you some new milk,
and some bread, it will keep the life in
you for awhile. But--Oh dear! oh
dear! what will your poor father say?'
the old lady closed the door with her
speech, shutting in tho question Bruce
was about to utter with groan, and
walked away for tho milk and bread.
The old lady deplored the course sue
was taking: but desperate cases require
desperate remedies, and as she carried
the uncomfortable breakfast to the
young man, she could not help weeping;
and when she reached his bedside, her
tears flowed in torrents, and Bruce
looked on her with repentance and deep
contrition written in every feature.
But his heart was too full to speak, for
the grief of the Old Lady restrained
his question, and out of respect to her
grief, which was doubtless caused by
him, he looked on her as che raised the
corner of her apron to her eyes, and
slowly walked out Of the room, shutting
himin again a lonely prisoner, for the
space of another entire day.
When evening arrived, poor Bruce
was wasted in mind anu body, and
seemed more like the wreck of a pro-
tracted illness, than the young gallant
over spree.
No sooner was it dark, than Phillip
and his wife, hurriedly, yet softly, en-.
tered his room, and commanded him to
dress Immediately; at the same time
producing a suit Of Phillips clothes.
As he hastily drew them on his naked
body, his hcaviness Of heart was appar-
ent in every movement, and when he
had finished, hc looked up with tears in
his cyes,.tben falling on his knees, he
cried in piteous and imploring tone,
@Dear frcends, and frecnds of my faith
er, | implorc you for his sake and for
mine, to relieve my anxious mind, tell
me, for Gods sake, what I have done;
tell me, or my heart will breaks The
old man turned away to hide his tears,
then looking at his wife he d,--sAh
Mary! Mary! the price is too dear; poor
fellow it might cost him his reason
but Mary was incxorablc; and she said
sternly yet fc"r ~'v.s tell Mr.. Bruce, for
you: owa sa' not tell, you, nor
Twill allowa. "a. ~ to but, to relieve
your mind, I will vl..ise to tell you
on certain conditions
'1Name them! name them!' he cried.
"Well then,' she said, 'if you do not
aearn too soon, to your for sorrow-this
might twelve months in this very house
you must come here--I will tell you the
whole appalling circumstances that have
worked this awful change on our house;
I will tell you, I say, on the condition,
that during that time you will not drink
one drop of intoxicating liquors
Bruce groancd, and trcmblingIy cx-
claimed, mo! no! tell me now; for
Gods sake, me now!!'
1t cannot be- answered the old lady,
and hurried HIM from the house, and
Bruce was soon lost in the darkness of
the night, and with sorrow in his heart,
he hastened across the country, to the
distant parish in which his father dwelt;
taking bye-roads, and mountains, and
moor,tand tracks, to avoid the gaze of
his brother men.
One year passed away;;--a long and
dreary year it had been to Bruce; ;-.-he
stood again on the hospitablc floor Of