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


aces of twenty thousand pounds shall ever
be left to them"
He paused, and looked on me with pc
culiary excited, aud sad, and reckless ex-
| preston, which | have since more than
once beheld on the faces of insane or par
TALLY insane persons, particularly those un-
der the dominion of strong evil passion. |
was silent. / knew the man was himself
poor, and had learned how to sympathise
with such.
"I," continued Savall, cam one Of those
TO whose long, deep, dark poverty there
comes no break of hope-no probability OF
good fortune. have been poor man my
whole life--ay, my whole life You did not
think so, because it was not rery apparent
| but that is the real misery-to be condem-
ned to hide every outward sign of the cam
Ger which is eating away our heart--to sti-
file every groan-and look contentedy and
quietly on rich people, who squander on
useless luxuries what would make a heav-
en- of our poor pinched life. But you are
rich howl am poor, very poor, and in
debt; but that is no matter-yOu shall as
sist me now out Of your wealth."
The earnest, but by no means supplica-
ting look which he kept fixed on me did not
contribute to dispose me to listen to his rath-
er peremptory demand on my charity.
informed him that if he was so extremely
poor, | should be glad to assist him little,
but could not promise to do much in that
way, as had many poor relations who had
prior claims on me; and, besides, the whole
world OF poverty at large was at least fully
as much entitled to my consideration as Ell
Their he or Mrs. Saval
A smile, which at the moment was in
comprehensive to me, passed over his face
he seemed, however, to take but little no.
tice of my alusion to the unkind treatment
which had SO recently experienced in his
house.
" If fortune is blind" he said, "that is
no reason why we, who are forsaken by for.
tune, should be also blind to our own inter.
ests. Might we not rise and struggle fol
an equal distribution of good things p
might we not clamor Justly when we see SC
much going to one, and nothing to another
whose necessities are perhaps greater; and
strive even by force, if we can do nothing
else, for our portion-for an equal baance
to be preserved amongst those who all come
into the world equal? l now assert my
claim to you--in our house, suffering equal.
~ from poverty, wealth comes to you; there.
fore divide it in some degree with me, OF
| -"
There was pause ; but was not vet a.
larmed, though | was much startled.
believe you are mad" | said, " OF
you have been drinking to excess, which i.
the only way l can account for your con
duct. You had better go to sleep immed
ately, and you will have juster views o.
things in the morning"
We shall settle this matter now" he
answered, with calm effrontery which per
picked me. "My portion of the good for
tune which Glanced to you in this house,
shall myselfimit, seeing know could no
bring you to the point. You shall give mt
the contents of the pocket-book which yol
have now on your person. / am easily sat
istied, and shall be content with it," The
words, but still more the looks, caused
momentary thrill of trepidation to pas
through ne.
7 What pocket book" l asked, witt
some confusion.
"The pocket-book which you have thi
moment concealed in your safest, most hid
den pocket, | supp, Sc; and what it contain
: something about thirteen hundred in BAN
notes, | should think. am very moder
ate III demanding only so much ont oftwen
ty thousand, which happened to alght o
this house of mine"
| was silent from establishment. | kne,
not how he could know of the pocket-bool
and the very sum 1t contained, which ha
: been brought 10 me only a few hours pre-
viously by my solicitor. He must, SUI
posed, have overheard me directing the S,
licitor to bring me such a sum-
Well" said Sayull, rising "gve m
S the pocket-book aud shall leave you
once when | get the thirteen hundred sal
: i'll my hands"
=, "Fool mailman go, or shall 81,
you in charge" cried, much excited.
D, He laughed-a startling, sharp, hard, di
cordant laugh. 1t fixed indelibly on n
memory, that laugh. Often in sickness,
levers, when the nervous system was high
e wrought on, have | since fancied heard
u ringing in my ears. Even then that laug
l. had peculiar and Undesirable effect c
s me: walked about as if the delirium
r recent illness had returned on me all
i once more powerfully than ever. The
l was long pause, | think but at last
walked close 10 SayaIl's side, and said
d MIR. SavalI, have the goodness to lea'
i the room Immediately; l can bear yo
presence no longer"
:, When | carry the pocket-book with m
d and not till then. Listen to me. swea
n by every drop of blood in either of our DO
o les, shall not leave your sight until Il
l. pocket book is mine" He neither smile
nor sneered as he said this. A savage fer
e city was in his looks-I thought saw pla
e ly the word "murder" written on his bro,
" My blood boiled with anger, at last. III
At thought of challenging him to person
E. combat first struck me- but then he W
too iniamous-too much beneath the lev
nj of honest men. ] went to the door, dete
re mined to call in assistance and have him
cured. He did not say one word whilst
H. tried to open the door but in vain, for
was firmly fastened outside. AT length,
~ burst out into another sudden discorda
" laugh at my long-continued abortve
20 tempts
d. Mrs. Savall fastened il secure enoug
Mt you may depend on thrust Mrs. Sayall /
that" he SAID.